Diversification is needed for the secular American burial. It is absurd that my only choice after death seems to involve sending my family to buy a cushioned casket to capture my essence, only to have it lowered into the ground for decomposition and not be seen by the living. This is not how I would prefer to be laid to Rest.
I was disappointed to discover that traditional funerals are not sustainable.High pricesIt is not only difficult for grieving family members, but it can also be extremely taxing on the environment. The traditional use of embalming to prevent bodies from rotting before viewings in funerals is used for this purpose.Toxic concoctionPreservation chemicals such as formaldehyde and menthol, phenol, and glycerin. An estimated 800,000 gallonsFormaldehyde and its carcinogenic fumes are buried with the bodies that contain them, creating an acute health risk.
Even the wood used to build caskets or coffins is roughly equivalent.4 Million AcresForest, a grim figure in the face mass deforestation. Even worse, cemeteries in the United States occupy approximately140,000 acresLand that requires large amounts of water or fertilizer to maintain. This land could be used to build housing or other productive lands.
Is cremation any better? Try again. According to National GeographicOne cremation can produce an average of 534.6 lbs of carbon dioxide. A year’s worth of cremations can release an estimated 360,000 tonnes of CO2 into our atmosphere. This is enough energy to power approximately 70,000 homes for one year. A variety of other substances are also released by cremation.Carcinogenic chemicalsToxic substances such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury can be introduced into the air.
These burial methods should not be discredited or fundamentally altered. People should be offered a variety options for what to do with their bodies after death if traditional burial practices don’t align with their morals or values. Because death is not the same for everyone, it should be considered that no one size fits all.
These alternative green burial options are available for those who don’t wish to pay traditional funerals or want to make the least impact on the environment after their death.
One company, CeoioInfinity burial suits are woven with threads infused with infinity mushroom seeds. These mushrooms were specifically designed to compost human flesh. These mushrooms have a superpower.mycoremediationIt is a fungal process that absorbs toxins from the body and removes them from the environment. While the thought of being eaten by mushrooms may seem unsettling, I think that fungi repurposing my corpse into nutrients that will fertilize and cultivate the earth sounds like a whimsical, environmentally-conscious dream death.
Another method isThe sky burialFor thousands of years, Tibetan Buddhists have performed this act. A Burial Master will cut the deceased body into pieces and bring it to a chosen location at high elevation. Vultures gather at these elevations to eat the body. Tibetan Buddhists believe this allows the soul to travel to heavens and await the next reincarnation. Although these sites have become less common in recent decades, sky burials can be extremely sustainable and help local carnivorous birds. This green burial has virtually no carbon footprint and is an example of how people have been using more sustainable burial methods for many years.
Do you have an affinity for the ocean and marine life? Look no further.The Reef Ball FoundationThey have created what they call Reef Balls, which are made from special marine-grade concrete and have a pearl center that is made of the cremated remains. Although cremation can be harmful to the environment, these Reef Balls can be beneficial. adorned by the family with concrete imprints and marine and environmentally-friendly sea glass and shells before being placed on the ocean floor in Eternal Reefs cemeteries made of Reef Balls. Reef Balls are designed to mimic the natural substrata Mother Nature uses for her reef development. neutral concrete pHYou can invite a variety marine organisms to live and reproduce within, including fish, microorganisms and coral. Your memorial after death can serve as a way to help ensure the survival and balance marine life.
A newer prototype, designed by the company Capsula MundiA, which is an egg-shaped, biodegradable container that corpses could be placed in posthumously, is known as. After death, the person chooses a tree to plant atop the pod. This allows the body to nourish a piece that will become a powerful symbol of everlasting living. Capsula Mundi aims to create sacred forests that can be visited by families and provide care for loved ones who are eternalized in nature, instead of cemeteries with cement and faded tombstones. Ground burial is a more historic and sustainable practice. The trees that grow will also replenish the forests and clean the air through photosynthesis. This practice allows the body, spiritually and literally to exist in perpetuity as repurposed forms.
With the cultural, religious, and spiritual significance of death, what we do postmortem with ourselves should not be limited or generic. Instead, we should be encouraged and given options to express our uniqueness after our lives are over. If you are a secular person or want to have a minimal environmental impact, it is important to be able to accept alternative burials. It is beautiful to imagine our bodies being reintroduced into nature’s cycle of life long after our passing, as a contrast to traditional burials.
Sophia Lehrbaum is an Oppinion Columnist. You can reach her at [email protected].
