Newsletter #37: 🌳 Green burials + the “death industrial complex”
This email is a bit of a curveball, as you might hear “death industrial complex” and think I’m going to be ranting writing about how the healthcare system is incentivized for Americans to be sick. While that’s true, it is not the focus of today’s newsletter. Instead, I want to talk about something deeply meaningful to me based on my experience of my mom’s death nearly 4 years ago: funerals and burials.
Like many things in our modern world, we have normalized a culture around burying our loved ones that emphasizes intensive intervention and high costs. Practices like embalming, purchasing elaborate caskets (and placing those caskets inside of concrete vaults), and applying makeup to our loved ones’ bodies are commonplace, and up until I faced my mother’s impending death, I didn’t know there were many other options.
In my journey with my mother and family to find a “final disposition” path that aligned with my mom’s values, we were able to learn about the option of “natural burials” or “green burials.” A green burial is an environmentally friendly form of burial that forgoes embalming chemicals, non-biodegradable caskets, and concrete vaults, allowing the body to decompose naturally and return to the earth.
My mom chose to have her body be placed directly into the ground in a hand-dug hole in a forest grove at one of California’s few natural burial grounds. The experience of knowing that my mother will disintegrate and reintegrate into the earth on a natural timeline, re-infuse the earth with her atoms and energy, and be part of the natural cycle of matter is deeply comforting to me and was a part of my healing process.
In this newsletter, I want to explain a bit about the Western funeral industry and why it is a big business that benefits from people thinking that natural options are fringe, weird, or dishonoring of their loved ones. I also share other options that are available to people for a more natural resting place. Like so many aspects of our society, our options for more natural living - and dying - are hidden in plain sight.
The decision of how to rest after death is deeply personal to families and individual cultures and there is no one “right” answer. The intention of this newsletter is to shed light on the path my family took and why it was so meaningful to me.
A quote from my book, Good Energy
A look inside the funeral industry
The modern funeral industry is estimated to be a $20 billion per year industry. Modern funeral industry’s practices—including embalming, elaborate caskets, and vaults—have become so normalized that few of us question their necessity or cost. Yet, the numbers can be staggering. A traditional funeral in the U.S. costs an average of $7,000–$12,000, a sum that often strains families emotionally and financially. Embalming alone can add an extra $500–$1,000, and while it’s a deeply ingrained ritual, embalming is rarely legally required.
Embalming is a preservation process in which a chemical solution, typically containing formaldehyde, is injected into the body to temporarily delay decomposition by replacing bodily fluids and sanitizing tissues. Formaldehyde is a carcinogenic chemical that is bad for people who handle it and the environment. The history of embalming is ancient - dating back to the Egyptians - and techniques expanded in the US significantly around the time of the Civil War when soldiers’ bodies were preserved for transport, a practice that led to its popularization in civilian contexts. This shift gave rise to a growing industry.
If you want some evidence of the death with a industry, take a look at this graphic from PR Newswire:
Pretty weird stuff.
Natural and green burials
One of the alternatives to the traditional path is the natural or “green” burial. Instead of embalming and traditional caskets, green burials return the body directly to the earth, often in biodegradable containers or a simple shroud. They avoid chemical preservation, emphasizing simplicity and eco-friendliness. Advocates of natural burials highlight that these practices honor the body and earth simultaneously, allowing for an unimpeded return to the soil and avoiding many of the toxins and pollutants associated with standard burials. In some green burial grounds, “simplicity is strived for with no grand burial vaults or upright grave markers being permitted.” It’s about returning to nature, simply.
Natural and green burials offer a chance to align end-of-life practices with values of sustainability, simplicity, and respect for the natural cycles. This can provide a meaningful way to honor life, allowing loved ones to leave a smaller environmental footprint. The cost of a green burial is significantly less than a traditional burial. According to Fox, “traditional funerals cost $12,000 on average. The price of a natural burial runs between $3,000-$5,000 for the plot and funeral director. Direct cremation is the cheapest at around $1,500.”
10 wild statistics about the funeral industry
Average Funeral Costs: A traditional funeral with a viewing and burial averages $7,848, but the total can exceed $9,000 when including a burial vault, required by many cemeteries (National Funeral Directors Association, NFDA) Choice Mutual, Seniors Mutual
Publicly traded Funeral Companies: According to Rok Financial, “80% of funeral homes are privately owned and 20% are publicly owned. The three publicly-listed companies in the United States are Carriage Services Inc., Service Corporation International, and Stonemor Partners L.P. Service Corporation International owns an estimated 15%-16% of the funeral services market.” According to other sources, there are 24 publicly listed death care companies on stock exchanges worldwide.
