CANA has a history of studying cremation emissions and technology. Early CANA members built crematories on cemetery property with architectural beauty as a priority over fuel efficiency. It was common practice for the crematory to be custom-built below a chapel and columbarium to accommodate the funeral, cremation process and memorial placement of the urn in one building. These setups put the needs of the grieving first to promote memorialization. Fuel efficiency was an early topic of discussion, but the focus was on making a crematory business work efficiently.
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Post-World War II, as manufacturing techniques improved and demand for cremation equipment increased, crematory manufacturers moved toward assembly line production with homogeneous construction and parts. Machines were manufactured at the plant and shipped around the country, or the world, for installation and service. This proactive practice continues to present day and typically places uniform function over beautiful form.

In 1996, when the national cremation rate was 21.8%, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) turned its attention to regulating crematories. CANA and the US EPA formed a working group to examine scientific studies on emissions and make informed recommendations to federal environmental regulators. The working group decided that the current studies were too few and varied so they commissioned and oversaw a study at a CANA-member site, The Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York. Called “The Woodlawn Study,” its findings resulted in classification of crematories as small source emitters since deceased human bodies are distinctly different from solid waste (such as garbage and treatment plants) and should be regulated separately. The study also determined that states should continue to regulate crematories rather than the US EPA.
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There is a persistent myth that human and pet crematories are unregulated, but that is false. Now, in addition to zoning, licensing, and other business regulations, emissions are regulated by state environmental protection agencies through air permits. Every state manages this differently; however, crematories are most definitely regulated at the state, county, city, etc., levels. These layers of regulation create significant barriers to entry for new crematories, including businesses who want to improve or expand existing operations.

We know that the environment is on everyone’s minds, not to mention the safety of our communities. There are many factors that play a part in crematory operations and emission. For example, the science of combustion accounts for the fuel sources – the gas that powers the cremator, residual heat from previous cremations, the plant matter of the casket/container, the tissues of the body, and the oxygen in the air – to get as close to Complete or Perfect Combustion as possible, resulting only in carbon monoxide (CO) or dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and water (H2O). Complete Combustion is impossible since there are so many variables to manage throughout the cremation process, but modern cremators, and best practices in the crematory, get as close as possible.
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In addition to combustion, there are other variables that impact emissions, including:

Because each deceased human is unique, each cremation has a unique set of variables that ultimately determines emissions. Regulations often outline limits and ranges for operations, but people generally want to know specifics as they relate to other energy users and emissions.
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Questions:

FUEL USAGE BY CREMATORIES

​In the chart below, a number of conversions are represented to make comparisons. Most crematories and homes use natural gas as a fuel for heat. This fuel is converted to cubic feet and then to British Thermal Units (BTUs) which measures energy needed to heat one degree. SUVs run on gasoline which is converted to cubic feet.

Whatever part you play in the cremation journey, you can do your part to make a difference! Here are some ideas on how anyone can lessen the environmental impact of cremation and any funeral practice.

FOR EVERYONE

FOR THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR

FOR CEMETERIANS

FOR CREMATORIES

Cremation is the new tradition with greater than 55% of Americans and 73% of Canadians choosing it in 2019. While crematories are widely available, areas with lower cremation rates may need new and expanded crematory businesses to meet the growing demand. As a business owner, it’s important to meet your communities' needs with options and information. As a citizen of the Earth, it’s important to do our part in preserving it for the future.

Growing up as the daughter of a traditional funeral director, I never would have imagined that five decades later I would be caring for those grieving the loss of a pet. Back in 1972, when my father first began taking calls from clients wanting burial and cremation services for their pets, it was considered “taboo.” In other words, “People just wouldn’t understand.” I have vivid memories of my father telling stories of how clients would request that he arrive in an unmarked vehicle and that he come after dark because they did not want their neighbors to know they were caring for their pet in this way. Can you imagine not being able to openly grieve or mourn a loss that was so emotionally devastating to you?

Fast forward to today, where, according to the American Pet Products Association, over 67% of the US population now owns a pet, and 45% own more than one pet. Expenditures for pets are expected to surpass $99 billion in 2020, so it is easy to see that our pets have truly become members of the family. In fact, a 2001 survey from the American Animal Hospital Association revealed that 83% of pet owners refer to themselves as pet parents. For those with value added services marketing to the pet sector, how care is communicated to those pet parents is important and can be the difference in building and sustaining lifelong relationships with pet families.

Did you know the human-animal bond dates back more than 16,000 years? Burials for pets have been found in Germany from 14,000 BCE, in North America from 11,000 BCE, and China from 7,000 BCE. Alexander the Great owned a mastiff named Peritas. When Peritas died, Alexander led a sizeable funeral procession and burial, erected a large monument, and ordered the locals to honor his dog’s death every year with a festival. The human-animal bond is strong. Whether it is a furry child to empty-nesters, a best friend to the children in a family, or an only companion during a major adult life change, we should not be surprised when a pet parent seems to be “over the top” in how they choose to honor their beloved furry family member.

