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Almost three million people die in America every year.
Many are buried, many are cremated, but neither of those options are perfect.
Which begs the question, what should we do with dead bodies?
Let’s start with the problems of current methods of burial and cremation.
For starters, we’re running low on burial land.
It’s so bad that countries are even re-using graves.
Traditional burial and cremation methods aren’t doing the environment any favors either.
Before a body is buried, it’s pumped full of toxic chemicals and carcinogens that end
up in the air, the ground and even our drinking water.
On top of that, caskets are made of mined metals and even plastics that end up decomposing
in the ground.
While cremation is a bit greener, it’s still releasing chemicals like carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide, mercury and carcinogens into the air.
Thankfully, there are a bunch of companies racing towards solutions for these problems.
But before I get into this, prepare yourselves people.
Some of these are real weird.
One group, called Coeio, wants people to be wrapped up in a suit made of mushrooms and
be buried straight into the ground.
This method avoids harsh chemicals and preservatives, and instead uses mushrooms and other microorganisms
to help in decomposition.
This allows the body to decay naturally and distribute nutrients to the soil.
But if you don’t want to be turned into some kind of human stroganoff, there are other
options.
Like being turned into a tree!
A company called Capsula Mundi is creating a large egg-shaped capsule that will hold
a whole body underground.
Once the capsule is buried, a tree seedling will then be planted on top.
Then, the body starts to decay naturally, with the help of the carbon inside the capsule.
This carbon helps microbes in the decomposition process.[17] The idea is that the body’s
nutrients will feed the tree and loved ones can go back to visit a living representation
of the deceased.
It’s kinda like reincarnation.
I just hope nobody chops you down and turns you into junk mail.
If these options weren’t weird enough, there are some companies that want to straight up
dissolve your body.
Alkaline hydrolysis, also known as liquid cremation, uses an alkaline liquid bath that
doesn’t emit the same toxins regular cremation does and it requires about one eighth the
amount of energy too.
The body is placed in a massive tub of 300 degree alkaline liquid and after an hour or
two, most of the body is dissolved.
That liquid is then poured down the drain.
Just like that.
Done.
But could any of these options be the answer to our problem of dealing with the dead?
Alkaline hydrolysis is illegal in most of the united states due to its controversial
nature.
Plus, this method is believed to still emit about 100 pounds of carbon dioxide per person.
Not great.
Being buried in a pod and giving life to a new tree sounds cool and it could be sustainable…
but planting a more mature tree that’s prepared to absorb all the nutrients could be more
efficient.
This brings us to our third option, the mushroom suit.
As ridiculous as this option may be, it could be the most sound.
A green body preparation, no casing, no burning or liquefying, just a body wrapped in fungus
feeding the nearby trees.
Ah, so peaceful.
There has been a huge cultural shift towards cremation in the last few decades, which is
definitely a step in the right direction, but I wonder if the masses will ever get on
board with any of these ideas.
Would you do sign up for any of these or are you more traditional?
Let me know in the comments!