The Real Cost of a “Green Death”

 Like many Americans my first introduction to the concept of modern day “green burial” was in 2005 watching the epic scene in HBO’s Six Feet Under when Nate Fisher, who despite being the reluctant heir of his family’s mortuary business, is lovingly wrapped in cloth and buried on land protected by a nature preserve. 

The environmental impact of our death practices are just as important as the choices we make while we are living but a reluctance to think about mortality along with a lack of information has led to most of us scarcely giving it a thought much less choosing an option that reflects our values, such as the pursuit of medical research, sustainability, or a strong connection to the earth.

 For every individual there are many factors involved in their decision regarding their remains including religion, tradition, values, and let's face it, finances. No person’s choice is wrong. My focus here is to break down what “green options” are available along with the current reality of accessibility. For example, while I would love to utilize body recomposition (AKA- human composting) the environmental and fiscal cost of transporting my body to a state in which that is possible would cancel out any benefit in my mind. 

Here I breakdown the “green options” currently available in the U.S. along with both their monetary and environmental cost so you can make your own informed choices.

Cremation may seem like a newer method but in fact it has been a popular choice for a long time in many parts of the world. In 2015 cremation surpassed traditional burial for the first time in the U.S. Cremation is less costly than a traditional burial along with being widely available. The average cost for cremation is around $3,725. (Although, many body donation companies such as Biogift  will cover the cost of cremation)  While the estimated CO2 impact is around 250 pounds, not an insignificant amount, the reduction of materials used make it a much more sustainable practice than traditional burial.

Green (or natural) Burial is the process of burying a body in a biodegradable coffin or shroud without the use of a concrete vault or chemicals such as embalming fluid. Typically a body is buried approximately 3 feet below ground for the optimal process of decomposition. This is a popular option for those who wish to have an ashes to ashes/dust to dust process without the high price tag or environmental cost of traditional burial although it may be difficult to find a green burial cemetery in your area. This could be a great option if you own land as 47 states do allow for home burial. Check with your county clerk for zoning laws. Typical range for a grave site and interment is between $1,000-5,000. Visit Green Burial Council for more information.

Aquamation, also known as water cremation, uses a process called alkaline hydrolysis to reduce a body to what we refer to as ashes but using only one-seventh of the energy of cremation with no toxic gasses released. It is commonly used for pets in all 50 states while only approved for use with human remains in 21 states. Costs range from $2,000-3,000.  Visit Aquamationinfo.com for more information.

Whole Body Donation is a huge topic to which we could easily devote an entire blog. There are over 65 medical schools in the U.S. that accept full body donations as well as for-profit companies furthering medical research making it very accessible to most individuals. Typically the donor program will incur most, if not all costs, making it perhaps the least expensive option. Environmental costs include the cremation of remains after use as well as transportation of a body, so choosing a donor program close by is important.

Human Composting is a relatively new method which naturally converts remains into soil using organic materials such as wood chips and aeration in a process which takes approximately 6-8 weeks. It is a great option in urban areas where land is scarce. The cost is currently $7,000 but is only offered in Seattle with plans to open in Colorado in 2023, and California in 2027. Additional fiscal and environmental costs include transporting remains to these facilities. Visit Recompose for more information. Another similar option is called a Mushroom burial suit or Infinity Suit. This biodegradable shroud-like material with mushroom spores sewn into the fabric breaks down a body quickly with far less impact to the environment. Only one company ,Caeio , has made this product although they have currently paused production. The cost is $1,500 plus the cost incurred for either traditional or green burial. Interestingly, if used in traditional burial the spores will also help to break down the casket.

Burial at Sea has a very low impact on the environment other than the transportation of a body. It is a potentially very low cost, low impact method. Visit the EPA website for specific criteria.

A body farm is a research facility where remains of humans and other animals can be studied in a variety of settings. Again, with a negligible impact on the environment other than transportation, the seven research facilities in the United States (two of which are in the state of Texas) are all at universities. As bodies decompose, they yield knowledge used for medical, legal and educational purposes. Bodies are used for multiple studies and could be placed out in the open, buried, covered with plastic or put inside a car, for example.

Outdoor Funeral Pyre- The only legal funeral pyre in the U.S. is in Crestone Colorado and is only available to residents with strict oversight. Although, according to Newsweek there is currently a bill in the works in the state of Maine which ,if passed , would allow a non-profit called Good Ground to operate open air cremations.

While so many unconventional methods are growing in popularity it will take an increase in demand to bring many of these options to the average person in the states. I hope the array of possibilities ignites your creativity and perhaps leads you to do your own research or have a conversation with your loved ones about what you would prefer and why. If you would like to have a consultation with us regarding this and other end-of-life topics visit The Art of Dying to request The Art of Pre-planning session.