Your climate impact doesn’t end when you die. More people are considering ‘greener’ death options

Moira Cathleen Delaney was diagnosed with an aggressive form of intestinal cancer and decided to be transformed into soil through natural organic reduction. After she died, her family sprinkled some of her remains under her favorite tree and gave some to relatives and friends. Conventional death practices, such as embalming, fire cremation, and casket and vault burials, have raised concerns about their environmental impact. Embalming involves known carcinogens like formaldehyde, while fire cremation uses energy often derived from fossil fuels. Natural burials, like those at Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery in Florida, combine burials with land conservation, using biodegradable materials and prohibiting embalmed bodies and vaults. The environmental impact of conventional death practices has led to increased interest in 'greener' alternatives.