Six Feet Under? Rethinking Burials for a Sustainable Goodbye

Earth Day is a time to celebrate our planet and explore ways to minimize our impact on it. Even when considering the inevitable end of life, we can make choices that honor our loved ones while caring for the Earth. Traditional burial and cremation methods can have a significant environmental footprint. Thankfully, eco-friendly alternatives are emerging that allow us to say goodbye in a way that aligns with a greener future. Let's explore three innovative green burial options that are changing the game:

1. Green Burial: A Return to Nature's Embrace
Imagine a final resting place bathed in sunlight, nestled amongst towering trees. That's the essence of a green burial. Unlike traditional burials encased in concrete vaults, green burials use biodegradable materials like wicker caskets or linen shrouds. The body is laid to rest directly in the earth, allowing for natural decomposition and a beautiful return to nature's cycle.

Why it matters: Green burials eliminate the environmental impact of manufacturing and burying concrete vaults. They also conserve precious land and promote healthy ecosystems in cemeteries.
Traditional counterpart: Conventional burials often use concrete vaults and embalming chemicals, both of which can leach harmful toxins into the soil.

2. Human Composting, or Natural Organic Reduction: Turning Life Back into Life
This option might raise a few eyebrows, but human composting, also known as natural organic reduction, is a fascinating and sustainable way to say goodbye. The process utilizes a controlled environment with organic materials like wood chips, alfalfa, and straw. Microbes naturally break down the body, creating nutrient-rich soil amendment that can be used to nourish gardens and conservation projects.

Why it matters: Human composting offers a closed-loop system, returning valuable nutrients back to the Earth and creating healthy soil, a vital but diminishing resource.
Traditional counterpart: Traditional burials and cremations don't contribute to soil health, and cremation can release harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

3. Aquamation: A Gentle Farewell with Water
If the idea of fire doesn't resonate, aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, offers a water-based alternative. The body is gently dissolved in a pressurized chamber using water and a mild alkaline solution. The process is much more energy-efficient than cremation and doesn't release harmful pollutants. The resulting sterile remains, similar to cremated ashes, can be returned to the family or scattered in a meaningful location.

Why it matters: Aquamation significantly reduces energy consumption compared to cremation and eliminates the emissions associated with burning fossil fuels.
Traditional counterpart: Traditional cremation relies on burning fossil fuels to reach high temperatures, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
These are just a few of the green burial options gaining traction.

As we become more mindful of our impact on the planet, these sustainable goodbyes offer a way to honor our loved ones while nurturing the Earth for future generations. Remember, talking about death can be difficult, but planning a green burial can be an empowering and environmentally conscious way to navigate this inevitable part of life. This Earth Day, consider the ways we can celebrate life by caring for our planet, even in our final farewells.

​Contact me to learn more about which option might be best for you or your loved ones!

Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash