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Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Some cultures shy away from the uncomfortable topic of death, while others accept it more readily. No matter what category we fall into, this is still an important topic, and one that will affect all of us at some point.
One way that may help people find more peace with the concept, is to see it as an opportunity to make one last stand for our planet.
This Page
This Page
On this page we provide a listing of various types of burial and burial alternatives. These include memorial forests, coral reefs made with human or pet ashes, aquamation or water burial (there are many names for this new method), cremation, and more.
Eco-Friendly Types of "Burial"
Eco-Friendly Types of "Burial"
"A 2017 study conducted at the request of the City of Paris found that traditional burials generate, on average, 833 kilograms (or almost 1 ton) of carbon dioxide, nearly the equivalent of a round-trip flight between Paris and New York. Cremation produces an average of 233 kilograms (500 pounds), and burial without a tombstone, 182 kilograms (400 pounds)." - Bloomberg: Paris Has Opened Its First Green Cemetery
Burial
Burial
Problems with Burial
Problems with Burial
Harmful Chemicals
Chemicals including embalming fluids, the toxic chemicals used to prevent caskets from rotting, microplastics or other cloth-related contaminants, as well as the lime powder or Calcium Carbonate added into the coffin and surrounding area all negatively impact the soil. These chemicals negatively impact natural decomposition, but threaten the living by polluting local groundwater supplies.
Space Usage
Burial takes up a lot of space, especially when bodies are spread out or placed in bulky, long-lived containers such as hardwood coffins or under/inside stone structures.
In Europe where many generations combined with catastrophic plagues required repeated burials of bodies on top of other bodies, the ground level of graveyards now stands above the land outside of the containing church walls.
In urban space where room for the living is becoming increasingly expensive, wasting space to house corpses long-term becomes increasingly counterproductive and wasteful.
Reasons for Reduction of Decomposition Rate
Human bodies are made of complex protein, which contain nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen. These require special bacteria to break them into soil.
90% of the deceased have died due to medical reason, so have been exposed to antibiotics. These antibiotics cause the body tissues to become hard, making it difficult for soil bacteria to work on them
Lime powder/ Calcium Carbonate is added into the coffin and also to the grave-soil,at the time of burial. There is no dosage or proportion as per body weight, which has caused the soil to become alkaline and hard, making it difficult for decomposing bacteria to survive.
Embalming has become a practice in case of the financially well- off members of the community, more so a necessity as the family awaits for arrival of family members residing overseas, to attend the funeral of the dear departed. Embalming is done by injecting Formalin into the dead body, which actually mummifies the body, making it difficult for bacteria to decompose it.
Teak wood coffins and synthetic clothing are used to bury the dead. Teak wood is strong, durable, resistant to termites and bacteria, heat and water.. Once the body is placed inside the teak wood coffin, there is minimum exposure to Oxygen, the main requirement for natural decomposition. - https://oshindia.com/mumbai/osh-e-connect/Eco-Friendly-Revival-of-Graveyards-and-Green-Burial-System-A-Case-Study-WithAddtional-Applications
Cremation
Cremation
Cremation is the burning of a person's remains, but it can be done in various ways, and these different methods can produce varying amounts of pollution, including heavy metals and greenhouse gases.
Average Cremation: ~ 233 kilograms (500 pounds)
Natural Gas Cremation: ~ 245 kg of carbon
Mercury Pollution
Mercury Pollution
Cremation is increasingly gaining popularity even in societies where religious influence on cremation is not high, due to space limitations for cemeteries. Most of the mercury released during cremation is due to the vaporisation of dental amalgam fillings that contain mercury.
The typical cremation process includes the charging of the coffin and corpse, incineration in the main combustion chamber and, where applicable, final treatment in the afterburning chamber. Most cremation furnaces are fired using oil or natural gas, although some operate on electricity.
Most crematoria around the world still have no controls on emissions, although legislation is increasing because for instance in the Netherlands, the average number of fillings is expected to increase from 3.2 to 5.1 during the period 1995-2020 (OSPAR, 2002). This means that the emissions from cremations in the Netherlands will double between 2002 and 2020, unless abatement measures are introduced.
