Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Consider your final gift to Earth: a green burial
THERE are greener ways to dispose of your body after you die than traditional burials and fire cremations.
Over the past decade, with the rise in concerns about sustainability, combined with a desire to be part of nature or laid to rest in a natural setting, more people are considering the environmental impact of their bodies once they die.
For instance, it’s reported that one traditional cremation sees about 245kg of carbon emissions generated.
Traditional burials also have negative environmental consequences as the chemicals used in the embalming process can leak out and pollute the surrounding soil and waterways.
While cremation has fewer harmful environmental effects than traditional burial, the cremation process releases carbon monoxide, fine soot, sulphur dioxide and heavy metals into the atmosphere. Mercury emissions from dental fillings are of particular concern.
Aquamation
One of the newest types of “cremations” being used is a water burial, however since costs are similar to fire cremations, and the cost of setting up a facility is high, it is not as readily available as other options.
A “water cremation” is said to use five times less energy than a fire cremation. Water cremation, also known as aquamation, resomation and alkaline hydrolysis, brings the body back to skeletal remains.
Avbob says the body is placed in a sterile, stainless-steel chamber.
A combination of gentle water flow, moderate temperatures and alkalinity are then used to hasten the natural process, and all organic material is benignly broken down into its most basic building blocks.
This takes the flesh back to its chemical components – amino acids, peptides, sugars and salts.
At the end, the sterile process water is released for recycling – our bodies are made of about 63% water to begin with – and only the skeleton remains which is then lightly processed into powder and returned to the family in an urn.
In South Africa, this type of burial can cost anything from R12000 to R16000 and upwards.
Avbob says that with aquamation, there is no direct emission of harmful greenhouse gases or mercury into the atmosphere. It is also extremely energy efficient, with more than 90% energy savings compared to flame cremation, and with just a 10th of the carbon footprint. The aquamation process uses as much water as a household uses in a day.
The liquid that remains is sterile, non-toxic and a welcomed addition to the waste water system.
This is the type of burial Archbishop Desmond Tutu chose in order to have an eco-friendly passing.
Green burial
This is the most basic of ecofriendly burial options and involves a natural burial process.
Green burial’s primary purpose is to ensure that the bodies of our deceased can return to the earth in a way that does not poison it, reported the US company, Returning Home.
In short, a green burial means the body is not embalmed, cremated, preserved or treated in any way, with the goal of caring for the dead without impacting the environment.
Green burial cemeteries, says Returning Home, use biodegradable shrouds or coffins without vaults or embalming. Instead, the coffin is made of simple, untreated wood and can decompose naturally. The narrow definition of green burial means simply placing a person in the earth with only biodegradable materials.
Human composting
Terramation gently transforms human remains into nutrient-rich soil that can be used to promote new life. It involves placing the body into a specially purposed vessel with alfalfa, woodchips and sawdust.
Bodies are composted within warm steel vessels containing a vast array of microbes and insects which aid in the decomposition of the body.
Once the process is complete, all that is left is compost and soil. The method takes more than 60 days. No additives, corrosives, or chemicals are used and fertile soil is the result.
Human composting is not available in South Africa.
Eco Pods
Other alternatives include using eco pods as coffins.
Once the biodegradable shell is buried with a body or ashes inside it, it breaks down. The remains inside then give the surrounding soil nutrients, and a sapling planted above the body begins to take root.
Bio-urns
Also on the market are “bio urns”, the world’s first biodegradable urns that can be customised.
Before you die, you can select your seed such as maple, beech, gingko, ash or pine, and then fill the lower capsule with ashes.
Next, you mix it with the upper capsule and plant it. As the tree grows, the biodegradable capsule becomes part of the earth and you end up with a beautiful tree on top of the burial site to serve as a memorial.
Once planted, the tree is secured with a GPS tracker so that relatives of the deceased person can find it.
As of 2020, it is possible to buy various brands of organic burial pods and other zero-waste burial options.
There are a variety of options available locally. However most of them require some sort of cremation beforehand.
The Capsula Mundi company, where you can order an eco pod, is planning to eliminate cremated remains by offering organic burial pods. The organic burial pods (or cremation tree pods) could hold bodies in the foetal position.
Green memorialisation areas
In addition to the options for green burials, the future also sees having memorialisation areas for the scattering of ashes with seeds to create fields of flowers or trees.
Most caskets will be biodegradable and tombstones will be replaced with stone markers and trees planted by family and friends.
The eco-friendly green burials also reduce land wastage as it takes up less space. It also allows cemeteries to feel more comfortable for people to visit. |