Rachel McAdams Wants A Green, Eco-Friendly Burial

While Anna Nicole Smith took the traditional road of embalming and a hardwood casket, Rachel McAdams is saying no to the glamour and expense of modern burial and opting to go green.

The star of The Notebook, McAdams wants a reef burial. From the article,

“‘I don’t want to have a tombstone. You can now be made into a reef! I was reading that they can make your remains into a reef and put you in the ocean and the fish can feed off you! I want to go back into the earth the same way I came.’”

Just so you don’t get the wrong idea, the fish aren’t actually eating your remains. Instead, you’re cremated and your ashes are then poured into cement, which is then poured into a reef ball mold. That reef ball is then deposited in the ocean and life thrives off it, creating a habitat for fish and other ocean creatures.  If you’re interested in more details, check out a company that specializes in this type of green burial, Eternal Reefs.

Anyways,  McAdams is a noted environmentalist who, as the article points out, “wears clothing made out of edamame (soy), rides around Los Angeles on a bicycle and even bought her father a composter for Christmas.”

‘”(They) are getting more environmentally minded because that’s where my interests lie. I bought my dad a composter for Christmas. He’s so excited (saying), ‘I can’t wait until spring and I can turn my composter!’ It’s so cute.’”

Now there’s a green star!  If you’re interested in learning more about green burial –please check out my review of a new book, Grave Matters, that covers the various ways you can avoid shelling out thousands in cash on modern burial, while also helping to save the planet. I’ve also put together a video on a green cemetery near my home which you can view here.