Would North Dakotans accept an environmentally friendly eternity?

BISMARCK, N.D. (KXNET) — Discussing funeral plans is never an easy task, but it has only become more difficult over time. As much as most would prefer to honor their family members traditionally, modern concerns (including the high cost of funerals, cemetery space, and environmental impact) have led some to seek out alternate ways of entombing their loved ones. In modern times, new methods that are both affordable and environmentally friendly have caught the interest of many throughout the United States… including those in North Dakota.

As part of a study regarding this trend towards alternative funerals, Choice Mutual surveyed 6,000 individuals from every area of the United States to discover their thoughts on these new forms of final farewells. Here, it was discovered that a large number of individuals across the country — and likewise, North Dakotans in particular — do take a significant interest in many of these environmentally friendly options. Below is a list of the most popular new burial methods in the United States, as well as how they fared among the survey respondents in ND.

The most popular of these non-traditional burial methods in ND — and likewise, the entire country — are Green Burials, which use biodegradable caskets or shrouds to help a body decompose naturally without harming the environment. Similarly, North Dakota residents also expressed an interest in Mushroom Suits, which accomplish the same goal by using biodegradable burial suits or shrouds embedded with mushroom spores to help neutralize toxins during the decomposition process.

Outside of the most popular forms of natural decomposition, the list of options above suggests that there are many other ways to break down a body while keeping the environment in mind. Human Composting, a fairly popular method in the state and the nation, involves placing the body in a special vessel with organic materials (such as wood chips and straw) that turn it into nutrient-rich soil. The same can be said for Tree Pod Burials, which place the corpse in a pod under a newly planted tree (which feeds off of and eventually decomposes the body).

In addition to natural decomposition, there are also plenty of burial methods that can make use of cremated remains as well — although neither of the two listed in this study were highly regarded by residents of North Dakota. Memorial Reefs, which are artificial coral reefs created by mixing remains into environmentally-safe cement, both provide habitats for marine animals and restore damaged coral ecosystems, but were often overlooked by ND respondents. Space Burials, meanwhile, send the ashes of a cremated individual into orbit, and were presumably ranked last among the options due to environmental concerns regarding space debris.

Aquamation, meanwhile, serves as a more modern version of cremation. Otherwise known as water cremation, this process uses a mixture of water and lye to break down the body as opposed to fire, which both releases fewer carbon emissions and uses less energy than the traditional cremation process.

Although many of these procedures are rather new, they have already captured the interest of many seeking to depart from our world in a unique and meaningful way — including here in the Peace Garden State. As the study states, while 39% of ND residents still feel uneasy when discussing funeral plans with their relatives, a massive 72% would also fully support their decision to pursue a more “green” burial method. It is important to note, however, that family members are at times not the only ones who have a say in their family member’s final resting place: almost one-third of surveyed North Dakotans state that celebrity endorsements could also help to influence their decision to utilize an alternative burial method.

Above all else, it is the financial aspect that seems to draw many ND respondents toward environmental burial procedures: many of the North Dakotans surveyed expressed that they would be willing to switch from their original funeral plans to reduce expenses. Several individuals have stated that the high cost of funerals will often come from far more than life insurance — and that some may need to rely on personal savings, family contributions, or even crowdfunding programs like GoFundMe.

“We’re observing a significant shift in end-of-life preferences as people seek to leave a lasting, positive impact on the planet”, says Anthony Martin from Choice Mutual in a press release. “It’s about connecting with the Earth, and fulfilling a legacy that honors both environmental values and personal beliefs. These eco-friendly options offer a way to say farewell that aligns with the principles people lived by, ensuring that their final footprint is as green and meaningful as the life they led.”

To view the full results of this study — including explanations of the most favored alternate burial type for each state — visit this page on Choice Mutual’s website.