The conventional methods of disposing of human bodies – burial and cremation – have been deeply ingrained in our cultural and religious practices for centuries. For many people, burial and cremation remain a deeply significant part of any funeral. However, over time, societal norms have evolved and environmental concerns have become increasingly prominent.
So how can we explore new, sustainable options for the disposal of the bodies of our people who have died? And how can these alternative methods address both our environmental challenges and cultural needs?
What are the environmental impacts of burials and cremations?
Land usage
Traditional burial practices require vast amounts of land for cemeteries. As urbanization continues to expand, the availability of space for burial becomes limited, leading to increased pressure on the environment. Because of the value of land and the requirement to maintain the graves, burial is much more expensive than cremation.
Another impact that is often not considered is the environmental cost of what goes into a burial. Lawn beams, headstones and other monuments use a large amounts of materials like concrete and quarried rock. Concrete has a heavy environmental footprint, and the quarried rock is often shipped from overseas, so both the impact of mining and transporting the material needs to be considered.
Cremation emissions
Cremation, while space-efficient, can release harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution. The process also consumes significant amounts of energy, often derived from fossil fuels. These impacts can be reduced with modern, more energy-efficient cremators which include pollution filters, but there is still an impact.
Chemical contamination
Embalming, sometimes used in burials, involves the use of chemicals like formaldehyde, which can leach into the soil and groundwater, posing a threat to ecosystems and human health. And, of course, many coffins include lacquers, glues and paints that remain in the system after burial.
What are the cultural and religious considerations?
Our world is culturally diverse, with many religions and belief systems. Yet our society’s attitudes towards death and burial are evolving. Many people identify has either having no faith at all, or as practising a personal spirituality rather than formal, recognised faith. This, combined with growing concern about our impact on the environment, means there are many considerations with any new technology.
On the traditional side, faiths with a strong belief in resurrection, keeping the body whole through burial is critical to respectful funeral practices. Likewise, other faiths place strong importance on the rituals associated with cremation. On the more modern side, an increasing number of individuals want more eco-friendly alternatives for disposal of their bodies. In addition, they are looking for ways to express their individuality in their funeral choices. Practically, traditional methods like burial are becoming increasingly expensive. This is a challenge for many families, regardless of their faith or culture.
It is possible for new body disposal options to respect different cultural and religious perspectives on death, and hopefully drive down costs. This has happened with previous technological developments. For example, cremations used to be done in open air pyres, using up to 600kg of wood. A cremation in a crematorium has a lower environmental impact, (although still a significant impact) but this made it harder for family members to practice the important ritual of lighting the pyre. Many crematoriums have introduced witnessed cremations, a way for families to participate in the cremation, to meet both the cultural need and achieve the technological benefits.
Emerging Alternatives:
There are many exciting and intriguing options that are now available, or in development.
Natural Burial
Natural or green burials involve interring the body in biodegradable materials without the use of embalming fluids. This method promotes the decomposition of the body, allowing it to return to the earth naturally. Natural burials are available in many jurisdictions, including the Canberra region at the Gungahlin Cemetery. This is the most environmentally-friendly option available.
Aquamation (Alkaline Hydrolysis)
Aquamation is a water-based cremation alternative that uses a combination of water, heat, and alkaline chemicals to dissolve the body, leaving only the bones. As in cremation, the bones are then crushed to create the ‘ash’. It has a lower environmental impact compared to traditional cremation, although it uses a lot of water and it does still use energy. Aquamation is a developing option in Australia and is not available in Canberra.
Human Composting
In human composting, the body is placed into a cannister with woodchips and alfalfa. The cannister is gently heated and rotated over six to eight weeks with the body breaking down into soil over that time. This is not available in Australia. It may prove to be a useful, more environmentally friendly option for denser cities, particularly as it provides useable soil for regenerating areas at the end of the process, but it still requires the initial input of the woodchips and alfafa as well as the cannister and energy to operate it over six to eight weeks. If human composting is something that appeals to you, consider natural burial in our region; it’s direct and even more environmentally friendly.
Cryomation
Cryomation uses freeze drying. The body is submerged into liquid nitrogen to freeze and become brittle. The body can then be agitated to break it into smaller pieces which are then freeze dried, reducing it to ‘ashes’ similar to cremation. Cryomation is not available in Australia.
Whatever your personal preference for how you dispose of your body is, it’s exciting and encouraging to think that so much work is being done in this area to improve the choices for all of us and the planet.
Key takeaways:
- The environmental impact of traditional burial and cremation methods is significant
- Innovations in technology are providing methods that are more environmentally friendly
- It is possible to honour our dead, respect diverse cultural beliefs and contribute to a sustainable future for our planet
Further information:
From The Conversation, ‘Funerals will hit 100 million a year by 2060 – here’s how to make them more sustainable.‘
From The Guardian, ‘A greener way to go: what’s the most eco-friendly way to dispose of a body?‘
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