I want to be buried at sea. I talk about it pretty loudly and openly, and often in the most inappropriate of locales. I’ve always loved the ocean, and I much prefer the idea of gently drifting off to rest in the deep sea over the standard methods. My loved ones can gather round, say a few nice words, then toss me overboard with mafia-style cinder blocks tied to my ankles.
As dark as my sense of humor can be, I’m really not joking. But it did occur to me that if I truly want a green funeral, on land or otherwise, I better understand the mechanics of making that happen. While I still can. Ha.
History
What we typically think of as a traditional burial is actually relatively new to human history, emerging post-civil war in the US. Formaldehyde, now used as embalming fluid, was widely used on battlefields to preserve the bodies of fallen soldiers so they could be returned to their families. Today, 94% of the deceased in the US are cremated or embalmed before burial. (Fun fact: formaldehyde’s ability to arrest tissue decay also had applications as a food preservative prior to refrigeration.)
Current methods
Many of the fluids used to embalm a body, like formaldehyde, are highly toxic carcinogens, and the industry uses 4 million gallons of it per year on average. These chemicals are not a massive threat to those who are already dead, to be fair, but they leech into the soil and waterways where they can stay for decades. Alternatively, the average cremation emits the same amount of carbon on average as driving a car 980-kilometers.
While these methods are the cultural default, they are also the most accessible option for most people, as they are the only ones legal in every US state, largely due to antiquated regulations on body disposal. According to WHO, “Contrary to common belief, there is no evidence that corpses pose a risk of epidemic disease… Most agents do not survive long in the human body after death.”
That said, while green burials are uncommon, they are gaining traction, and there are many incredibly creative and eco-friendly ways to be laid to rest.
Green burials
Relative to human history, it wasn’t long ago that standard burials were no more elaborate than a wooden casket in your own backyard. Certain cemeteries allow for burial in a shroud or biodegradable casket made of bamboo or wood. In fact, this type of burial not only avoids embalming chemicals and carbon emissions associated with cremation, but it can even sequester carbon dioxide–up to 25 pounds per person, according to the Green Burial Council.
If you’re looking for something a little more creative, human composting is exactly as it sounds: return your body to the earth as food for other living beings. You can even be buried under a tree and simply… become a tree. Or, if you’re more of a water creature like myself, you can opt to dissolve in a heated alkaline fluid known as water cremation, leaving behind a non-toxic water solution that can simply be disposed of down the drain.
While these methods are still a small minority of burials in the US, some cemeteries are working to make green burials and funerals more accessible to those who want them. The Crestone End of Life Project in Crestone, Colorado offers open-air cremation services with a natural burial ground on site. Inspired by ancient practices, CEOLP works with families of the deceased to create an open-air cremation using little more than a pyre, a wooden stretcher, and a shroud.
What’s right for you?
Regulations on green burials vary state by state, and it can be tricky to navigate what is allowed in your area and find a practicing cemetery. And of course, laying a person to rest isn’t cheap regardless of how it’s done. For many, the most cost effective–and sometimes only–option is cremation.
This is all to say that saying goodbye to a loved one is never easy or simple, and there is no “correct” way to lay someone to rest. But as with anything else when it comes to sustainability, it’s important to know there are alternative options available, whether or not they’re right for you.
And no matter what you choose, remember that your life has a far greater impact on the planet than your death, so live earth-conscious as best you can, while you can.
Be curious
- Check out the Green Burial Council for resources and a list of US-based practitioners of green burials
- Listen to The Financial Confessions episode to learn more about the financial components of the funeral industry
- Read Caitlin Doughty’s book Smoke Gets In Your Eyes for all the inner workings of the death industry
Photo by Tomás Robertson via Unsplash
