As mothers, we focus on birth, but we don’t often talk about death. We don’t share death stories over coffee like we share birth stories. And we never talk about whether we want a traditional burial or a green burial on a playdate.
I recently shared that this past year I was able to witness and support both the birth and death of a loved one, and was awed by the beauty of both. We had a strong sense that even though we would one day stop inhabiting our bodies, our true selves would always remain.
But death, whether for a loved one or for ourselves, is something we must prepare for. As your family ages, you may need to fulfill the final wishes of your parents or other family members. We can (and should) plan for our own death as a way to share our end-of-life wishes with our families. I’m excited about these greener options because they use products and processes that have a lower toxic load and are better for the environment and future generations.
What is a traditional burial?
Traditional burial requires several steps. First, the body is embalmed with formaldehyde to preserve it and slow decomposition. The body is then placed in a wooden or metal coffin. A funeral is a ceremony held at a place of worship or funeral home to remember the deceased. Funerals are often held in a burial ground, and the body is buried in a metal or concrete vault or plastic-lined burial plot in a cemetery. Finally, a tombstone is erected on the grave.
Why is traditional burial harmful?
In traditional burials, most of the materials used are not biodegradable. From coffins with metal handles to tombstones to concrete safes, these things will survive our children’s future.
of National Cancer Institute Journal conducted a survey of Health of funeral industry workers. They found that exposure of workers to embalming fluids was hazardous to their health. The longer people exposed to formaldehyde worked in the industry, the more likely they were to develop leukemia, brain cancer, or die.
In addition, In the 2022 report from illness, crisis, loss, They found that the same embalming chemicals can also leach into the ground and cause contamination. Leaching poses the greatest threat to marine life and perhaps our drinking water.of environmental protection in canada By law, formaldehyde is classified as a highly toxic substance.
Traditional cemeteries also use fertilizers and pesticides to landscape the cemetery. Additionally, it uses a lot of water to keep the grounds green.
What is a green burial?
Green burials are growing in popularity as people seek options that reflect the choices they have made to live a less toxic and more natural life.of green burial councilThe death care industry’s non-profit organization defines “green burial” as striving to reduce environmental impact and conserve natural resources. It is an environmentally friendly method by reducing the harmful burden of traditional burial. Green burial uses non-toxic and biodegradable materials.
Natural burials have the following advantages:
- cheaper – A traditional burial can cost between $7,000 and $12,000, including the funeral and memorial service. Green burials require fewer materials (coffins, embalming, etc.) and tend to be cheaper.
- biodegradable products – Common burial goods are made from natural resources and are not biodegradable. Natural burial does not require a coffin made of exotic wood or metal. We also don’t use concrete burial chambers or plastic linings, which can take hundreds of years to decompose.
- less toxic chemicals – Traditional burial chemicals are toxic to the environment and the workers involved. Additionally, traditional cemeteries often use pesticides and fertilizers to maintain the grounds, increasing pollution.
- Help promote land conservation – Traditional cemeteries cannot conserve or protect land or natural habitats. Natural burials often occur in areas that have been carefully restored and maintained to preserve the natural area in which the natural burial took place.
green burial options
Several green burial options are available, depending on where you are and your or your loved one’s wishes. Costs for these options vary. Each has its pros and cons, but they are all more natural burial alternatives than the traditional burials we are used to.
cremation
The first and perhaps most well-known option is cremation. It has been used since the times of ancient Roman and Greek civilizations, and is thought to have been used even earlier, around 3000 BC.
Cremation also requires a flammable container that can hold the body at temperatures between 1,800 and 2,000 degrees. After cremation, families are given approximately 4 to 6 pounds of ashes.
You can scatter these ashes in a memorial forest or purchase a tree for your loved one’s final resting place. Another option is to scatter the ashes in your favorite spot or in your own backyard (be sure to check local laws and regulations first). Alternatively, you can do something creative like keeping the ashes in an urn at home or turning the ashes into jewelry. The process costs between $1,000 and $3,000 (not including memorial services).
This option is available in every state and is easily accessible. One disadvantage of this option is that it allows you to defer emissions from the process. Although carbon dioxide emissions are not large (about the amount of a long drive), there are other emissions, such as mercury. Emissions from cremation are still lower than the impacts from traditional burial.
aquamation
A new natural burial option is aquamation, or water cremation. This process began with the purpose of processing animal carcasses into fertilizer. It became an option for humans in the United States in 2005 and is currently available in approximately 22 states.
