Stop zombies and go green! A two-for-one deal

Less carbon-intensive that cremation and less susceptible to the living dead than burial, Belgium is considering the process of resomation to dispose of human remains. Resomation is a water and alkali-based process that turns bodies into a mix of liquid and minerals. It uses less energy than cremation and emits significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The process leaves behind soft bones and some liquid, which can be put into urns for family members.
The environmental issues surrounding burial methods are outlined in a recent article in Chemical and Engineering News. Bodies prepared for burial are often injected with formaldehyde and other chemicals that could get into the ground and water. Cremation requires a large amount of fuel to sustain the high temperatures needed for the process, generating an average of 573 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per body.