The environmental toll of traditional burial and cremation methods is significant and rising, with 8 billion people on the planet, all of whom will eventually need to be laid to rest. It’s time to explore alternative options that are more sustainable. Fortunately, innovative “green” alternatives are emerging to address these concerns.
Conventional burials typically involve embalming the body with toxic fluids, placing it in a steel casket, and burying it in a cement-lined vault six feet underground. This process consumes vast resources, including approximately 77,000 trees, 100,000 tons of steel, 1.5 million tons of concrete, and 4.3 million gallons of embalming fluid annually in the U.S., according to the Green Burial Council.
While cremation is often viewed as a greener option, it still poses environmental challenges. The process requires a significant amount of gas, equivalent to a 500-mile road trip, and releases approximately 250 lbs. of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, similar to the emissions from an average American home in a week, as reported by the Natural Death Center.
A return to nature
With the death rate expected to spike as Baby Boomers age, the funeral industry is poised to cause even more damage. While green funerals are a recent trend, natural burials were the norm until the Civil War, which coincided with the rise of the industrial age, embalming, and the modern funeral director business.
Today, natural burials are making a comeback. Green funerals are designed to not only be more environmentally friendly, but also less expensive overall than conventional burial or cremation. If you want to make your last act on this planet less harmful to the ecosystem, here are 6 green funeral options, along with the best way to include your final wishes in your estate plan.
01 – Green burial
Founded in 2005, the nonprofit Green Burial Council (GBC) establishes environmental standards for green cemeteries, funeral professionals, and funeral-product manufacturers. According to the GBC, a green burial must meet three general criteria:
- The body cannot be embalmed.
- The body must be buried without a cement or metal vault or grave liner.
- Only biodegradable burial containers and shrouds may be used.
In green cemeteries, graves are typically marked by GPS or with a simple stone or tree, instead of headstones, metal plaques, and other ornate markers. The grounds are often planted with native species, forgoing pesticides and mechanical landscaping. The graves are shallower than conventional plots, exposing the body to more natural organisms to speed decomposition.
Green caskets are constructed from biodegradable materials, such as untreated wood, bamboo, wicker, or cardboard. Burial shrouds should be non-bleached, undyed, and made of natural fabrics like cotton, linen, silk, wool, or hemp. To find funeral providers in your area that offer green burial, use the GBC’s list of approved companies.
02 – Aquamation
Without the need for embalming, caskets, or burial vaults, cremation is considered less harmful to the environment than burial. However, a new water-based method—aquamation—promises an even greener alternative. Also called “resomation” or “flameless cremation,” the method involves a chemical process in which lye, superheated water, and pressure dissolve the body, rather than burning fossil fuels. The ashes produced by aquamation can be scattered or placed in a biodegradable urn for burial.
03 – Mushroom burial suits
A recent advancement in eco-friendly funerals involves unique burial shrouds embedded with mushroom spores woven into the fabric. Resembling long-john pajamas, these suits aid in decomposition, with the mushrooms breaking down the body. Not only do they absorb and filter toxins released during decomposition, but they also enrich the soil with nutrients, promoting plant growth. It’s worth noting that when TV and film star Luke Perry passed away from a stroke at 52, reports indicated he was laid to rest in a mushroom burial suit.
04 – Eternal reefs
Eternal Reefs combine ashes from cremated remains with environmentally friendly concrete to create an artificial reef. Submerged on the ocean floor, these hollow “reef balls” create new habitats for coral, fish, and other marine life. Marked by GPS, your loved ones are encouraged to visit these living memorials by boat, snorkeling, or scuba diving. The company currently has locations in the waters off the following states: Florida, New York, North Carolina, Texas, South Carolina, Maryland, and New Jersey
05 – Become a tree
If you aren’t near the water, but still want to leave a living memorial of yourself, a tree burial might be an attractive alternative. The startup Transcend plans to open forest-based cemeteries across the U.S., where rows of trees, rather than headstones, mark the graves. Here’s how it works: the body is wrapped in a biodegradable, linen shroud and placed in a shallow grave that’s lined with wood chips or hay. Then, a mixture of soil, wood chips, and fungi is used to fill the grave, and a young tree is planted on top. As the body decomposes, it provides nourishment to feed the tree.
Additionally, Transcend has partnered with the nonprofit One Tree Planted, which specializes in planting trees around the world. For every tree burial reserved, Transcend promises to plant an additional 1,000 trees right away. The company expects to launch their first tree burials in 2023. Visit their website to learn more, including how the company plans to ensure your tree will be well-maintained for years to come.
06 – Human composting
Another way your death can create new life is by having your remains composted. Known as “human composting” or “recomposting,” the process is similar to composting used to fertilize gardens and farms. The body is first placed in a steel cylinder filled with wood chips, straw, and alfalfa, along with bacteria designed to break down organic matter.
After roughly a month, your body is transformed into what basically amounts to soil. The end product can either be returned to your family or used to revitalize local conservation areas. Developed in 2020 by the Seattle-based company Recompose, human composting is currently legal in five states: California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Vermont, with legislation pending in Hawaii and Delaware.
Put Your Final Wishes In Your Estate Plan
Regardless of the method you select, it’s critical to include your desires, plans, and the money to pay for disposal of your body in your estate plan. While green funerals are typically less expensive than traditional burial and cremation, they can still cost thousands of dollars. To avoid burdening your loved ones, at the very least, your plan should include enough money to pay for your funeral and legally name the person you want to carry out your desired wishes.
Moreover, it’s typically not a good idea to leave money for your funeral in your Will. Any money left in your Will won’t be accessible to your family until your estate goes through the court process of probate, which can last months or even years. Since many funeral providers require full payment upfront, if you leave funds in your Will, your loved ones will likely be stuck with the bill.
To avoid the necessity for probate, we often advise our clients to leave money and directions for their immediate post-death wishes in a Revocable Living Trust. A Living Trust doesn’t require probate, so the money for your funeral would be available to your loved ones right away. In the terms of your Living Trust, you can specify how you want your funeral carried out, and the person you designate as Trustee is legally bound to use the funds in the exact manner the terms stipulate. This can be especially important for green funerals, which might not be something your loved ones would choose if left to plan things on their own.
Disclaimer: The content provided on this website by 5 West Legal Services, PLLC, is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. For personalized legal advice related to your specific situation, it is essential to consult with a qualified attorney. Please be aware that viewing this website, downloading content, using forms, tips, or information kits, or any other form of interaction with this site, does not create an attorney-client relationship. Such a relationship can only be established through a fully-executed, written agreement. Additionally, it’s important to note that client testimonials or endorsements found on this website do not guarantee or predict the outcome of your legal matters. We are committed to ensuring the accessibility of our website to individuals with disabilities and strive to provide an inclusive online experience. Thank you for visiting our website. Your use of this site indicates your acceptance of these terms.