In the UK it has been calculated that by 2020 crematoria will be by far the largest single contributor to mercury emissions (just over 25% of the UK mercury emissions to air) unless action is taken (AEA, 2004)." - Zero Mercury: Mercury in Processes: Crematoria
Greenhouse Emissions
Greenhouse Emissions
"Many people assume cremations are environmentally friendly because they don’t require any person or products to be buried in the ground. However, the process can actually release a lot of CO2.
A report by the Cemetery Development Services (CDS)found that approximately 245 kg of carbon is released into the atmosphere with every gas cremation.
Progress is being made though with many manufactures moving towards electric cremators, instead of gas. According to the CDS report, electric cremators release around 90% less carbon compared to convention gas cremators." - A Guide to Green Funerals in Australia
Aquamation or Alkaline Hydrolysis
Aquamation or Alkaline Hydrolysis
"Alkaline hydrolysis generally takes place in a large stainless-steel tank. Once the body is inside the chamber, it is filled with 95% water and 5% of the hydroxide. The machine is heated to a rate where an organic effect ensues to dissolve hair along with the body. In a few hours’ time, all that remains of the remains are any metal implants, dental fillings, and very soft and porous bone pieces. The liquid left in the machine has been named the “effluent,” and it looks like a light brown tea. This fluid is the result of the physical breakdown of the body into its most basic elements of salt, amino acids, and peptides.
The remaining bone fragments are reduced to very fine granules resembling white powder. They can be placed in an urn and returned to the family for burial, inurnment, or scattering. This form of human remains does not harm the ecosystem. Some families opt to also take home some of the effluent solution for fertilizing or watering their grass, trees and non-edible gardens." - Global Green Burial Alliance: Alkaline Hydrolysis
"... aquamation does not emit any greenhouse gases or mercury. When compared to flame cremation, it uses 90% less energy and only produces one-tenth the carbon footprint. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises alkaline hydrolysis as a more sustainable interment method because it has significantly less of an environmental impact. It is also a viable alternative to traditional burials, as it does not necessitate land at a cemetery or require embalming fluid and other chemicals that pollute the environment.
Aquamation only uses around 600 litres, which is about as much water as a single household requires daily. The water that remains after the process is sterile and can be used in the normal wastewater system. 99% of the water used is returned to wastewater treatment facilities and recycled. Families and loved ones then receive the remains in an urn and are free to care for them as they wish." - AVBOB: Aquamation - Environmentally Friendly Funerals
Artificial Reef Burial - Memorial Reefs
Artificial Reef Burial - Memorial Reefs
These are usually used just for humans, but at least one of these memorial reef parks also accepts the remains of beloved pets.
Mushroom Suit Burial
Mushroom Suit Burial
Tree Burial
Tree Burial
This method involves planting a tree on the grave site, eventually creating a new forest. This is one of the many alternative land uses to raising livestock, that can help reverse habitat loss and degradation.
Services by Location
Services by Location
Click the Burial Sites & Services button to learn about places in your area where you or a loved one can be laid to rest using eco-friendly methods.
Regulations Around Green-Burial by Location
Regulations Around Green-Burial by Location
Organizations
Organizations
Certain types of burial aren't legal or available in certain areas. Many of the organizations listed in this section seek to help change that, or are engaged with education and legislation, to ensure high standards of safety and environmental responsiblity. Others focus on scientific study, or some combination of all the above topics.
Europe
Europe
Finland
Finland
Suomen Luontohautausliitto "on voittoa tavoittelematon aatteellinen yhdistys. Luontohautausliiton arvopohja rakentuu vahvasti ekologisuuden ja luonnon kunnioittamisen periaatteille. Pyrimme toiminnallamme edistämään ympäristön hyvinvointia ja tarjoamaan vastuullisia ratkaisuja hautausperinteisiin."
