Listen: Green Goodbyes: Choosing an Eco-Friendly Burial
A funeral ceremony honoring Nancy Koney at Larkspur Conservation. (John Christian Phifer/Larkspur Conservation)
Cremation has become Americans鈥 for the postmortem treatment of their bodies. But the process involves burning fossil fuels, which may release . 鈥The New Old Age鈥 columnist Paula Span appeared on WAMU鈥橲 Oct. 8 鈥淗ealth Hub鈥 to explain some of the more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Green burials are gaining popularity as an affordable, eco-friendly alternative to traditional funerals. They avoid toxic embalming chemicals, steel caskets, and concrete vaults, letting a body naturally decompose. Methods range from the elaborate 鈥 like 鈥渉uman composting鈥 and water cremation 鈥 to a simple pine box.
鈥The New Old Age鈥 columnist Paula Span appeared on WAMU鈥檚 Oct. 8 鈥淗ealth Hub鈥 to talk about the environmental and economic motivations behind these alternatives to conventional burials.
Jackson Sinnenberg contributed to this report.
