Key Summary Points

• Current conventional methods of dealing with bodies after death are based on ancient practices. However, modern practices such as embalming, traditional burials, and cremations have evolved, influenced by historical and cultural shifts.
• Certain conventional methods associated with dealing with bodies after death are costly, contribute to the lack of space for the dead, and are not environmentally sustainable. Additionally, these practices may limit how individuals and communities process grief in light of contemporary environmental and financial concerns.
• Alternative options for dealing with bodies provide an opportunity to move beyond our conventional understandings of burials and cremation. These options allow for more personalized rituals and environmentally conscious decisions, which may better align with evolving societal values.
• Psychological theories offer insight into how these practices affect individuals and communities:
  • Terror Management Theory explains how death rituals, such as embalming or burial, help manage existential anxiety and reinforce cultural worldviews in the face of death.
  • Symbolic Interactionism suggests that rituals and shared symbols (such as graves or memorials) help people construct meaning around death and maintain social bonds.
  • Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory highlights how death rituals, particularly in the later stages of life, assist in resolving the conflict between ego integrity and despair by offering closure and a sense of completion.
  • The Dual Process Model of Bereavement indicates that adapting to new methods, such as virtual or eco-friendly funerals, allows for a balance between loss-oriented and restoration-oriented coping strategies.
• There are a variety of “greener” ways to deal with bodies at the end of life. Some of these are variations on ancient practices, such as natural burials, while others are recent innovations, such as aquamation or recomposition, offering environmentally sustainable alternatives that align with modern values.