With something called “bio-cremation,” a liquid chemical is used to dissolve the body, no fire or global warming emissions necessary.
The LA Times reports on funeral homes and crematoria are trying to get bio-cremation, a.k.a. alkaline hydrolysis, legalized in California. The process is not only environmentally friendly, it costs about the same as standard cremation—which is a lot less expensive than a standard burial:
The average price to the consumer for alkaline hydrolysis is expected to be about $2,500, similar to prices charged for cremation by fire.
Either process is far below costs far less than the $7,500 cost for a conventional funeral and burial in a casket.