Caring about the world we leave behind
Burial or cremation ? Which will it be ? That ’ s the usual question for most of us here in Australia . But there are alternatives , and I ’ m not talking about Sky Burials used by the Black Feet Indians of Montana ( which are rare nowadays because of the decline in the vulture population due to climate change ).
Speaking of climate change , did you know that “ the energy needed to cremate a single body is equivalent to the power an average person uses in a month ”? And that “ in the long run , burial generates more emissions than cremation ” ( 10 %) due to maintaining the gravesite ( think power power )? And then there ’ s all that methane …
So what are the alternatives ?
Green Funerals : burial without the preservatives , grave liner or vault or headstone .
Wicker Caskets and Coffins : cheaper , carbon neutral , decompose quickly and allow airflow ( less methane produced )
Bio Urns : The two available in Australia are 1 ) Soul Trees - urns made from coconut shells , cellulose and compacted peat ; and 2 ) ( for those wanting to scatter the ashes on the ocean , etc ) Eco Water Urns - 100 % natural and biodegradable containers that slowly sink into the water .
Aquamation : Or water cremation where the body is placed in potassium hydroxide solution and dissolves . Less than 10 % of emission of traditional cremation . Chosen by Desmond Tutu .
Mushroom Burial Suit : a biodegradable garment that uses fungi as a natural decomposer .
Leave Your Body to Science : e . g . The Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research ( AFTERS )
And for those sticking with the traditional , perhaps just a funeral with no plastic and sustainable transport to the church and gravesite . Those little things do count .
So apparently you CAN do good from “ The Other Side ”.
Information taken from “ Death is not the end …” by Michaela Burns ( no relation ), RENEW Magazine , Issue 159 , 2022 .
- Barbara Burns
St Margaret ’ s News 14 August 2022