This thesis examines the failings in environmental-ethics present in the United States funeral industry, focusing on the lack of environmental ethical guidelines at an industrial and policy level. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach through the lenses of environmental science, philosophical ethical considerations surrounding policy-based advocacy and ecocritical approaches to the concepts of reciprocity and harm reduction, this thesis makes recommendations to close the gaps in environmental ethical oversight. Focus is placed on mitigation of environmental harms resulting from changes in policy and legislation, and in-industry oversight, with an emphasis on the support of ecologically beneficial methods of the disposition of human remains. / Master of Arts / The funeral industry in the United States has developed in a way that eschews environmental consciousness in the services available to consumers. This thesis examines the historical development of the relationship between the funeral industry and the environment, and the way the rise of the corporate funeral model ignores environmental concerns, as well as presents contemporary environmental issues that impact the industry. Additionally, the thesis explores the gaps regarding environmental impact present in the ethical guidelines the funeral industry adheres to, and the lack of environmental accountability coming from both within the industry and from regulatory bodies and the United States government. Finally, this thesis provides recommendations for the industry, and associated advocacy groups surrounding corrections and policy and practice changes that will support more a more environmentally friendly version of the funeral industry. In this case, environmental friendliness is defined by practices which take pollution impacts into account, as well as consider the sustainability of resource use incurred by both traditional and emergent technologies.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/116294 |
| Date | 18 September 2023 |
| Creators | Wisnewski, Olivia Ann |
| Contributors | Material Culture and Public Humanities, Moseley Christian, Michelle Yvonne, Christensen, Danille, Olson, Philip R. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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