First Advisor

Briar Levit

Date of Award

6-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Graphic Design and University Honors

Department

Art + Art History + Design

Language

English

Subjects

green burial, environmentalism, funeral industry, social media campaigns

DOI

10.15760/honors.1841

Abstract

Green burial, the process of human burial in a biodegradable vessel without embalming, is a simple method for disposal of remains that has been used around the world for centuries, yet it is chosen less than 5% of the time in the US today. The stigma about discussing death has led to a lack of awareness about options and created an environment where morticians, as the sole sources of information, direct the bereaved towards the options most beneficial to themselves. Previous methods to raise awareness about green burial have had limited reach, being focused on people who are already researching options. For my research, I read articles comparing the costs and environmental effects of different burial methods, interviewed a funeral director who has discussed green burial in books, a podcast, and a TED talk, and surveyed college students and employees about their awareness of different methods. A social media campaign using proven attention-getting methods like animation and handmade crafts could be used to represent information comparing green burial to other methods, getting people who have never planned a funeral to talk about their options. After conducting my research and launching the campaign, it is clear that people have not had opportunities to discuss the topic at length, but are eager to do so when the stigma is removed, especially when they learn of the environmental and cost benefits.

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44774

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