Barbie Hsu's Family Plans Tree Burial For Her; Funeral Practitioner Claims It's Not As Eco-Friendly As It Seems

Barbie Hsu's younger sister Dee Hsu recently revealed that their family has decided to hold a tree burial for the late star, so as to fulfil her wish for an environmentally friendly resting place. 

The ashes of Barbie, 48, who passed away in Japan on Feb 2 after contracting influenza-related pneumonia, were brought back to Taiwan by her family on a VistaJet private charter flight on Feb 5.

Dee subsequently shared that Barbie's ashes will go through an eco-friendly burial process where her ashes would be placed in a biodegradable container and buried under a tree in a registered cemetery.

This natural burial process will not involve a gravestone and the deceased's name will also not be recorded at the site. 

As of now, Barbie's ashes are kept at her home. There will be no memorial ceremony for the late star, her family had stated earlier.

Barbie's burial plans have since sparked controversy online, especially after a funeral service practitioner, who has been in the industry for more than 30 years, claimed that such practice is actually "not as environmentally friendly as it seems".

They elaborated that cremated remains contain non-biodegradably substances that can form clumps and hinder the growth of trees.

As a result, cemetery staff often dig up the trees after a few years to remove those clumps before cremating and scattering the ashes again.

Some have also raised concerns over the uncertainty of such cemeteries, arguing that the trees can be relocated or that the land could be redeveloped in the near future. 

The Mortuary Services Office in Taipei has since rebutted such claims, assuring that they definitely "do not exhume the ashes for re-cremation". 

They stressed that eco-friendly burials simply allow the deceased to be one with nature through a simple manner, and is a representation of their respect towards life and the environment. 

It's also said that the ashes that undergo natural burials will be further ground into smaller particles before being buried into the soil or scattered in the sea. 

The areas for tree and flower burials will also be maintained regularly, and Bacillus licheniformis, a type of bacteria, will be sprinkled into the soil every month to help disintegrate the ashes. 

If the designated cemetery for tree burials is fully occupied, it will be closed for approximately two years for maintenance and will only be reopened after the soil quality has been assessed to be suitable.