I heard about a method of burial called green burial. The body is frozen for the funeral and then buried naked without a coffin or anything in a grove of trees. Organ donation or giving the body to science may be greener if what remains after that process is buried without adornments.

Being from Africa, I've seen what effect diseases like AIDs have on this issue by actually visiting the graveyards. People are dying so quickly that there just isn't enough space to keep up, so in that aspect burial is not the way to go. Aside from that, you can't just be buried anywhere, by law or religious belief or whatever, and in most parts of the world, there are regulations on what to be buried in. Don't we give off CO2 as we decompose anyway?

My guess is burial at sea is not legal unless you actually die at sea, but I don't like the idea of that either. Imagine if everyone got dumped in the sea when they died. It would take a while I'm sure, for the bodies to decompose. Sky burial sounds interesting and would be beneficial for the environment, including wildlife, in many ways.

My choice would be like most people on here, donate whatever I can and then cremation.

I agree with Mahendra Sharma comments. The tribes in most of the Americas have done somewhat similar rituals. Being burned on a platform in the mountains was always my dream.
Lara’s thought is something everyone should do. I have been an organ donor since 1985 and in all the states I moved to.
The land is scared to all; it needs to have natural re-mineralization for all that we take from her. All habitants should give back to the Earth simply because we take up space on her. So being a donor and what ever our choice, be it burning or simplistic burial is our way to give back and replenish her.

Ocean burial. Naked, no perfumes, dyes, or other non-natural elements. Crabs and other benthic animals would benefit from the food. NO burning = air pollution & energy consumption.

I think Andy and Susie are right. Burial in a paper box or cloth but with no embalming would probably be the greenest thing. Possibly cremation enmass, though most won't go for it. No more embalming or expensive caskets made of fine woods and metals; no more concrete liners to "protect" it all from decay. Al for President!

I think both processes could be made a lot more bio-friendly than they presently are (at least here in the USA). On the one hand, being buried could be environmentally friendly, but only if burial and the container (box, casket, or perhaps nothing) that you are buried in causes less of a negative environmental impact in terms of raw materials, production, shipping, biodegradability, and whatnot are minimized as much as possible. On the other hand, if the fuel used to burn you is renewable, and the air pollution/emission caused by cremation were to be reduced or eliminated by an environmentally friendly means of filtration, capture, and/or bio-reindtroduction (such as into algae tubes), then cremation could be made into an environmentally friendly process as well.

Yes, cremation makes pollution and uses energy...perhaps they use high efficiency furnaces like the newest wood stoves are required to use?

We benefit from the green areas that cemeteries provide-calm spaces for contemplation-places to walk in the city rather than drive your car out to the countryside. I suppose many use fertilizers etc. unfortunately. If this is a religious choice I wouldn't want to deny someone that choice.

In Eugene Oregon my friends were allowed to build the pine coffin for their daughter and bury her simply.

You left out two other alternatives: sky burial of Tibetan Buddhists. Messy, but you feed the birds.
Also, what about burial at sea? Is this even possible legally in the USA?
And are there figures on the consumption of energy and carbon emissions for each?

India's system of cremation is an example of a tradition that is no longer a solution to the sanitary disposal of organic matter on the earth. Burning of any kind adds to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The disposal of the ash in the rivers of India has polluted the water supply to the point that finding clean drinking water is a national health crisis.

Matter and energy can't be created or destroyed they only change forms. We are matter and energy.

Here's another option. It is legal (at least in Hawaii) to take a body (or ashes) out to sea, as long as it's at least two miles out. I like the idea of becoming one with the ocean, and fish-food as well. I have participated in such a ceremony, and it is very beautiful.

I am gonna say burial, but without the coffin.... Supposed to be "ahes to ashes, dust to dust" let the earth have us back:) Happy Halloween everyone!!

why do do make such an issue over what is done with our body? the soul has left it. pine boxes are still used by orthodox people; cremation is still done as well. Is not burial rites an issue created by religeous doctrine? In a few more thousand years the earth will burn when the sun super novas- so what difference ???

I've been a fan of green graves and have made my family aware of my wishes for properly caring for my remains when I am gone. I am an organ donor and have asked my family to honor my wishes of being returned to the ground naturally in one of the slowly growing number of green grave cemeteries. These burial grounds are marked with trees and rich soil rather than fences and concrete. Bodies cannot be embalmed, caskets must be biodegradable and graves are marked only with simple, flat stones. Bodies may not be embalmed, caskets must be biodegradable, and graves are marked only with simple flat stones. Plots are resused as bodies decompose and the return of natural elements keeps the cycle of life in full swing. When I am gone, I wish only to return what I have used during my days here to the place where I originated. It certainly is the very least I can do...

