Body disposition can have a major environmental impact. That’s partly why 12 states and counting have legalized human composting in the past five years.

That may in part be because of cost — cremation tends to be less expensive than burials — but also because of the creative creation remains market. Loved ones have options to create jewelry, paperweights, tattoos, even fireworks, from cremated remains.

As black neighborhoods change, funeral directors are struggling to adapt.