How science can make burial, cremation and memorial greener

Every year, around 650,000 people in the UK die. This is not just a personal tragedy for the families concerned, but also a major problem when it comes to how bodies are handled – including respect for remains and the person’s beliefs, but also in terms of pollutants and impact on the environment. It’s why we’re turning to chemistry to find greener and more sustainable ways to manage our environmental footprint after death. Read the article to find out if water cremation could be the answer, or woodland burials. Then download the alkaline hydrolysis activity to use this context with your 16–18 learners and improve their organic practical skills.