I think that based on the current world population there is not enough open space to continue to bury people; if we do than the elaborate coffins should go by the wayside. I think that cremation is a better solution as it both eliminates the spread of disease and potential contamination to our water systems; Allows for space to be used for other preservation ideas such as reforestation or animal refuge. Organ donation is a great idea and is a gift to research and potentially a gift of life.

Yes, cremation is energy intese, requiring hours of 1,200-degree (or 12,000-degree?) heat to burn our bones to granules, as required by law. Old cemetaries eventually lose the interest of families, are no longer visited, and can then be returned to natural. Concrete caskets preserve bodies for any later exhumations and investigations. They must be 6' deep to prevent animal exhumations, and at that depth won't affect much soil and roots.

Burial may not be greener. Think about the procession of cars. And what about the manufacturing of coffins? Think about every aspect of burial and how each of those aspects may or may not contribute. It would seem a quick incineration would have less impact, but it is really hard to say. Depends on how lavish either one is.

I don't know if cremation is bad for the evironment exactly. I mean, were all organic so what harmful chemicals are in the air?. Our bodies don't decompose in one day; and there are soooo many people in the world. sooner or later, we wont have anymore room for all the deceased. Hmmmm....

Back to the Earth.No burning of wood. Feed us to the sharks or the bear.Keep the cycle going.Saw a documentary where the middle age took the old & dying out for the bears to eat in the coldness of Alaska.It was or is an Eskimo tradition.

oh yeah; after donating everything you can possibly donate, cremate me and have a "dunking" party at the beach!

Cremation or donate the body to science so that healthy organs can be used by people who need organs and body for scientific research. There is no place for living beings where will place for burial come from. It is also cost effective to cremate or donate the body.

If they made a Tree Hugger cemetary, you could possibly be buried in an earth friendly box, and instead of a tombstone, you could have a memorial wall for your name to be placed. After your body has been properly composted/decomposed, they could plant a tree in your place. I'm not sure if that's a realistic idea or not? In most cemetaries, the space is used for the coffin and then never used again for anything other than grass and the tombstone.

So I would think that cremation uses up less space. I have not yet decided for myself what I would plan to have done with my remains, so I'm glad they are discussing this issue. I would like to know what the scientific evidence suggests the best solution to be.

While cremation offers quick easy dispossal of ones remains, it still requires use of carbon based fuel to get a hot enough fire to get the job done. I think burial at sea drapped in earth friendly material and covered with a reusable flag. If done properly the use of chemicals the imbomb the body could be skipped entirely and just the cost draining the blood and guts would be incurred and any donated organs could be salvaged. We could set up a desinated area in populated places that would be reserved for these purposes and our ashes to ashes would be washe d away be sea urchins and such thus giving the body back to the earth through the sea.

What about burial at sea?

I think cremation is greener, as long as the smoke and fumes are managed correctly.

burial will probably be the right thing to do.i think that creamation pollutes the air.there should be a different type of material use for coffins....so that it desintegrades as your body does.....

Dig a hole six-to-eight feet deep and four-to-six feet wide. Adjust for body size. Depending on how strong are the stomachs/emotions of those doing the burying, either wrap body in organic cotton sheet (for the squeamish) or just carry naked body to hole (for the stout-hearted). The squeamish can lower their rolled one into the hole with ropes. The stout-hearted and simply place theirs on the ground beside the hole and roll 'em in. Sprinkle generously with lime, then pass the shovel. When finished, plant favorite flower on top.

I do agree with the burial arguements posted, however this brings up an issue of space on our small planet with a growing population and space needed to properly bury people. So in this sense, it would be better to be cremated. I plan on being an organ donor and being cremated, though my wife doesn't like the idea of cremation.

Well, I am one for creamation, personally -just as a matter of preference.
But Comment 4, got me thinking. It is true that decomposition is the catalyst that drives a great deal of life. But that got me thinking, what is the chemical make-up of human ash reamins? We use ashes on gardens to alter the pH, what about human ash remains? What do they do to the ground where they are scattered? How about the Ganges- does it have a different chemical balance from other less "dusty" river (sorry, had to say that)?
A friend of mine also found a website where a portion your loved ones ashes can be grown into a crystal. I like that. a bit morbid, but also lovely.

and.. WOOHOO AL! Congratulations, you deserve it!

If you use the recycle, re-use ideology then donating your organs and your body to science is preferable but burial in an organic cloth would be second best. Forget the fancy caskets and embalming fluids. Let the earth take back that which it supported during life.

I am in total agreement with Susie Hammer and Andy Orsini. Burial is the way, but we obviously need to re-examine our strange custom of cement sarcophagi. Ideally we should be interred as we came into the world to replenish the Earth, but a wooden or other renewable coffin would help distinguish us from a victim of foul play. We have to be willing to let go of our attachments to out-moded religious traditions that don't support a greener Earth. It's for the greater good and I am sure that your God, however you view Him/Her/Them/It will approve!

