793: Death | Skeptical Sunday

Green Burials

David C. Smalley and Jordan Harbinger explore the concept of green burials, which aim to minimize environmental impact. Green burials avoid embalming fluids, concrete vaults, and polished monuments, using only biodegradable containers and hand-dug graves 1. This approach allows the body to decompose naturally, returning to the earth as intended 2.

The biodegradable container is a very small box and it basically just disintegrates into the earth within about three to six months, something like that. And then so does your body, and usually within about 12 months, there's no evidence of any burial at all.

--- David C. Smalley

David emphasizes the importance of public knowledge and willingness to consider these eco-friendly options 1.

   

Environmental Impact

Traditional funerals and cremations have significant environmental impacts, including the use of 4.3 million gallons of embalming fluid annually and CO2 emissions from cremations equivalent to 52,000 cars 1. David explains that embalming is often unnecessary and based on outdated practices, with refrigeration being a sufficient alternative 3. Green burials offer a more sustainable option by eliminating these harmful practices.

Living bodies are far more dangerous than dead ones. Viruses can only live in a corpse for a few hours at most, and dead bodies can't cough or sneeze to spread viruses anyway.

--- Caitlin Doughty

David and Jordan highlight the need for awareness and change in funeral practices to reduce environmental harm 2.