In this time of economic and environmental uncertainty, several trends are combining to create new thinking about where we want to locate our final resting spot and how we wish to be handled as our souls leave our bodies. This may feel to some like a gruesome conversation, but no one escapes death in this life (at least not yet), so all of us, along with our families, will face the dilemma of how to create a meaningful, affordable, and environmentally respectful death service. You might want a few data points to set the stage. First, traditional funerals in the US can easily cost the family at least $5000, with the most expensive part of that cost often being the casket. This is an expensive- and at times unexpected- cost that many cannot easily handle or do not think is an appropriate expenditure. In fact, nationwide, the funeral industry is in somewhat of a financial freefall, as profits have dropped and clients have balked at paying many of these fees. 

Currently, the majority of Americans (about 60%- and that number is expected to rise to 82% by 2045) opt for cremation as an alternative to traditional funerals and burials, and in fact, a “direct cremation” which means no viewing, no service, only the cremation services themselves with ashes then handed over to the family, is becoming more popular, and cost wise, this alternative can run anywhere from $700-$1200, quite a difference from the costs of a more traditional funeral and burial. Some have even forsaken the idea of cremation because of the environmental impact that this method of body disposal causes (celebrity Jane Fonda recently weighed in on her plans to forego cremation and just be simply buried in a shroud in a field next to her former husband). A recent survey cited by The Guardian found that 80% of people surveyed said they didn’t want a fuss, or a traditional set-up, or even people wearing black at their funeral. Instead, what they wanted was something simpler that represented who they were and what was important to them in life. This search for the more personal, more meaningful, more environmentally sensitive, and perhaps even less expensive has led many to opt for one of the new “green burial” options. 

In the United States, state law dictates what is permissible concerning the handling of a dead body. And many states are now adapting those laws to permit various forms of green burial, including cemetery burial without a casket, without embalming, and without a lined vault in which to lower the body. This then allows the body to decompose much more quickly and is more environmentally friendly than traditional burial methods. The New Old Age journalist Paula Span recently described her own decision to be buried this way. If you want, you can even purchase environmentally-friendly accessories for this type of burial, including artisan-made biodegradable shrouds, containers, and cremation urns. Some even choose to take this “back-to-the-earth” burial concept a step further, utilizing a method of body disposal called “human composting,” by which bodies are placed in containers that, over the course of about 45 days, transform the body into a soil that can be used to nurture and sustain gardens or other green environments. Not every state permits this type of death arrangement, but it’s a growing trend, and 13 states now permit human composting, with another 15 states having introduced legislation to make it legally available.

Perhaps the most innovative and unique turn of events in the death industry has been the advent of “mushroom” caskets, made of mycelium (living fungal fibers) that can be grown into the shape of a casket within 7 days and that will decompose, along with the body inside, thus enriching the soil into which it is buried. This product was developed by the biotech company Loop, which has recently entered the US market. Called a “living cocoon,” this casket and burial avoids the embalming, hardwood, and concrete that typically appear in a traditional funeral, and the cost of this type of “casket” is about $4000. Already, one family has used the Loop mushroom casket in Maine. For those who are concerned about their environmental footprint and want the ultimate experience of “returning to the earth,” this mushroom casket may be just the ticket you need for eternal bliss. For more on this and other green burial options, grab some composting bags and click here.