I agree with being a donor, and also with cremation "not taking up as much room" as burial...if you are going to buried, yes, a bamboo casket would be best...I think it's (unfortunately) a religious thing in so many cases, and there are so many traditions...maybe we need to show people how their traditions are assisting in pollution...BE A DONOR!!!

It is my plan - if such a thing can be planned - to take a walk into the woods one day, and to stay there - perhaps beside a stream and leaning against a wide-boled tree - and there to die. It is my hope - for such a thing as hope is always possible - that there I shall stay until the air and the rain and the insects and animals shall dismember me and spread my being throughout theirs, and thus make me part of life again.

I agree with Lara. Donate organs! If a body cannot be used for organ donation (due to disease or the like) and any left over parts can be donated to science. We can learn a lot about disease and train medical students through donating our bodies.

Both burial and cremation have problems. They can lead to groundwater and/or air pollution, so reuse first. It is even more important to practice population control, so that we do not have too many bodies to dispose of and to consume resources.

Natural burial is wonderful. No chemicals, no pickling, no cement barriers, nothing. You and mother nature. Thankfully this option is becoming more popular and available.

Organ donation is the way to go for me.
If loved ones want "a little something" to remember you by; then cremation is the best option.

Burial is greener without modern coffin or embalming fluid (contains formaldehyde which prevents bacterial decomposition). Danger is pathogens in body getting into water table. Cremation would of course add CO2 to the air.

Donate your organs and save someone else's! Recycle your body and help others live. I think cremation is greenier. Look at how landfills are taking up space and we are already running out of cemeteries in an over populated world.

all great ideas so far! but if anyone is dead set (no pun intended) on creamation, http://eternalreefs.com/ is a great way to give back at the same time. organ donation is great, too, but what a cool way to give back -- allowing death to be the foundation (literally) for millions of new lives :)

Once my life on this beautiful earth is done, I would wish not to be required to use a coffin but just to be buried so I could compost away. However, I understand that may be undesirable if many folks pass away at the same time. Then I would consider cremation. However, I do not have statistics and would welcome them!

I think cremation would be preferable to being buried ,although if they would use bamboo or pine; I would consider burial. Are there any funeral directors paying attention to this?

Cremation is traditionin my family, one I intend to break. I ry to live green and I would like to continue that lifetyle after my death! ;o)
Bury me in the ground and plant a tree on me - no headstone o marker, just a tree - cox's oringe pipin apple tree I think. :o)

Definitely burial, but without embalming and in a wooden box with no vault. Organ and body donation is a good idea too with the remains buried.

PS. A cardboard 'coffin' will do just fine - Recycled, of course! ;o)

The truth is that most burials are horribly toxic to the earth and local ground water. Green burials in biodegradable materials would beneficially return minerals to the soil which is deficient from poor farming techniques. Composting humans and human waste would probably be the most green option but is distastful to the general public. The funeral home industry has lobbied to has laws passed forcing people to pay for toxic poisons to be used to preserve all dead bodies and then emtomb them to insure no leakage. Unfortunately, they generally do leak after some time. PBS did a documentary on the whole subject. It is very eye opening.

Organ donor, of course, first. Then, burial. There is now an option to use a burlap bag instead of a coffin, so our bodies can decompose more quickly and enrich the soil.

Scientists / medicoes can have any part of me they can use. Then the remains to be buried deeply in a cardborad box and a tree planted over it. I can't think of anything worse than good timber (even as a renewable resource) being used as a coffin and ones body withering away inside. Gross!

Honestly, I don't know. My gut, uninformed opinion is cremation is more ecofriendly because of the resources consumed in producing and transporting a coffin - chopping down the lumber, the chemical staining, lacquer and varnish, lining, etc. Also there's the issue of land usage. A cremation plot is a lot smaller than a full burial plot, and if you choose to have your grandpa staring down at you from the mantlepiece, then it takes up no land and you save money! >:-)

I think organ donation would be fabulous, but for some who are unable to do so due to various health aspects, I think cremation is 'greener.' Although it does require energy to burn the body, I feel it is a great alternative because one must think of a coffin: cutting down the tree, releasing the carbon the tree held, the energy it takes to build the coffin, and the energy that goes into trying to decompose the coffin by the soil organisms....

Naturally we should simply be placed in earth and complete the natural cycling. Sadly, here again our culture pressures us to act in ways contrary to nature. So
here I wait to learn which civilized way
is the least wrong.

Let's bury seeds to grow biofuel and send the cadavas to the medical students for research.