Why Our Burial Practices Matter
When we think of death, our minds often turn to the emotional and cultural aspects of loss, but there is a significant environmental impact tied to how we handle the remains of the deceased. Modern western burial practices, while offering a place of reverence and remembrance, can have long-lasting effects on the environment, from disrupting natural decomposition to introducing harmful materials into the earth.
Why Human Decomposition Matters to the Environment
Human decomposition is a vital natural process that contributes to the health and regeneration of the earth. When a body decomposes naturally, it breaks down into organic matter, enriching the surrounding soil with nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. When a body decomposes, it also provides sustenance to various decomposers like bacteria, fungi, and scavengers, which further break down the organic matter. This process enhances soil fertility, supports plant life, and sustains the ecosystem's health.
However, human burial practices, particularly in modern Western cultures, often interfere with or even prevent this natural decomposition process. Over time, our methods of dealing with the dead have increasingly isolated bodies from the environment, limiting the beneficial effects of decomposition and filling our soil, ecosystems, and water with toxic chemicals, some of which take centuries to break down.
My decision to make eco-friendly caskets plays into the process of rapid decomposition. Our remains are meant to benefit the cycle of life and help replenish the earth, which for many is, in itself, a sacred thing. By not using metal, and only using water-soluble glue, my caskets begin to come apart as soon as they get wet. This allows a person's passing to start feeding the soil much sooner.
The Environmental Impact of Modern Burial Practices
Modern burial practices, particularly the use of concrete vaults, caskets, and embalming fluids, have a significant negative impact on the environment.
1. Cement Slabs and Concrete Vaults
One of the most common modern burial practices is the use of cement vaults—sealed concrete or metal containers in which the casket is placed. These vaults are designed to protect the body from the elements and preserve the casket. Ultimately, they prevent the casket and remains from ever decomposing and returning to the earth.
Limited Decomposition: Cement vaults are impermeable to air and water, meaning the body is unable to break down in a natural, aerobic manner. Instead, decomposition occurs anaerobically, producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is far more harmful than carbon dioxide.
Soil Contamination: The chemicals used to create these vaults, such as Portland cement, can leach into the soil over time. This contamination can harm surrounding vegetation and disrupt local ecosystems.
Land Use: The widespread use of concrete vaults and slabs also takes up significant land area, which may prevent natural ecosystems from thriving. Over time, cemetery land becomes an artificial, human-dominated landscape, often devoid of the biodiversity found in natural habitats.
2. Non-Decomposing Caskets
Another key component of traditional burials is the use of non-biodegradable caskets, which are often made from metals (such as steel or bronze) or hardwoods. While some caskets may be made from biodegradable materials like wicker or cardboard, most are designed to be durable and resistant to decomposition.
Metal Caskets: Metal caskets, commonly made from steel, copper, or bronze, do not decompose naturally. These materials can persist in the earth for centuries, hindering the breakdown of the body within. While metals may eventually corrode, the process takes much longer than it would if the body were allowed to decompose naturally.
Wooden Caskets: Even wooden caskets, which may seem like a more natural option, are often treated with preservatives, stains, and lacquers that prevent biodegradation. As a result, these caskets may remain intact for decades or longer, delaying the decomposition of the body and preventing the organic nutrients from being returned to the earth.
Plastics & Synthetic Materials: Many modern caskets and burial garments are made with plastics or synthetic materials that do not biodegrade. These materials can persist in the soil for hundreds or even thousands of years, leading to long-term pollution of the burial site.
3. Embalming Chemicals
Did you know that it wasn't until the Civil War that funeral homes became a thing? Soldiers dying hundreds (or even thousands) of miles from home had to be shipped back to their homes for burial. Sometimes this happened in the heat of summer, and of course, there was no refrigeration at that time. People found that by injecting the bodies with arsenic, they could keep the body from rotting and get them home for burial.
From there, those same people decided that they could handle the burial for people who were not comfortable dealing with long-dead bodies that had turned green from the arsenic. That was the start of burying remains 6-feet down where nothing grows, as opposed to 3 feet down where the bio-zone is still alive and can benefit from the decomposition of bodies.
