Feature

What If You Could Become a Tree?

Funerary startup Transcend is on a quest to rebrand death for the good of life on Earth.

by Lindsay Lee Wallace
Updated:?
Originally Published:?
person becoming a tree
Lais Borges/Inverse; Getty Images
The Future of Earth

In 2019, Matthew Kochmann was thinking about death. Specifically his own death, and whether it would be possible for him, upon the occasion of his demise, to be a tree.

An entrepreneur, environmentalist, Transcendentalist, and Uber employee number seven, Kochmann isn¡¯t one to sit around and wait for someone else to have a winning idea. Instead, he began Transcend, a company that aspires to preserve acres of nature through conservation easement and reforest land domestically and abroad by giving paying customers the chance to ¡°be the trees you want to see in the world.¡± (Oh, and their cats and dogs, too: Pet burial kits are sold separately, albeit with a weight limit of 90 pounds, so Great Danes might be out.)

Transcend promises that when you die ¡ª for an undisclosed fee ¡ª you will be buried in a bed of carbon-rich wood chips or hay, two hours outside the major metropolitan area of your choice and three-and-a-half feet beneath a layer of mycorrhizal-fungi-enriched soil where your body will provide nutrients to the roots of an adolescent tree in a green burial ground called a Transcend Grove.

Matthew Kochmann, CEO of Transcend.

Liz Clayman

There, your decomposing body will feed the fungi, which will intermingle with the roots of your chosen tree (you get up to 10 species to choose from), as well as the mycelium networks and tree roots intertwined with those buried around you. In this way, you will become one with the tree, and the entire surrounding environment, and the land you¡¯re buried in will be protected in perpetuity from further development. And at some point between signing up to be a tree and meeting those mycorrhizae up close, you just might shift your perception of death, and help save the planet in the process.

¡°There¡¯s nothing more powerful than owning a consumer for the rest of their lives.¡±

Ultimately, Kochmann hopes Transcend¡¯s take on green burial ¡ª a practice that¡¯s existed as long as humans have, which involves burying a deceased person without chemical treatment in a biodegradable vessel ¡ª will both change the way we think about and plan for death and our role in our ecosystem more broadly.

Transcend also vows to plant 1,000 trees on your behalf when you die, via its partnership with One Tree Planted (the CEO, Matt Hill, is one of Transcend¡¯s advisers), a commitment Kochmann says is spurred by the reckoning of the climate crisis.

But Kochmann tells Inverse his ambitions for Transcend go beyond even that. Big picture, he says he¡¯s focused on recruiting millennials to a business that won¡¯t just bury them in 70 years but ¡°build a relationship with them for the rest of their lives, helping them age gracefully as a sustainably minded consumer,¡± through other offerings along the way.

¡°There¡¯s nothing more powerful,¡± Kochmann says, ¡°than owning a consumer for the rest of their lives.¡±

The Business of Burial

For Transcend adviser, former Green Burial Alliance president, and proprietor of multiple green cemeteries nationwide Ed Bixby, those 1,000 extra trees are a key selling point.

The Transcend burial kit for pets promises to turn your companions into native trees.

Transcend

He says when Kochmann approached him about advising for Transcend, ¡°I listened to him [because of] the commitment from [One Tree Planted]. Any cemetery can do what he¡¯s proposing. They do. I do. This is not something that was invented,¡± he tells Inverse.

¡°We¡¯ve been doing it for 15 years and we¡¯ve never advertised it as something new or different.¡±

According to New Hampshire Funeral Resources and Education, there are 351 green burial cemeteries in the United States. Twenty are conservation burial grounds, meaning they ¡ª like Transcend ¡ª have the dual mission of providing natural burials, and protecting land from development. And, according to Bixby, many will gladly plant a tree on your grave.

¡°But we never had a partner that could provide the service that Matt is saying [One Tree Planted] is going to provide for him,¡± Bixby says.

Sarah Chavez, executive director of death positivity group Order of the Good Death, explains to Inverse that a growing number of U.S. residents are interested in green death and burial options.

¡°Greener options are wonderful and necessary, but how many people can actually afford or access them?¡±

Viewed in this light, Transcend¡¯s wading into this space makes good business sense. Polling in 2021 conducted by Gallup found that 65 percent of American adults surveyed are concerned about climate change, and the rates are higher among millennials, Transcend¡¯s target demographic. According to the IBM Institute for Business Insight, four out of five customers say sustainability is an important consideration when choosing a brand. Research shows consumers are more likely to be loyal to brands with environmental, social, and governance-related claims in their messaging, and that brands making these claims perform better than those without.

In March 2023, Transcend, which is registered as a Public Benefit Corporation, sold out of its premium Founding Member Future Tree packages, which promise buyers ¡°access to financial and preferential benefits¡± by locking in an individual price of $8,500 total for $100 down, along with 100 trees planted ¡°immediately¡± in ¡°high-need areas,¡± and an exclusive T-shirt.

