Welcome to our weekly newsletter highlighting environmental trends and solutions driving us towards a more sustainable world. Anand discusses the potential environmental impact of medical implants on green burials, exploring two alternative practices.
This week’s focus includes the eco-friendliness of liquified and composted alternative death practices, the rise of floating solar technology, and the call for expanding deposits on recyclable materials.
Sam Sieber’s family has been utilizing Aquamation for over 20 years, a water-based method that breaks down bodies without emitting carbon. Contrary to expectations, families choose Aquamation not solely for its environmental benefits but also due to sentimental reasons like a connection to water or the perceived gentleness of the process.
Aquamation, formally known as alkaline hydrolysis, offers benefits such as lower energy consumption, higher remains yield, and zero airborne emissions. Recoverable surgical devices and implants further add to its eco-friendliness.
Meanwhile, Recompose offers human composting services in 14 U.S. states, emphasizing sustainability akin to cremation. This method involves a body and plant material in a vessel, producing soil within months. Clients are drawn to the personal significance of becoming part of nature.
Environmental scientist Juliette O’Keeffe examined the environmental impacts of alternative death practices, highlighting concerns like hazards from liquid remains and infectious diseases in composting. While not widely adopted, these methods showcase a shift towards sustainable practices post-mortem.
In waste management, waste pickers advocate for expanding deposits on materials to further reduce landfill waste and enhance recycling efforts. This initiative acknowledges the essential role waste pickers play in environmental conservation.
These evolving practices reflect a broader movement towards environmentally conscious choices, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices beyond life.