Over time, these practices evolved into modern-day embalming, which has become a common practice in many cultures, particularly in the United States. Embalming involves the use of toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, methanol, and glutaraldehyde to preserve the body temporarily.
Soil & Water Contamination: Embalming fluids can seep into the ground and contaminate nearby soil and water sources. Formaldehyde, for example, is a known carcinogen and is highly toxic to aquatic life. Its presence in burial grounds can lead to long-term environmental damage, including harm to local wildlife and the contamination of drinking water supplies.
Air Pollution: During cremation, the chemicals in embalmed bodies can release toxic fumes into the air, contributing to air pollution. While cremation is seen as a more efficient disposal method than burial, it still has negative environmental impacts, especially when combined with embalming practices.
The Consequences of Non-Decomposing Burials
The cumulative effects of traditional burial practices can be profound. As modern society continues to rely on these methods, several long-term environmental issues emerge:
1. Land Degradation
Cemeteries that use concrete vaults, non-decomposing caskets, and embalming chemicals are often devoid of the natural regeneration processes that healthy ecosystems depend on. As the decomposition process is stalled, nutrients that would normally return to the soil and benefit local plant life are locked away, preventing the restoration of the land.
Monocultures: Many cemeteries are maintained with a focus on aesthetic consistency rather than biodiversity. Grass and ornamental plants are often the only living things present in cemeteries, creating monocultures that are more vulnerable to pests and diseases. The lack of biodiversity reduces the overall health of the land, making it less resilient to environmental changes.
Wasted Land: Burial plots that remain sealed off by vaults and caskets are no longer contributing to the natural regeneration of plant and animal life. Over time, these plots can become degraded, leading to wasted land that could otherwise be used for agriculture, forestry, or wildlife conservation.
2. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
As mentioned earlier, one of the key issues with sealed coffins and vaults is that they slow down or prevent natural decomposition. When bodies decompose anaerobically, they produce methane, which has will do an estimated 84% more harm to the environment than CO2. In fact, it’s estimated that over 800,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions are produced annually by the U.S. burial industry alone, mainly due to the use of concrete vaults and the slow breakdown of bodies in sealed environments.
What Can Be Done: Sustainable Burial Alternatives
The good news is that there are eco-friendly alternatives that reduce the environmental impact of traditional burial practices. These methods not only allow for natural decomposition but also promote sustainability:
Green Burial: In a green burial, the body is placed in a biodegradable casket or shroud, and no embalming fluids are used. Green burial sites avoid the use of concrete vaults, allowing the body to decompose naturally, enriching the soil and supporting the surrounding ecosystem.
Natural Cemeteries: Some cemeteries are now dedicated to natural burials, where bodies are buried without the use of vaults or toxic chemicals. These cemeteries often focus on maintaining native plant species, supporting wildlife habitats, and minimizing human disruption to the land.
Tree Planting: Some burial options include planting a tree or other vegetation on top of the grave, helping to offset the carbon footprint of the burial and promoting ecological restoration. These “living memorials” not only contribute to the environment but also create a lasting legacy for the deceased.
Human Composting: Also known as terrestrial human decomposition, this process involves placing the body in a controlled environment where it naturally decomposes into nutrient-rich compost. This process can be used to fertilize plants and contribute positively to the soil, reducing the environmental impact of death care.
Conclusion: Rethinking Death Care for a Healthier Planet
Human decomposition is a crucial part of the earth’s natural cycle. When burial practices interfere with this process, they can cause lasting environmental damage, from soil contamination and greenhouse gas emissions to the destruction of local ecosystems. By embracing more sustainable burial practices like green burials and human composting, we can reduce the negative impact of traditional funeral rites and help restore balance to the environment. Ultimately, the way we handle death can be as much about honoring the earth as it is about honoring the deceased.
As we move toward more sustainable and natural end-of-life practices, it’s time to rethink how we leave our legacy—not just in memories, but in our contribution to the planet.
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