Listen: Green Farewell: Choosing an Eco-Friendly Burial

by Paula Spann

October 14, 2025

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<br /> <span class="byline">Paula Spann</span></p> <p>Cremating bodies has become an American thing <a target="_blank" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aDjeaQkCG5KVxSAsKT2MOFznrZ13qJFT/view?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow noopener">Most popular choice</a> In order to treat their bodies after death. But the process involves burning fossil fuels, which may release them <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653522025188" rel="nofollow noopener">Toxic gases</a>. “<a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/topics/the-new-old-age/" rel="nofollow noopener">The new ancient era</a>Columnist Paula Spann appeared on WAMU’s “Health Hub” on Oct. 8 to explain some of the greener alternatives.</p> <p><a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/green-burials-funerals-cemeteries-human-composting-new-old-age/" rel="nofollow noopener">Green burials</a> They are gaining popularity as an environmentally friendly and affordable alternative to traditional funerals. They avoid toxic embalming chemicals, steel caskets, and concrete vaults, allowing the body to decompose naturally. Methods range from the elaborate – such as “human composting” and water cremation – to the simple pine box.</p> <p>“<a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/topics/the-new-old-age/" rel="nofollow noopener">The new ancient era</a>Columnist Paula Spann appeared on WAMU’s “Health Center” on October 8 to talk about the environmental and economic motivations behind these alternatives to traditional burial.</p> <p><em>Jackson Sinenberg contributed to this report. </em></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us" rel="nofollow noopener">KFF Health News</a> It is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism on health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF – an independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism. Learn more about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/about-us/" rel="nofollow noopener">palm</a>.</p> <h3>Use our content</h3> <p>This story may be republished for free (<a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/listen-to-the-latest-kff-health-news-minute-2025/view/republish/" rel="nofollow noopener">details</a>).</p> <p>
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