More and more people pass away with a body full of medical devices: from artificial hips and pacemakers to breast implants and surgical steel. But what does that mean for the environmental impact of body disposal?
This news article is a summary of the piece written by Marjon Weijzen for the April edition of the professional magazine De Begraafplaats.
At the symposium The Green Death, Saro Campisano previously presented the latest insights from environmental studies comparing various forms of body disposal. The conclusion: the environmental impact of foreign materials in the body after burial is generally negligible—although the reuse and recycling of metals remains a relevant topic.
Recycling metals after death
Jan-Willem Gabriëls from Orthometals, the global market leader in recycling metals from crematoria, emphasises the importance of material recovery. After cremation, metals—such as titanium from implants—are separated from the ashes, sorted, and melted down into new raw materials.
According to Gabriëls, this process leads to CO₂ savings that are dozens to hundreds of times greater compared to mining virgin metals. Recycling is also possible after burial, provided the remains are exhumed and cremated after some time.
So what’s the most sustainable option?
Although the number of medical implants is increasing, burial often remains the most sustainable option—if done properly. A standard grave, followed by eventual exhumation and metal recycling, can even enhance sustainability. Cremation also offers opportunities for material recovery. The key? Thinking in circular terms—even after death.
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