Human composting, eco-friendly burials, and aqua cremation: sustainable choices for afterlife arrangements

 

Eventually, everyone will face the necessity of deciding where they or a beloved one will be laid to rest.

Traditional choices provided by most funeral establishments—such as interment or cremation—pose significant ecological challenges. Both processes require substantial energy, resources, and generate pollution.

Certain faiths prescribe specific practices regarding the disposition of remains, but if you have a range of alternatives available and the financial means, what are the other options beyond typical burial and cremation practices?

The issue with burial

For many, the option of burial is becoming increasingly unattainable. It is costly, and there is a scarcity of available land in cemeteries, especially in metropolitan areas.

In Australia, numerous cemeteries now impose limited terms on burial plots (typically 25 years, extendable up to 99 years), resulting in a limited supply.

Even if a burial place can be acquired, it requires a considerable number of resources to produce and deliver a wooden coffin.

The entire process—from cutting down trees, treating the wood, crafting it into a coffin, to transporting the resources—contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, additional resources are expended for memorials like gravestones.

Moreover, while embalming is not widely practiced in Australia, utilizing this method involves harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, which can lead to soil and water contamination. This method also poses health hazards for those working in funeral services.

What about natural alternatives?

Natural burial options represent a more eco-conscious choice.

Also known as green burials, this practice involves interring bodies in shallow graves using biodegradable materials such as a shroud or cardboard casket.

Yet again, availability of space presents an obstacle. There are limited green burial sites in Australia, and obtaining a location can be both expensive and challenging.

Additionally, the sites may be located far from where you or your surviving family reside.

Another method referred to as "human composting" takes eco-burials to another level. This process converts human remains into nutrient-rich soil through the incorporation of organic material. However, at present, this method is not permitted in Australia, despite ongoing advocacy efforts.

Mainstream cremation methods

Cremation, which is selected for close to 70 percent of body disposals in Australia, is not very friendly to the environment.

With each cremation, harmful substances such as mercury are emitted into the air, along with a considerable amount of carbon dioxide.

How significant is this? Estimates differ, but a report from 2021 indicated that the overall greenhouse effect, factoring in energy use, transportation, and resource utilization along with natural gas, for a single cremation is approximately 430 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.

A typical burial in Australia, the same report mentioned, results in the release of 780 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Water cremation

Water cremation, often referred to as alkaline hydrolysis, can lessen some of the environmental consequences associated with conventional flame cremation.

Compared to flame cremation, water cremation generates substantially lower emissions. It prevents the discharge of toxic gases from incinerating materials such as mercury found in dental fillings.

This method involves the use of water and alkaline substances, which are heated and circulated inside a stainless steel container to hasten the decomposition process.

The outcome consists of bone ash and a purified liquid byproduct The ash can be retained, interred, or scattered similarly to ash from flame cremation. The liquid can be reused.

At present, water cremation is quite costly in Australia, priced at about $6000 as opposed to around $1000 for flame cremation. Nevertheless, it may become less expensive in the future if its usage increases.

While it is legal throughout most of Australia, its availability is limited since there are only a handful of providers across the country.

Donating a body for scientific research?

The option to donate your body for scientific purposes may be appealing to some individuals as a form of “recycling. ”

However, programs affiliated with universities and hospitals typically cremate remains once they have completed using your body or tissues for educational and research purposes, unless the body was embalmed.

If it has been embalmed or if there are specific family requests, the body will receive a straightforward burial under certain conditions.

Private body donation services simply extract usable tissues directly after death, leaving the family to handle the body’s disposal using whatever method they would normally choose.

In conclusion

A significant factor for all choices is that numerous individuals seek a location where they can honor and reminisce about their loved ones – a sense of belonging.

Although cremated remains can be interred in a niche within a cemetery accompanied by a memorial plaque, they are often dispersed in a place that holds special significance.

Nonetheless, as cemeteries are increasingly adopting restricted periods for burial sites, any lasting sense of belonging might also be forfeited even if one opts for burial.

Ultimately, it is crucial for everyone to engage in discussions about their end-of-life preferences, allowing relatives the best chance to fulfill those desires.

In conclusion, the person appointed as the executor of the estate ultimately decides what will happen to the remains, so it is important to select your executor thoughtfully.

Individuals assigned to this responsibility generally strive to honor the deceased's wishes, provided they are communicated clearly and are within financial means.