Miscellanious FAQs About Alternatives To Traditional Burial & Cremation

Entombment is the act of placing a person’s dead body, generally within a casket, inside  a sealed structure known as a tomb, while in a traditional burial the casket is placed in a grave dug into the earth. A sealed tomb structure provides protection from the elements and helps preserve the body for an extended period of time. The tomb may stand alone but is usually in a building containing several tombs, such as a mausoleum (above ground) or crypt (underground, often found beneath churches), and each individual interment space is known as a niche. A building containing niches for cremation urns is called a columbarium. 

The practice of placing the dead inside of tombs has occurred for over 5,000 years, and was often reserved for royalty or influential individuals, as in the pyramids of ancient Egypt. Entombment is still in practice today, though is typically considerably more expensive than a traditional burial. 

Sources 

“What is the difference between burial and entombment?” US Urns. 

“Columbarium”. Brittanica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/columbarium 
“Tomb”. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/tomb/

The process of promession, a funerary concept that involves freeze-drying the body of the person who died, typically involves several steps. Like cremation, the body will be reduced to powder and placed in the appropriate container of choice. The remains of the person who died can either be buried or placed into a biodegradable urn for a display or memorial. The interest in promession is increasing as more people are seeking alternative eco-friendly practices that minimize the environmental impact of traditional cremation and burial. 

The process of promession begins by placing the body of the person who died into a cryogenic freezing chamber. Liquid nitrogen that has been chilled to the temperature of -196 Celsius is sprayed on the body to achieve crystallization. After the body is completely frozen, the cryogenic freezing chamber begins to vibrate for several minutes, which causes the crystallized cells to disintegrate into small particles. These particles are collected for the next step of the process. 

Particles are transferred to a vacuum chamber which removes any remaining water or moisture by using sublimation to transform the frozen particles into vapor. This process results in the creation of powder remains that are equivalent to 30 percent of the original weight of the person who died. Metals such as tooth fillings, pacemakers, and other implants are removed from the powder by using a sieve or magnet. The remains are then transferred to a biodegradable container and sealed. This container can be buried under layers of soil which will eventually decompose the remains over the next 6 to 18 months. Although burial is a common practice following promession, loved ones can also choose to keep the remains in an urn or transition them into a keepsake.

At this time, promession is not a widespread practice and is often subject to regulations in various regions since it requires specialized equipment and lesser-known methods of storing remains. Additionally, while promession has been performed on animals such as pigs, it has not been performed on humans and is not yet available to the public. If it were available, cultural and religious or spiritual beliefs would likely influence whether promession would be an acceptable practice. Ultimately, introducing promession will most likely require additional discussion, advocacy, and exploration among funeral professionals and the clients they serve before it can become a commonplace option.

Sources

“Alternative ways of dealing with the body of a loved one after death”. Peacefully. https://guide.peacefully.com/resources/alternative-ways-of-dealing-with-the-body-of-a-loved-one-after-death?rq=promession 

The tree pod burial is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial methods. It involves placing the remains of a loved one in a biodegradable pod that will be buried beneath an existing tree or a newly planted tree. The general purpose of choosing a tree pod burial is to create an environmentally sustainable, living memorial that contributes to nature’s life cycle while reducing carbon emissions. Tree pods are intended for use with cremated remains or an unembalmed body, although it should be noted that the latter option remains conceptual and isn’t available at this time.. 

Since tree pods are made of biodegradable material, the pods will break down over time and allow the bacteria in the soil to gradually transform the remains into a fertilizer that will stimulate the growth of the tree planted above. In most instances, tree pods are suitable for use in green cemeteries, but some individuals have also had success using them for burials on private property. Tree pods can effectively be used with cremated remains, although cremation is not typically an eco-friendly choice for those aiming to be mindful of sustainable practices. Additionally, cremation introduces a step that might otherwise be avoided by simply burying the body instead, so it’s a slightly less convenient option. 

The ideal tree pod intended for use in burying an unembalmed body has yet to be created and remains a concept. The most well-known tree pod burial option emerged from the Capsula Mundi project, which offered egg-shaped pods. Although egg-shaped pods work well for cremated remains, they are far less feasible for use with bodies since it would be fairly impossible to conform the body into a fetal position to fit into the pod after death. Some organizations have proposed other versions of tree pods that address this issue, but none have been made available to date. 

Sources 

“Tree Pod Burial: How It Works in 2023 (Costs, Locations, & More)”. 8 Billion Trees. https://8billiontrees.com/eco-friendly-natural-products/tree-pod-burial/ 

“Tree Pod Burial Explained: Becoming a Tree After Death.” Earth. https://earthfuneral.com/resources/tree-pod-burial-explained/ 

“These Biodegradable Burial Pods Will Turn You Into a Tree”. Green Matters. https://www.greenmatters.com/p/tree-pod-burials