​2024 © Copyright Lee Webster

Final Disposition (what happens to a body after death):
Comparison of Potential Environmental Benefits and Cost

Natural Burial (green burial, conservation burial)
  • Sequesters 25 lbs. of carbon per person
  • Protects land for community use; protects animal habitat
  • Avoids environmental harms of embalming, use of concrete or metal grave liners, and imported or manufactured casket materials
Flame Cremation
  • Emits 250 to 536 lbs. of carbon per person
  • Burns fossil fuels (natural gas) 2 - 3 hours at 1700 - 1900° F 
  • Releases mercury, nitrous oxide, and particulate matter into air and water (Minnesota study 14% of mercury emission attributable to crematories)
  • Nutrients incinerated or locked and unavailable
  • Phosphorus run-off from scattering creates algae bloom that kills fish and plants; girdles trees, killing microbial and plant communities
  • Increased risk of radiopharmaceutical contamination for crematory operators (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2.26.19)
  • Final product: 7 - 10+ lbs. of pulverized bone comprised of calcium phosphate and sodium (pH of 11.8; 200 – 2000x too alkaline for plants/roots to tolerate)
Alkaline Hydrolysis (water cremation, bio cremation, aquamation, aqua cremation)
  • Emits 150 to 250 lbs. of carbon per person through applying 100 - 300 gallons of 200 - 350◦ water pressure in a potassium hydroxide alkaline solution (lye) for 3 - 12 hours
  • Cytotoxins and embalming fluid neutralized; mercury captured but not mitigated
  • Uses 80% less energy than flame cremation; emits 20% less CO2
  • Leftover: 100 – 300 gallons of effluent, no current regulations for safe disposal
  • Final product: 10 – 15 lbs. finely pulverized bone (20 -32% more than flame cremation, needing larger urns)
Human Composting (natural organic reduction (NOR), terramation, soil transformation, Precision Organics)
  • Carbon emissions inestimable at this time that include:
    • Industrial facility construction if in an urban or suburban setting
    • Commercial production and transport of feedstock and bulking agents such as alfalfa and wood chips used for the comporting process (for reference, alfalfa production uses a third of the water needed for livestock irrigation which accounts for 86% of the water draining the Colorado River Basin)  
    • Fuel to transport and dispose of a pick-up truck’s load quantity of leftover composted material for each composted body to a separate location
    • Resulting composted material can be retained by the family or donated.
    • Material may be disposed of on established, non-profit conservation property to support soil restoration in depleted areas (beware of surface dumping that is not part of a conservation plan).
  • Takes 2+/- months for microbes to break down tissue
  • Low impact if managed as natural decomposition in a non-industrial setting
  • Fuel costs to control temperature, humidity, and other facility functions in industrial facilities
  • Bones removed, pulverized, returned to mix
  • Final product: 1 - 1.5+ cubic yards leftover composted material to transport (approx. 1,685.55 lbs./+ disposed of pp, or one truckload)
For a comprehensive analysis of NOR compared to conservation burial, see Carbon Benefits of Conservation Burial

For research-based information on environmentally responsible disposition options, see:
Cremation Curious https://vimeo.com/767868604
The Natural Burial Experience https://vimeo.com/769978957

​For educational programs and courses focusing on end-of-life issues, go to:
RedesigningtheEnd.com https://www.redesigningtheend.com