The grief can be overwhelming. I’ve often heard, “This has been more difficult than losing a human family member.” The bond with a pet is like no other relationship; there is no emotional baggage, there is just pure, unconditional love. That can be hard to find by today’s standards. It is no wonder that pet parents today are seeking more personalized caring services for their beloved furry family members.
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Whether it’s holding a viewing with family and friends, conducting an informal ceremony to scatter cremated remains, taking part in a witness cremation, or being able to choose the perfect personalization for the right urn, pet parents don’t just want choices – they need choices. As pet bereavement experts, it is important that we don’t shut those opportunities off during the decision-making stage. Making sure these options are known to the pet parent can become part of their healing process. Like planning a service for any human, we shouldn’t assume every pet parent desires the “standard service.” Pet parents need to be able to honor the emotional bond they held with their beloved furry family.

I recently had the honor of working with Jennifer Werthman, Education Director for CANA, and Debra Bjorling, owner of Hamilton Pet Meadow in New Jersey and Past President of the IAOPCC. We were working collaboratively to develop the new, online version of the IAOPCC’s Pet Bereavement Certification Level 1 Program. As we talked through the many phases of the program and the more unusual stories of grief that we had experienced with pet parents, it struck me as to how universally similar the stories often were. At the heart of every pet parent is the need to grieve, the need to know they are being heard, and the need for an empathetic and understanding voice.

After 32 years of working with pet parents, I know it can be easy to find yourself on autopilot and focusing on the details of the arrangements, urn personalization, and memorials rather than the grieving person in front of you. But I also know that what determines a lasting relationship with any pet parent is being able to effectively communicate care and concern for their loss and express a willingness to actively listen to their pain.

We all are aware of the varying stages of grief: Shock, Denial and Disbelief, Anger, Guilt, and Resolution. But are we committed to communicating well at every stage of a pet parent’s grief, both verbally and non-verbally? Knowing what to say and what not to say to a pet parent who is experiencing shock, profound sadness or unbridled anger is important. It can calm or escalate a situation.

We live in a culturally diverse society with different backgrounds, religious affiliations and beliefs about pet death. Words can have consequences. Make sure you and your staff know how to respond to that inevitable question that anyone dealing in pet aftercare has been asked: “Will I see my pet in Heaven?” How you answer can have profound consequences. We all know words have impact and making sure we are dedicated to best practices for ourselves and our staff can be life-changing for others. Training in pet bereavement is the key to good foundational practices.

Our non-verbal cues have just as great of an impact. Our body language, tone of voice, and inflection convey a lot to a pet parent who is overcome by grief. Because you are dealing with families in a highly emotional state, your body language and vocal tone are essential to creating rapport and building trust. People know when you are being real and when you are giving “pat answers.” Being authentic is important. As anyone working with pet parents will tell you, a pet parent can always spot another pet parent!
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One of the more exciting sections of our online program covers these detailed specifics. It provides a real opportunity to check ourselves, our language, our demeanor, the way we carry our body, and the pace at which we move. We learn how to responsively listen and how to apply reflective listening dramatically improving our communication skills to grieving families.

During our work together, I found myself learning new ideas, getting a refresher on my non-verbal cues, and forming new de-escalation and de-stressor techniques. It can be a challenge to work with pet parents who have an especially difficult time due to extenuating circumstances. Whether it is a lack of social support, pre-existing mental health conditions or an emotional sense of responsibility for the death of the pet, these challenges can require inside knowledge of how to best serve the pet parent. As we built the course, we were able to share direct personal experiences of unusual circumstances and unique requests – how do you respond when a pet parent asks you to remove the paw for them? How do you react and what do you say to a pet parent that is convinced their pet is still breathing?

We laid out important steps to take when approaching challenges, including emergency situations requiring immediate medical assistance – when do you call for help? Asking the right questions, knowing how to identify key risk factors and finding ways to take quick and decisive action is important for us to know, and, more importantly, for our staff to know as well. Education and training on how to handle difficult situations before they arise is key for all of us!

As a third-generation family business, my father, Doyle L. Shugart, raised my brothers and I to believe that we are each here on purpose and for a purpose. We all have a higher calling in life, and how you prepare for that calling can impact and change the lives around you. As a past president of the IAOPCC, he was dedicated to continued education. In fact, the IAOPCC’s Educational Scholarship is named in his memory. Making sure we take advantage of every training opportunity available at our fingertips is the only positive during this post-pandemic time. Making sure we as well as our staff are well-trained and prepared to handle any and every situation in a culturally divisive world should remain at the top of our priorities – it can be the difference in building and sustaining relationships and your business.

My father often referenced the famous quote attributed to Maya Angelou, impressing it on us: “People may forget what you did for them, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” Forty-nine years after he started our family business, his words still ring true. Your actions can have a profound impact on a pet parent’s grief experience. Learning best practices ensures your families receive all of the options, the best possible care, and your professional expertise to ease the burden of their loss.