Sustainable Afterlife Choices
Choosing an Eco-Friendly Burial: Why I Want My Body to Be Eaten by Animals When I Die
The traditional funeral industry promotes the idea of human exceptionalism, with a focus on the protection, sanitation, and beautification of the corpse. However, this approach is not sustainable and can be harmful to the environment. As a recent vegetarian and someone who has worked in the funeral industry for nine years, I have come to understand the importance of rethinking death and exploring new options for an eco-friendly burial.
One such option that has piqued my interest is having my body laid out to be eaten by animals after I die. While this may sound unconventional, it is not without precedent. Exposure burial, or sky burial in the mountainous regions of Tibet, and the Parsi religion’s Towers of Silence in Mumbai are examples of cultural practices where the dead are left for animals to consume.
Accepting that we are animals ourselves means acknowledging that we are doomed to decay and die, just like any other creature on earth. Instead of chemically embalming and burying ourselves in concrete or metal vaults, why not let nature take its course and allow our bodies to be consumed by other animals?
This alternative approach to burial not only reduces waste and harm to the environment but also offers a more humble and self-aware way of approaching death. While it may not be for everyone, exploring new options for eco-friendly burial can lead to a more sustainable future and a deeper connection with the natural world.
The Environmental Impact of the Funeral Industry
The funeral industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that prioritizes the protection, sanitation, and beautification of the corpse. However, this approach is not without its negative impact on the environment. Traditional burials involve the use of caskets made of hardwood or metal with rubber sealants, which not only use up valuable resources but also take up space in vast underground fortresses.
Embalming, another common practice in the funeral industry, involves the use of formaldehyde, a toxic and carcinogenic chemical that is not only harmful to the embalmer but also to the environment. Furthermore, the process of embalming drains the blood from the body and replaces it with formaldehyde, preventing the natural process of decomposition.
Cremation, often considered the environmentally friendly option, also has its drawbacks. It uses a considerable amount of energy and releases harmful gases into the atmosphere. Additionally, cremation produces a natural gas equivalent to a 500-mile car trip per cremation.
These practices ignore the fact that there is beauty in decay and the natural return to the earth from whence we came. By exploring new options for eco-friendly burial, we can reduce waste and harm to the environment while hugging the natural cycle of life and death.
The Issues with Traditional Burial and Embalming
Traditional burial and embalming practices not only harm the environment but also promote the idea of human exceptionalism. Embalming involves the use of formaldehyde, which not only poses health risks to the embalmer but also to the environment. It also prevents the natural process of decomposition, which is an essential part of the ecosystem’s cycle.
Burial involves the use of caskets made of hardwood or metal with rubber sealants, which take up valuable resources and space in vast underground fortresses. The use of concrete or metal vaults further wastes resources and takes up space. These practices promote the idea that humans are exceptional and deserving of special treatment, ignoring the fact that we are a part of the natural world and subject to the same laws of nature as other animals.
Furthermore, these practices can be emotionally messy and complex affairs, and there is beauty in decay. By exploring new options for eco-friendly burial, we can not only reduce waste and harm to the environment but also hug the natural cycle of life and death.
The Advantages of Composting the Dead
Composting the dead is an innovative approach to burial that not only reduces waste and harm to the environment but also allows the body to return to the earth in a natural way. The process involves laying the dead body in a nutrient-rich mixture that reduces the body, including bones, to soil in four to six weeks. In this way, the molecules of the body become other molecules and transform the body into something new.
This system, called “Recomposition,” has been used for years in composting livestock and is now being considered as a potential solution for human burial. Unlike traditional cremation, where inorganic bone fragments form a thick, chalky layer that can harm or even kill a tree if not distributed properly, composting the dead can nourish the soil and promote the growth of native plants and animals.
In addition, composting allows for families to participate in the burial process and lays the foundation for more eco-friendly options in the future. This approach also has the potential to promote conservation by purchasing large swaths of land for “conservation burial,” where the graves are scattered about the property under elegant mounds, marked only by a rock or small metal disk, or sometimes only locatable by GPS.
Composting the dead is a novel approach to burial that aligns with the natural cycle of life and death, promotes conservation, and reduces waste and harm to the environment.
Conservation Burial: A Solution to the Cemetery Crisis
Conservation burial is a new approach to burial that addresses the issues of land scarcity and the unsustainable practices of traditional burial methods. The idea behind conservation burial is to purchase large areas of land for burial purposes and to use sustainable practices that allow the land to remain untouched and undisturbed.
