With the world heading toward an era of ‘peak deaths’, cemeteries running out of room and carbon footprints under the microscope, more people are asking: How can I die without killing the planet?
Eco-friendly funerals are having a major moment. And while it’s a nice sentiment, is there such a thing?
According to Dr. Hannah Gould and Dr. Georgina Robinson from the University of Melbourne’s Death Tech Research Team, a lot of what we’re being sold is pure marketing hype — and the science behind it is surprisingly shaky.
Dodgy data
To figure out how eco-friendly a funeral actually is, researchers use Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs). But as Hannah and Georgina pointed out during a presentation at last week’s Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association conference, the current studies leave a lot to be desired.
Many studies use unrealistic parameters. For example, assuming natural burial graves are dug by hand with shovels rather than excavators, which skews the numbers.
A big chunk of the existing research is conducted or funded by the very companies trying to sell you their ‘green’ alternative.
Most reliable data comes out of the Netherlands, where regulations (like mandatory biodegradable coffins) don’t match how things work elsewhere. Existing research sits low on the ‘evidence pyramid’, leaving us without actionable, peer-reviewed facts.
“There is very little publicly available, highly reliable, reproducible data that can tell you what is the most environmentally friendly or green way to die.”
Cultural anthropologist Dr. Hannah Gould
Stop feeling guilty about your coffin choice
The biggest takeaway about ‘greenwashing’? Stop stressing over whether a traditional burial or cremation is going to ruin the planet.
Logistical details such as flying in out-of-town guests, importing flowers, or driving across town to the chapel or cemetery usually carry a far bigger carbon footprint than the disposition method itself. More importantly, your lifetime environmental impact completely dwarfs whatever happens to your body at the end.
“It cannot fall to the individual to be responsible for the environmental impact of their death… The onus shouldn’t be on the individual. It should be bigger than that.”
Social scientific researcher Georgina Robinson
The bottom line
The news isn’t all bad. Inroads are being made in the sector. While Europe leads the way, and the Australian Government sits on its hands when it comes to cremation emissions, the industry is going it alone, installing costly filtration systems to abate emissions without any regulation that calls for it. Progressive providers are installing hybrid cremators with the ultimate aim of conducting net-zero cremations.
If we want real, eco-friendly death care, the solution isn’t making grieving families feel guilty about their choices. It comes down to real government regulation, industry-wide standards, and independent research.
Until then, according to Hannah Gould, the best way to have a green death is simply living a green life.
How to become a tree
Earlier this year, Hannah and Georgina authored an essay for Aeon. The magazine’s editor wrote the headline. If Hannah had her way, she’d have controversially titled it, “Green death companies are lying to you”.
You can read that HERE.