France
France
Humo Sapiens "Transformer nos corps en humus, nos tombes en arbres et nos cimetières en forêts
Notre association agit pour rendre accessible en France une alternative funéraire inspirée du cycle du vivant – la terramation – permettant de régénérer l’environnement, de donner du sens à la mort et d’ouvrir de nouveaux imaginaires de société."
UK
UK
Crematoria Abatement Mercury Emissions Organisation (CAMEO) "a crematoria abatement system scheme in 2006. This is a burden-sharing scheme where all members pay per cremation, then receive payment per abatement. This scheme was set to enable a phased approach which was not in government recommendations with targets: by 2008, 10% of cremations abated, by 2010, 20% and by 2012, 50%."
North America
North America
Canada
Canada
The Green Burial Council (GBC) "was founded in 2005 by Joe Sehee to ensure consumers would be served by having verifiable standards for green funeral enterprises.
develops and maintains certification standards for cemeteries, funeral homes, and product providers and all certification is conducted by independent third-party experts. Three types of cemeteries are certified by the GBC*:
hybrid, an area within a conventional cemetery where burial occurs without a concrete vault, chemical embalming, and with a biodegradable container,
natural, where all three elements are employed in a cemetery dedicated to natural burial, and
conservation, where a land trust entity preserves land that is in part used for burial.
creates, evaluates, and disseminates educational resources, including:
blog, and newsletter,
peer-to-peer forums
burial stories,
curated collection of books, articles, blogs, and videos,
opportunities for public and professional engagement,
outreach tools and speaker’s bureau,
recommended readings, and
courses about operating a green cemetery and creating green funeral services."
USA
USA
The Green Burial Council (GBC) "was founded in 2005 by Joe Sehee to ensure consumers would be served by having verifiable standards for green funeral enterprises.
develops and maintains certification standards for cemeteries, funeral homes, and product providers and all certification is conducted by independent third-party experts. Three types of cemeteries are certified by the GBC*:
hybrid, an area within a conventional cemetery where burial occurs without a concrete vault, chemical embalming, and with a biodegradable container,
natural, where all three elements are employed in a cemetery dedicated to natural burial, and
conservation, where a land trust entity preserves land that is in part used for burial.
creates, evaluates, and disseminates educational resources, including:
blog, and newsletter,
peer-to-peer forums
burial stories,
curated collection of books, articles, blogs, and videos,
opportunities for public and professional engagement,
outreach tools and speaker’s bureau,
recommended readings, and
courses about operating a green cemetery and creating green funeral services."
Maps
Maps
North America
North America
Green Burial Provider Maps (Interactive) "These two maps, GBC-Certified Cemeteries and Products and Certified Funeral Homes Across North America, give you quick and easy access to locate providers near you in North America. Scroll down on maps to see the providers list below in alphabetical order."
Canada
Canada
Green Burial Provider Maps (Interactive) "These two maps, GBC-Certified Cemeteries and Products and Certified Funeral Homes Across North America, give you quick and easy access to locate providers near you in North America. Scroll down on maps to see the providers list below in alphabetical order."
USA
USA
Eternal Reefs: Scheduled Locations (Interactive)
Green Burial Provider Maps (Interactive) "These two maps, GBC-Certified Cemeteries and Products and Certified Funeral Homes Across North America, give you quick and easy access to locate providers near you in North America. Scroll down on maps to see the providers list below in alphabetical order."
Related Topics
Related Topics
Wakes & Ceremonies
Wakes & Ceremonies
We all say goodbye in our own unique ways, both culturally and as individuals. Many of us adhere to certain ceremonies or customs in order to celebrate the life and impact of the deceased person.
Grants & Subsidies
Grants & Subsidies
Asia
Asia
China
China
Jiangsu
"Government incentives for such burials are implemented in various regions. Jiangsu has allocated about 180 million yuan (about 24.9 million U.S. dollars) in eco-burial subsidies over the past three years. In Beijing, families choosing public sea burials can be granted a subsidy of 4,000 yuan."
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