Welcome to our weekly newsletter featuring environmental trends and solutions driving us towards a more sustainable world.
Hey, I’m Anand! Our science and climate team delves into innovative green burial practices this time, exploring their impact on the environment.
This week’s highlights include:
– Introduction of a coffin made of fungi for burial
– Corporate climate targets facing stagnation
– Consequences of compostable products turning into litter
At Meadowvale Cemetery in Brampton, Ont., a natural burial area showcases bodies buried beneath a rich ecosystem, emphasizing how death can contribute to nature’s rejuvenation. The Loop Living Cocoon, priced at $3,750, is a coffin made of upcycled hemp fibers and mycelium, a material used in eco-friendly products, designed to biodegrade in the soil over time.
This eco-friendly burial option resonates with individuals seeking to maintain their values posthumously by returning nutrients to the earth. The coffin prohibits conventional burial practices, such as embalming and metal adornments, encouraging natural decomposition. Loop Biotech’s founder, Bob Hendrikx, promotes this coffin as a sustainable alternative, highlighting its rapid biodegradation compared to traditional coffins.
Research indicates the environmental impact of conventional burial practices, with natural burials gaining momentum recently. While the mushroom coffin offers an environmentally conscious option, some question the necessity of consumerist approaches to eco-friendly burials.
Furthermore, compostable products, touted as sustainable alternatives to plastics, reveal limitations when littered, as demonstrated by Marketplace’s experiment. These products often require specific conditions to decompose fully, posing challenges for municipal waste systems and consumers. Standardization and enhanced labeling of compostable items are proposed to address these issues.
Manufacturers defend their compostable products, emphasizing compliance with industrial composting standards. Environmental advocates urge a shift towards reusable alternatives, emphasizing the importance of convenience and sustainability in product choices.
For more insights, questions, or story tips, reach out to whatonearth@cbc.ca. Stay tuned for our weekly newsletter every Thursday.
Editors: Emily Chung and Hannah Hoag | Logo design: Sködt McNalty
