While many are seeking to climb the material ladder in life, others have reached the upper rungs and found out it's not all it's cracked up to be; choosing to set a different course - downshifting. For others, particularly in this economic climate, downshifting is more a forced phenomenon. Either way, downshifting means less consumption - and that's good for the environment.

Before the final curtain is drawn on our lives, we can make environmentally friendly choices as to how our funeral and burial is to be conducted.