Could Eco-friendly Burials Save the Planet?

Forensic camp attendees examine samples at Oak Hill Cemetery. Courtesy of C. A. Beal

How have our funeral practices been impacting the planet? Cynthia Beal, a 30-year veteran of the natural-food movement, has been working to answer this question. She believes that patterns of our current funeral industry have been devastating for our planet, remarking: “I was trying to solve the problem of what would happen to people’s bodies. As I started to look to the future, I saw there was an issue that need to be addressed. And I thought, ‘My god, this is really interesting.’”

Since then, Cynthia has founded the Natural Burial Company, working to make and provide Eco-friendly pods and caskets. After studying and comparing U.K. burial laws, she displayed her products in a Portland gallery open to the public to help normalize the casket selection process. With the help of Dr. Jay Noller, head of Oregon State University’s Crop and Soil Science Department, Cynthia was able to co-found Oregon State University’s Sustainable Cemetery Studies Lab and its curriculum, “Digging Deeper”.

Cynthia points out a number of flaws in our current burial system, noting:

Large wooden or metal coffins don’t break down into the earth over time
- Additionally, these coffins are costly to consumers
For those that die in hospitals, not-necessarily-earth-friendly chemicals in their bodies become a concern
- Embalmed individuals pose a problem for the same reasons
Topsoil issues within the 6 feet under burial system

Dr. Noller and Beal are hoping that with more research we can discover how chemicals used in the burial process are impacting tree root systems, topsoil, vapor, and circulation. They also hope to find out how alternative like natural burial may be able to help, carrying implications for urban planners, insurers, and communities to evaluate their activities. This is especially pertinent as cemeteries that were once rural are coming in closer contact with developments and water resources. “It might be one of the reasons we’re seeing rivers with arsenic in them,” Dr. Noller said.