Cost of Embalming: Embalming, a common procedure in traditional funerals, costs about $775 on average, although it’s not legally required in most states. Dignity Memorial
Casket Costs: The price of a metal casket is about $2,500 on average, contributing significantly to total expenses. Some elaborate caskets can cost over $10,000. Seniors Mutual
Optional Costs Add Up: Funeral homes often offer additional services like hair styling, makeup, and cosmetic preparation of the body, adding about $275 on average to the bill. Choice Mutual
High Regional Variability: In Hawaii, funeral costs average around $14,975—the highest in the U.S., while in Mississippi, they are significantly lower at around $6,684. Seniors Mutual
Cremation Costs: Although generally less costly, a cremation with a viewing and funeral service still averages $6,280, which is often only slightly lower than burial options. Dignity Memorial
Basic Services Fee: Funeral homes charge a “basic services fee,” typically around $2,300, to cover overhead costs like planning, administrative services, and facility use. This fee is usually non-negotiable and applies whether you choose burial or cremation. Dignity Memorial
Transportation Fees: Transferring remains from the place of death to the funeral home averages about $350, and a hearse for transportation to the cemetery can cost an additional $350. Choice Mutual, Seniors Mutual
Cemetery Plot and Headstone: Cemetery plots and headstones, which are often not included in basic funeral costs, can add $700 to $10,000 to the final expenses. Choice Mutual
Rising Industry Profits: The U.S. funeral industry generates about $17 to $20 billion annually, with over 25,000 employees nationwide. This profitability underscores the commercial nature of many common practices.
FEMA is involved: Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced in early 2021 that FEMA would provide financial aid for funeral expenses for families of COVID-19 victims. With $2 billion in federal funds, New York State alone was allocated $260 million to help cover burial costs averaging around $7,000. This measure aimed to alleviate the financial burden for families who lost loved ones during the pandemic, with eligible families able to claim reimbursements for funerals held as far back as January 2020.
Where to learn more
If you or your family are interested in learning more about natural burials or considering this option, here are some helpful resources:
Books: "The Green Burial Guidebook" by Elizabeth Fournier (I have not read this book)
With good energy 💓
Dr. Casey
Momentous 🎉
Momentous! I absolutely LOVE this company because their supplements help me feel and perform my best and sleep incredibly well. I am a massive fan of their founder (shoutout Jeff Byers, CEO!) and team members and can confirm they are passionate, incredibly high integrity humans making no compromises for quality in their products. Momentous uses the highest-quality ingredients, and every single product is rigorously tested by independent third parties. My fiancé and I use so many of their products every single day. You can read all about my thoughts on supplements any why we use them in this article.
My dear friends at Momentous are giving you permission to take care of YOU first this holiday season—before anyone else—with exclusive early access to their Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale for my listeners. Until November 25th, you can save 25% off all of our favorite supplements and receive a free gift of 5 nights of their best-selling Sleep packs (!) for orders over $75 by using the links in this newsletter. Click here or any of the links below to shop these exclusive holiday savings through November 25th. 👇️
Below is my Momentous stack (I know it seems like a lot, and this isn’t even all the supplements we take! Each one serves a thoughtful and specific purpose and they help me feel amazing:
Performance and General Health:
Turmeric: Turmeric contains a potent anti-inflammatory molecule (curcumin) that relieves inflammation in the body by decreasing the activity of master inflammatory gene Nf-KB. I always reach for turmeric before any over the counter pain medication for joint pain, headaches, etc, because research shows turmeric can do the job just as well for some symptoms! My fiancé credits high dose turmeric and the “Dr. Casey diet” for helping him eliminate his knee pain after multiple knee surgeries.
Ashwagandha: After I learned that my testosterone levels were a little low, my functional medicine doctor recommended Ashwagandha. It is known for its adaptogenic properties that help the body manage stress. Momentous’s Ashwagandha uses NooGandha®, a specialized form of Ashwagandha extract and contains a high concentration of bioactive compounds that enhance cognitive performance, focus, and alertness without sedative effects.
Zinc: Zinc plays a VITAL role in supporting and boosting immune system performance, and cellular growth and repair, so this is a key aspect of my immune support with my supplements. (Especially going into winter!).
Magnesium Malate: Most all of us need more magnesium! Magnesium plays a huge role in over 300 cellular functions, including energy metabolism, muscle function, protein synthesis, and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. Magnesium malate enhances energy levels and supports muscle function before physical activity, aids in muscle recovery and reduces post-exercise soreness, and supports mood and cardiovascular health.
Nutrition:
Whey protein (I only use unflavored), collagen peptides, and Momentous creatine: These three sit on my kitchen counter and are part of my morning matcha routine! I use either a scoop of Momentous unflavored whey or a scoop of Momentous grass-fed collagen, plus a scoop of creatine, with grass-fed milk and organic matcha in a milk frother, and drink this on the way to my morning workout! Creatine has long been known for its benefits on muscle synthesis, but new research is showing that there may also be benefits on cognitive function.
Sleep and Relaxation:
Magnesium L-Threonate (Magtein): Magnesium L-threonate is a unique form of magnesium that passes through the blood-brain barrier more effectively than other types of magnesium. It supports cognitive function (like memory and focus), enhances sleep quality, and promotes a calming and quieting effect on the brain. I take this an hour or two before bed.
L-Theanine: This amazing supplement helps calm the nervous system by increasing levels of key neurotransmitters. It promotes relaxation and a sense of calm. Given that my recent labs showed my cortisol levels are up compared to earlier this year, I’ve been leaning into L-theanine and Magtein.
Sleep Pack: I take this every night when I’m traveling to ease into restful sleep (and it comes in a cute + convenient packet!). This combines three expert-curated ingredients - magnesium, L-theanine, and apigenin - designed to work together to enhance overall sleep quality.
Elite Sleep: I take this maybe once a month when I’m feeling a bit wired and want to really get a good, long night sleep. Contains 4 key nutrients that support the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle: melatonin, tart cherry powder, L-Theanine, and Valerian root.