With conservation burial, there are no traditional headstones or graves in the usual sense. Instead, graves are marked with rocks or small metal disks, or sometimes only locatable by GPS. This approach allows the dead to blend seamlessly with the landscape and promotes the re-introduction of native plants and animals to the area.
Moreover, conservation burial allows for the family to participate in the burial process by planting native trees or shrubs on the grave site. This not only beautifies the area but also allows the dead to become part of the cycle of life, contributing to the growth and health of the surrounding ecosystem.
Conservation burial is a promising solution to the issues of land scarcity and the unsustainable practices of traditional burial methods. It promotes sustainability, allows for family participation, and offers a way to preserve the natural beauty of the land while still honoring the dead.
Rethinking Death: New Options for a More Eco-Friendly Future
The funeral industry is beginning to shift towards more eco-friendly options for death. One such option is recomposition, also known as natural organic reduction, which involves composting the body instead of cremating or burying it. This process uses less energy and produces less carbon emissions than traditional cremation.
Another alternative is water cremation, also known as aquamation or alkaline hydrolysis. This method uses water and alkali to dissolve the body instead of burning it. It uses less energy and releases fewer emissions than traditional cremation.
Aside from these options, more people are also considering home funerals or green burials, which involve natural decomposition without the use of embalming chemicals or caskets.
As individuals, we can also take steps to make our end-of-life choices more eco-friendly. This includes opting for a natural burial, using biodegradable caskets or shrouds, and avoiding embalming chemicals.
Overall, rethinking death and exploring new options for more eco-friendly end-of-life practices is crucial for our planet’s future. By reducing our environmental impact in death, we can contribute to a more sustainable future for generations to come.
The beauty of decay and natural return to the earth
The idea of returning to nature and hugging the beauty of decay is a concept that is often overlooked in modern death rituals. We have become so focused on preserving the body and hiding it away in elaborate tombs and caskets that we forget that death is a natural process. In fact, the natural return of organic matter to the earth is a crucial part of the cycle of life.
Hugging the beauty of decay means accepting the fact that our bodies will eventually decompose and become a part of the natural world once again. Instead of fighting this process with chemicals and elaborate burials, we can choose to allow our bodies to return to the earth in a more natural way. This can involve practices like conservation burial or composting, which allow the body to decompose and nourish the earth.
As the speaker in the video points out, there is beauty in decay. The process of decomposition is not something to be feared or avoided, but rather something to be hugged. By allowing our bodies to decompose naturally, we can contribute to the cycle of life and help to nourish the earth in a meaningful way.
Ultimately, the beauty of decay lies in the fact that it represents the natural order of things. It is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we are all a part of something much greater than ourselves. By hugging this process and allowing our bodies to return to the earth, we can find peace and comfort in the knowledge that we are a part of something much larger and more beautiful than we could ever imagine.
Why our current funeral industry is not working for everyone
The current funeral industry is based on the principle of protection, sanitation, and beautification of the corpse. However, this model promotes the idea of human exceptionalism and ignores the fact that death can be a messy and complex affair. Furthermore, it is not sustainable as it wastes resources and relies heavily on chemicals.
Many people are looking for alternative ways to honor their loved ones and the planet. The funeral industry should offer options that are environmentally friendly and reflect the values of the deceased. Conservation burial is one solution where large swaths of land are purchased by a land trust, and the graves are scattered about the property under elegant mounds, marked only by a rock or a small metal disk.
Another option is composting the dead, also known as “Recomposition.” Bodies are laid in a nutrient-rich mixture that reduces the body, bones and all, to soil in four to six weeks. This soil can then be used to nourish a tree, becoming a post-mortem contribution to the environment.
The funeral industry should prioritize the natural return of the body to the earth, rather than promoting the illusion of embalming and beautification. By rethinking death and offering more eco-friendly options, we can make bold moves in how we see ourselves as citizens of this planet.
Conclusion
Death is a topic that we often shy away from, but it is an inevitable part of life. The way we approach death and funerals has a significant impact on the environment and the world we leave behind for future generations. The traditional funeral industry, with its focus on embalming and burial, is not sustainable and is damaging to the planet.
However, there are alternatives. By hugging options such as natural burials, composting, and conservation burials, we can reduce our environmental impact and create a more sustainable future. These alternatives also offer a more personalized and meaningful way to say goodbye to our loved ones, in a way that aligns with our values and beliefs.
The beauty of decay and natural return to the earth is a reminder that death is a part of the natural cycle of life. By hugging this cycle, we can create a more peaceful and harmonious relationship with the earth.
It is time to rethink the way we approach death and funerals. We have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the planet and create a legacy that we can be proud of. Let us hug new ideas and new ways of thinking about death, and work together to create a more eco-friendly future.