The landscape of funeral practices is shifting as individuals seek more environmentally conscious options. Traditional burial and cremation methods carry significant environmental impacts, leading many to explore greener alternatives. There’s also a growing interest in choosing something unique for funeral care when a person dies.
For those considering a more sustainable, options like natural burial, human composting, and memorial reefs may be of interest. These innovative practices honor personal values and minimize environmental impact while providing touching tributes to loved ones.
If you’re seeking a more sustainable and meaningful farewell, here are ten thoughtful alternatives to consider.
Eco-Friendly Funeral Alternatives
Traditional burials have a large (and often negative) impact on the environment. Fortunately, there are several eco-friendly burial alternatives that help you maintain your commitment to helping the planet.
1. Natural Burial
Natural burial is a method of burying a body in the ground without using embalming or burial vaults. The goal is to allow the body to decompose naturally and return to the earth. Natural burial, often called green burial, is a method of caring for the dead that humans have used for millennia. It is still the primary form of funeral care in many parts of the world.
2. Biodegradable Urns
Some people use an organic container or pod to hold ashes from cremation, rather than plastic or metal. However, untreated ashes (or “cremains”) are not ideal for direct placement on plants or trees and should be mixed with potting soil or compost before use in the natural environment. Also, if cremation is used for the body’s disposition, there will be a significant carbon footprint regardless of urn type.
3. Human Composting
Legally known as natural organic reduction, human composting is a sustainable alternative to cremation or burial. Over the span of 8 to 12 weeks, the body transforms into soil inside a carefully monitored vessel along with plant material.
4. Mushroom Burial Suit
This suit infused with mushroom spores received national news attention when Luke Perry was buried in one in 2019. The idea is that the fungi aid in breaking down the body, neutralize toxins, enrich the surrounding soil, and promote a low-impact burial. Some research suggests that fungi can’t accomplish all that when buried in the ground, but the concept does promote conversation about greener funeral options.
5. Promession
This freeze-drying process turns the body into an organic powder, which can then be buried in a shallow grave. The process accelerates decomposition, enriches the soil, and is designed to minimize pollution and preserve natural ecosystems. Promession was developed in Sweden and has not been used commercially.
Water-Based Funeral Alternatives
Water-based burial alternatives also have less impact on the environment and help you give back to the earth.
6. Sea Burial
Scattering ashes or performing a full-body burial in the ocean can offer a peaceful, symbolic return to nature. For those who loved the sea, this option can be a meaningful tribute. The Washington State Ferry system offers a memorial option where travelers can scatter ashes during non-peak travel times.
7. Aquamation
Sometimes called water cremation, decomposes the body using an alkali and water-based solution under high pressure. This environmentally friendly process produces liquid and bone ash, which can be recycled back into the ecosystem. The technical term for water cremation is alkaline hydrolysis.
8. Become a Coral Reef
This burial method involves mixing cremated ashes with environmentally safe concrete to create artificial reef structures. The reefs provide vital habitats for marine life, offering an option for those passionate about ocean conservation.
Unique Funeral Alternatives
There’s nothing that says you have to be buried or cremated. Consider these unique burial alternatives.
9. Memorial Diamonds or Stones
Cremated remains are subjected to high pressure and heat to form synthetic diamonds or stones. These gemstones can be kept as keepsakes or worn as jewelry, providing a lasting tribute that keeps memories close.
10. Body Donation
Donating a body to science can be a meaningful disposition alternative. It contributes to medical and scientific research, offering a chance to advance knowledge while giving back to the community. There’s usually no charge to donate a body to science. Most medical schools at major universities offer willed body donation. Following its use for research purposes, the body is typically cremated.
Moving Beyond Traditional Cremation and Burials
As people seek more eco-friendly and meaningful ways to honor loved ones, the funeral industry is evolving, offering more choices that reflect personal values and, often, a deep connection to nature.
Recompose invented the process of human composting and is leading a movement to make it mainstream. It consumes 87% less energy than conventional burial or cremation and saves over a metric ton of carbon. The soil created can be used to plant gardens or nourish trees. Learn more about the human composting process here.
Contact Recompose today to learn more about our unique alternative to traditional burials and how we can help you plan a more eco-friendly funeral.