COVID-19: More and more people are turning to alternative funeral services in the era of the pandemic.
Eternal Reefs used dead bone slotxo ashes to make artificial corals and placed them off the eastern US coast.
covid-19 pandemic It has hurt millions of people around the world who have lost their loved ones. But at the same time it is a reminder to us that death is a certainty that must happen in everyone's life.
This emerging trend has led people to think more creatively about what they would like to do with their bodies or ashes once they are gone.
Bend Debussmann, Jr., BBC business correspondent. Talked to a new funeral business that offers funeral services with creative ideas that benefit the environment. In addition to arranging funerals through traditional methods such as burial.
Turning corpses into artificial corals
Florida-based funeral company Eternal Reefs says the coronavirus outbreak Make people more interested in using the company's services.
Since starting business in 1998, the company has helped recently deceased transform their soulless bodies into dome-shaped artificial corals. for the habitat of marine life Their bone ash was placed in an environmentally friendly concrete mix.
Eternal Reefs chief executive George Frankel said: “The plague has increased interest. Undoubtedly, the plague has opened up people to ideas beyond traditional burial.”
“We have clients who are passionate about the ocean. But there are still many who like the idea of giving back to the world.”
In 2020, the company placed more than 2,000 artificial corals containing dead bone ash in 25 marine sites off the eastern US coast.
Families of the deceased can watch the artificial coral reefs being placed in the sea.
Turning corpses into organic fertilizers
As for those who want their bodies on the ground I can use the services of Recompose in Seattle, Washington, which developed the technology. Causing the corpse to decompose into good fertilizer soil. Suitable for use in gardening and cultivation.
By this method, the body is stored in a cylindrical compartment made of steel that can be reused. They then covered the bodies of the deceased with shredded wood, straw and a legume called alfalfa.
The levels of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, heat and humidity in the corpse were then controlled to create an optimal environment for the growth of beneficial microorganisms and bacteria.
By maturity the corpse had completely decomposed. It is estimated that it will take about 30 days. Relatives and friends will be able to use all or part of the fertilized soil obtained from the composting process for planting trees and gardening. Approximately 3 cubic feet of fertilized soil is produced per corpse, and if there is still soil left after giving to relatives of the deceased, The company will scatter them in the forest for the benefit of conservation of nature.
This method of burial is more environmentally friendly than spraying the corpse into the coffin and burying it in the ground. or a cremation method that requires burning and wasting energy It also releases a huge amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.