The typical American funeral boasts exotic flowers, a coffin made of fancy wood, and formaldehyde-based embalming. But green burials require fewer resources and skip a number of unnecessary steps; they also tend to be less expensive.

Today I speak with green mortician Elizabeth Fournier about alternatives to conventional burials and cremations that are easier on the planet.

Here's a preview:

[5:00] Exactly what's wrong from an environmental standpoint with standard burials and cremations

[12:30] A brief history of embalming: Is it actually necessary?

[19:00] Liner-free plots, conscious caskets, and more: The tenets of a green burial

[28:30] How exactly does a green burial compare in terms of cost?

[33:00] Everything you need to know about aqua cremation, burials at sea, and natural organic reduction

Resources mentioned/Further reading:

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