Similar to cremation, aquamation processes the body into a powder that resembles ashes. Unlike cremation, water and potassium hydroxide are used to decompose the body. The body is heated to approximately 320 degrees, and the last remaining “remains” are received. The average cost of an aquamation is from $2,000 to $3,000.
This process is a good option as it consumes less power and produces less emissions. This makes it a good option for those looking for a less toxic burial method. The downside is that it’s not available in all states yet.
human composting
This is one of the cleanest and most environmentally friendly burial options available. It is currently only available in seven US states: Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, California, New York, and Nevada. However, this new option is growing in popularity and is slowly becoming legal in other states.
As the name suggests, the body is decomposed and turned into compost. Similar to the process of making garden compost, this option is suitable for those who want a more natural burial. The body is placed in a container with natural materials (straw, wood, alfalfa) to help decompose the body until microorganisms decompose it.
This process may take 30-60 days. Once completed, families will be given some soil that they can use for spreading and planting (but not for home gardening). Composting costs approximately $2,500 to $5,000.
One disadvantage of this option is that it is the least likely to be available. But if other states introduce human composting, it could become more widely available.
green cemetery
Another new option for burial services is green burial cemeteries. Green cemeteries are not available in all states. These are traditional cemeteries that use concrete vaults and biodegradable containers with traditional embalming.
These resting places have no embalming or concrete vaults, and bodies are buried in biodegradable coffins or shrouds. These cemeteries often provide a more natural environment with native plants and wildflowers. Rather than traditional landscaping that uses fertilizers and pesticides, we allow nature to exist in its wild state. It can look and feel like a nature reserve.
These natural burial sites are often involved in land conservation and sustainability. Some are run by nonprofit organizations that want to introduce more natural practices to the funeral industry. The Green Burial Council offers certification to green burial practitioners, including green cemeteries, funeral homes, and product providers. their website provides a list of certified natural cemeteries that meet our criteria.
One of the drawbacks of this option is that there are still not many green cemeteries. We hope that this situation changes as the demand for more natural burial options continues to grow.
What is a Green Funeral?
Traditional funerals are held in a place of worship or funeral home, often with the body in a casket. In green burials, there is often no coffin (in the case of aquamation or human composting, and sometimes in the case of cremation). Traditional funerals often include lots of plastic flowers and headstones placed at the burial site. Green Funeral Services will have no flowers or headstones at the burial site. Green funerals have a much smaller funeral footprint than traditional funerals.
Green funerals can also include more creative options, such as in-home services and family and friends gathering to share a meal. Alternatively, if you choose cremation, a green funeral can be held in a special location where you would like your ashes to be scattered.
When a green burial is not an option
One hesitation you may have regarding a green burial is whether you want to see the body at the funeral or memorial service. While traditional burials involve embalming the body to preserve it, green burials do not. But this doesn’t mean you can’t watch it yet. Although it is not required by law to embalm a body, many funeral homes will not allow viewing without embalming.
However, if the funeral home allows it, or if you choose to view it at home, you can preserve the body on dry ice or refrigeration for two to three days. It is best to check local regulations to see if end-of-life care is an important part of your end-of-life wishes.
Another FAQ regarding green burials is: What if the body needs to be transported across state lines? If your loved one dies in another state, they can usually be transported to their home state for burial. Some states require bodies to be embalmed before crossing state lines. If you are asked to embalm a body, you probably won’t be able to bury it in a green cemetery or do human composting. The body can also be cremated or aquamated.
Why planning for death is important
You may be wondering why this is important. It’s not an easy thing to think about or talk about, especially when you think about your own death. But it’s important to plan for the future, and that includes planning for your death.
If you strive to live in a non-toxic, natural way and want to help the environment for your children’s future, you can carry that preference into your death plans as well. This allows us to leave a more natural legacy of life and death.
Planning for your death is one of the greatest gifts you can give your loved ones. Because it takes the guesswork out of what you want to happen at a highly emotional time. That makes it easier for them to simply follow your end-of-life wishes instead of guessing what you want. It’s also a statement of how important a non-toxic life (and death) is to you and your family.
Another important thing you can do is have a conversation with your family and loved ones to find out what they want about the end of life. That way you don’t have to guess what’s important to them. Sharing these alternative options with them may help them understand that there are healthier options besides traditional burial.
Have you planned for your own or a loved one’s death? What natural burial options are most interesting to you?