¡°I think greener options are wonderful and necessary, but how many people can actually afford or access them?¡± Chavez asks. ¡°There¡¯s a bit of a dissonance in asking people to be enthusiastic about choices that will never be a viable option for them.¡±

Transcend hopes to offer tree burials for pets and their owners alike.

Ethan Covey

Transcend¡¯s website doesn¡¯t say how much grove reservations, expected to open fully this year, will cost initially (or how much they¡¯re predicted to cost in the future to justify framing the early adopter $8,500 price tag as a ¡°deep financial benefit¡±). When asked about the pricing for reservations going forward, Transcend responded to Inverse:

¡°Right now, reservations are slated to open up towards the end of 2023 ¡ª pricing isn¡¯t solidified yet, but folks who sign up for Transcend¡¯s newsletter (and follow Transcend on Instagram) will be informed about preferential access to future founding membership allocations and discounted pricing.¡±

Transcend¡¯s site also says that ¡°Tree Burial¡¯s one, all-inclusive fee is 1/2 the price of traditional burial¡± ¡ª a claim at odds with the median price of a traditional funeral with a viewing and burial, which the National Funeral Directors Association says was $7,848 in 2021 (or $9,420 including a burial vault).

¡°Morally, it¡¯s not the right thing,¡± says Bixby of high price tags for green burial. ¡°But unfortunately, in the business world, that really doesn¡¯t hold a lot of water.¡±

¡°The funeral industry is still an industry rooted in capitalism that plays on our desires, preferences, current trends, and our fears to sell us things we don¡¯t really need,¡± Chavez says, noting that the Transcend website lacks information about pricing, grove location, and information on any science and testing to support their products.

¡°While I believe these greener options offer us a path toward more meaningful engagement with death and an opportunity to reimagine or reclaim death rituals that center people over profit, I¡¯m also worried that we¡¯ll see many instances of greenwashing, too.¡±

A Trillion-Tree Trouble

While many green burial cemeteries do offer to plant a tree directly atop your grave, not everyone in the industry agrees about the environmental credentials of the practice. Lee Webster, a founding board member of the Conservation Burial Alliance, says growing adolescent trees need ample space (ideally 50 square feet). They also require significant water, which can reduce the temperature within a grave below what¡¯s needed to properly facilitate decomposition ¡ª between 105 and 155 degrees Fahrenheit, according to soil scientist and mortality composting expert Caitlin Price Youngquist. If all of these conditions can be balanced, the tree can thrive. If they¡¯re not, both the decomposition and growth processes can suffer.

Cemeteries may already offer tree-planting memorials, but Transcend takes this idea further.

KvdB50/iStock Unreleased/Getty Images

And what of the additional thousand trees Transcend plans to plant per reservation? The company¡¯s website repeatedly flags Transcend¡¯s potential to help reach the aspirational ¡°1 trillion trees¡± figure first suggested in a 2019 study that took the world by storm.

But many climate and forestry experts have taken issue with the assertion that planting 1 trillion trees is a worthy focus of climate change mitigation efforts ¡ª including a co-author of the study, ecologist Thomas Crowther.

¡°I¡¯ve never in my life said we should plant a trillion trees,¡± Crowther told The Guardian in 2021. The team behind the paper has since issued an extensive clarification and correction.

¡°The death conversation is very intrinsically interwound with this climate conversation.¡±

As with the planting of a single tree over a single grave, the issues with mass tree-planting depend largely on execution. Organizations that design projects based on uninformed policy, fail to plant appropriate vegetation for the area, plant trees only to cut them down again for corporate use, and deliberately focus on tree-planting to the detriment of other carbon reduction efforts, are increasingly frowned upon.

¡°Becoming a tree when you die is a lovely idea that clearly resonates with people, but products that have claimed to transform our remains into trees have fallen short on this promise,¡± Chavez says. ¡°There¡¯s so much misinformation and misunderstanding out there, we had to create a guide on our website.¡±

But whether Transcend¡¯s methods are considered truly green or not, what is true is that traditional burials in the United States introduce thousands of tons of metals, millions of tons of concrete, and even more millions of gallons of embalming fluid into the environment yearly. (Or at least they did 20 years ago: The figures cited by Transcend, the Green Burial Council, and other alternative funerary offerings come from an Outside magazine piece from 2002. But it¡¯s safe to assume traditional burial is still a hugely wasteful phenomenon.)

¡°Death is coming for us at a faster and faster pace. I think the death conversation is very intrinsically interwound with this climate conversation,¡± Kochmann says.

Against a cultural backdrop of harmful suppression when it comes to conversations about both climate change and death, it makes sense that so many feel compelled by the chance to die in a way they¡¯re told will bring them closer to nature, and help to heal it.

Whether the choice to make this vulnerable moment more natural can be balanced with the incentive of any startup to make it more profitable, as well, remains to be seen.

¡°Turns out becoming a tree when you die can be more complicated than you think,¡± Chavez says.

This article was originally published on

Related Tags
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top