Burial

Traditional burials

Traditional burials can have negative impacts on the environment due to the use of virgin resources in the materials used such as wood, steel and concrete, the toxic chemicals often involved and the creation of greenhouse gases. However, there are alternatives available to help mitigate these impacts.

Natural burials

Natural burials mitigate many of the environmental issues associated with traditional burials by allowing bodies to decompose naturally. These burials do not use coffins, vaults, concrete or chemicals; opting instead for biodegradable shrouds or caskets made from biodegradable materials such as cardboard. Bodies are buried at a shallower depth, without preservatives and in biodegradable materials, allowing for decomposition with oxygen (aerobic), which reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Burial locations are marked by GPS coordinates and with time the land is restored to natural vegetation and trees, and may be used for another purpose such as grazing farm animals. A natural burial is the most sustainable burial option.

Sustainable coffin and casket options

If you or a family member would prefer to have a coffin or casket rather than use a biodegradable shroud, there are many biodegradable options including untreated formaldehyde-free wood, cardboard, fair-trade certified bamboo, wicker, seagrass, water hyacinth, banana leaf and felted woollen coffins. Some caskets are even embedded with tree seedlings which take root as the casket decomposes. It is also possible to rent a casket with a separately sold cardboard inner. The casket can then be returned to be reused by another family.

If a more traditional coffin is important to you, look for coffins made from sustainably sourced wood rather than virgin sources and endangered trees. You can even purchase 'Shelves for life' that can be used during your life and then easily transformed to a coffin after your death. Remember to reduce your shopping miles as much as possible when purchasing the coffin that you choose, by ensuring that it isn't transported too far from where it is manufactured.

Sustainable approaches to traditional burials

If you feel that a traditional burial is the only option for you or one of your loved ones, there are simple ways you can make this approach more sustainable.

• Choose a simple, locally sourced, metal-free coffin and a cemetery that doesn't require a cement vault.
• Choose a coffin made from biodegradable materials such as cardboard or sustainably sourced wood.
• Use non-toxic embalming fluids such as those made from essential oils, rather than toxic embalming fluids such as formaldehyde, or forgo the embalming process completely (refrigeration and dry ice are other options).

Cremation

Traditional cremation

Cremation is often mistakenly believed to be a sustainable approach to end of life arrangements because land is not used for a burial and then maintained as a gravesite. Cremations are a significant polluter, however, as they use a large amount of fuel (natural gas and electricity) to create sufficiently high temperatures for the process. Cremations release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, together with pollutants associated with the combustion of coffin materials, and mercury from dental fillings. However, there are more sustainable options that can even help regenerate the environment through tree planting and protecting marine life.

Sustainable urn options

Choose an urn made from biodegradable materials such as soluble salt, coconut shell, compacted peat and cellulose. Hundred per cent biodegradable urns are available, some containing the seed of a tree. Plant the urn once remains have been placed in it and eventually the entire structure becomes fertiliser for the tree. If you must choose a wooden urn, ensure that it is made from sustainable sources.

Sustainable approaches to traditional cremation

If you feel that a traditional cremation is the only option for you or one of your loved ones, there are simple ways you can make this approach more sustainable.

• Enhance ocean ecosystems by creating a memorial reef. These artificial reefs consist of cremated remains combined with environmentally safe cement mixture, which is then place in the ocean to support marine life.
• Rent a coffin or use a coffin made from biodegradable materials rather than needlessly burning valuable coffin materials.
• Buy carbon offsets to compensate for the energy used during the cremation process and the greenhouse gases and pollution released.
• Request for teeth containing dental fillings to be removed prior to cremation to prevent the release of mercury.

Whole body donations for organs or science

Organ and tissue donations

Organ and tissue donation is only possible after cardiac or brain death in hospital. Having cancer or infectious disease may exclude you from the donor program, but smokers, heavy drinkers and even people with hepatitis C are not necessarily excluded. Organs that are not appropriate for transplantation can still be used for medical research through associations such as the Victorian Brain Bank. Register your wishes for organ and tissue donation by logging onto the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR). Family members have the final say with regard to organ donation so it's important to discuss your wishes with them.

Body and organ donations to science

Bodies donated to science are used for teaching, study, examination and investigation of human anatomy. Most of the bodies are used to train future healthcare professionals including medical, dental and physiotherapy students. Donations are accepted by medical schools such as Melbourne University, and associations such as the Victorian Brain Bank. As with organ and tissue donations, not all bodies can be accepted, such as those that have had organs removed for donation at the time of death.

Donated bodies are generally embalmed to preserve natural tissues and are cremated after they have been used for scientific purposes. At this point the ashes are offered back to the family. Contact the university or organisation to which you plan to donate to confirm the type of embalming process (formaldehyde or natural alternatives) and cremation (traditional or aquamation). Some institutions offer a regular memorial service for the relatives of donors to express the students' and the university's gratitude to those people who have donated. The use of cadavers or cadaver parts is governed by the Human Tissue Act 1982 (Victoria). Family members have the final say with regard to body donation so it is important to discuss your wishes with them.