Why we need alternatives to traditional burial and cremation

We need viable and sustainable alternatives to traditional burial and cremation for several reasons, not least to save the planet.

Why Are Alternatives to Traditional Essential?

Traditional Burial

Firstly, while this is a global issue, in the UK and other islands or small nations, it comes down to space. Until a change in the law in the UK (which is in progress), graves cannot be re-used meaning many local councils have run out of burial space and others are close to their limits.

“We can’t keep building new sites, there isn’t the space available, and if a local authority runs a cemetery it has a duty to maintain it – so it’s costing money but there’s no income because there are no burials,” said Julie Dunk, the chief executive of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management.

Burial also has complications due to the impact, or potential impact, on groundwater sources and local eco-systems. Use of embalming and other modern medicines, along with traditions of burial in full clothing or heavily treated coffins means that natural decomposition is stalled at every level.

Burying our dead in such deep graves alone means there is insufficient oxygen for natural processes to begin. This has been discussed since 1985, {Rodriguez, WC, and WM Bass. “Decomposition of Buried Bodies and Methods That May Aid in Their Location.” Journal of Forensic Sciences 30, no. 3 (n.d.): 836–52. https://doi.org/10.1520/JFS11017J.} and remains a ‘hot topic’.

The Smithsonian Magazine also has an interesting article about the problems of burial using non-natural methods:

By obstructing the body’s decomposition, we harm the earth. For instance, each year, the process of embalming dumps 800,000 gallons of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, into American soil. This toxic runoff can leach into water supplies and create environmental and health problems for plants and animals, including humans. (Source)

The Rise of Cremation

Secondly, cremation has changed in the last hundred years. From 0.01% in 1889, to dominating the UK choice for end of life at 80% of deaths in 2022. This meteoric rise has created, in the UK alone, over 63 million kg of cremated remains. People have kept these in urns above and below ground, scattered over land and water sources and in more recent times blow into space or sunk in plastic units to create coral reefs.

Cremation rates in North America are also rising, expected to hit 65% by 2025 (CANA insights).

It’s important to note that our understanding of the impact of cremated remains has improved significantly over this period. Sadly, while Wikipedia claims ‘ashes’ are harmless, scientific research clearly demonstrates, quite the opposite is true.

Alternatives to Traditional Burial & Cremation

Currently around the world there are legal alternatives available. However, there is no coherent strategy and they are based on private sector operators. You have probably heard of most of them, here is a breakdown (accurate at time of publication). This is information taken from their websites.

  • Resomation – Instead of using fire, water cremation combines a water and alkali-based solution and this gentle method speeds up the natural process the body goes through at the end of life. The process is on average 3-4 hours long and once complete the pure white bone ash that remains is returned to the family in an urn as happens with flame cremation.
  • Recompose – Recompose uses a mixture of plant materials carefully calibrated and tailored to each body. Recompose staff rotate each vessel at several points during the process to ensure thorough aeration and exposure to resources for the microbes. Bones are broken down by other equipment after the soil is removed from the Recompose vessel.
  • Precision Organic – We explain our single stage organic dispersal system in detail across the website. This article is a good place to start.