I wonder why people would choose this?

I would totally choose this over the alternatives….although I prefer the composting “coffins” that are impregnated with microbes and fungi to decompose the body faster, and no bone grinding.

With all the ways humans take from their environment, I like the idea of giving back just a little. My body feeding a tree is a much better disposal than pumping it full of toxic preservatives so it can take decades to rot and be toxic for the soil or wasting tons of natural gas to cremate it, again wasting any nutrients it may hold.

The only drawback is I can’t do that AND have a Viking funeral.

Sure It sounds fine, but at what price would you pay (money your family won't get) to have this done? If it cost more than direct cremation, would you do it?
Direct cremation at the cheapest $1000-2000 from what i can tell. My googling showed a cost of between $3000-7000 for this service. Personally i think any money spent on getting rid of my body, is wasted money. Put me in a dumpster and take me to the landfill. Also i don't have family that get all weird about death and funerals, etc. so that potential feel good benefit for the living would not be a thing

I'm guessing there is a nice profit to be made for companies that provide such a service, and probably enough people who would feel better having the deceased in their life done away with in this way. If you have the bank and it makes someone feel better than it seems reasonable. Personally i want none of it.

You can also donate your body to science at the cost of $0 and they deal with any potential expenses. Count me in.
https://anatbd.acb.med.ufl.edu/usprograms/

Firstly, there are many different methods for human composting, including just burial in a biodegradable box without preservatives. At cemeteries, plots might be slightly more expensive because they’re more spread out, but beyond that it’s the same cost as any burial.
But yes, I would absolutely pay the minor difference in cost to not waste resources (both my nutrients and the gas burnt). I have no heirs.
I would much rather be a tree than a toxic plot of grass. I think anyone visiting me would be happier with that too….but it’s much more about the environment than people for me.

Again, because this one method is costlier doesn’t mean it has to be. This method is really partial cremation. I would consider something more like this….

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a34054806/living-coffin-helps-bodies-decompose-faster/

Or less. Those cost less than most coffins.

People used to just go in a pine box and they composted quickly…none of these preservatives in the body and steel coffins designed to last centuries, that’s insanity to me and I want none of it.

Unfortunately the land fill would be a rotting cesspool of decaying bodies if people could toss bodies into dumpsters. Maybe consider donating to science, then they pay for your disposal.

Edit: this reminds me of the above ground cemeteries in New Orleans that (according to our tour guide) use the natural heat to naturally cremate bodies then they just push the last remains to the back of the tomb and reuse it.

I'm all about the zero cost donate my body to science method, and sure if there was a zero/minimal cost plot of land someone wanted to dig a hole in and toss my body in, i'm good with that.
1) Minimal cost
2) Greatest benefit to society and or the planet.
And yes of course the dumpster/landfill thing was just a goof comment.

This works well for me https://meded.ucsf.edu/willed-body-program

I think donation is an excellent option, especially for those worried about costs.

Assuming I’m still fiscally solvent when I die, my focus is more on how I will continue to impact the environment and trying to make that impact a positive one if possible. I would never ask my family to shell out a dime for my disposal though, and would happily be donated for the free disposal (although I would still request the most ecologically sound disposal they offer).

I have no kids to complain that I’m wasting their inheritance on a mushroom box. I can’t take it with me, might as well spend some to get rid of me in the best (least destructive) way I can.

Moving this video to BSR's personal queue. It failed to receive enough votes to get sifted up to the front page within 2 days.