Life of the death system: shifting regimes, evolving practices, and the rise of eco-funerals

Abstract

AbstractDespite growing awareness of our environmental footprint in life, the ecological impact of death is rarely considered. Yet conventional funeral practices pose a risk to both human and environmental health by polluting the earth and contributing to climate change, thus calling for more sustainable methods of body disposal. Although various eco-funeral options have been gaining momentum in the United States, they have not yet been adopted into mainstream culture. Drawing on empirical data from participatory site observations and semi-structured interviews with funeral professionals, this study examines the factors that are driving or hindering widespread uptake of eco-funerals in the country. A multilevel panarchy framework is then used to situate these evolving funeral practices within the broader historical context. This article offers two important contributions: 1) it adds a novel frontier to the understanding of sustainable social practices by exploring death practices, and 2) it furthers theoretical and practical insights into the dynamic interactions between micro-level practices and macro-level developments within system transitions.

Keywords

• Eco-funerals
• green burial
• natural organic reduction
• panarchy model
• regime shifts
• social practices