As more people look for ways to live a sustainable life, they are also considering how to make their final arrangements more environmentally friendly. This has led to a growing interest in green burial, a practice that honors the cycle of life by returning a body to the earth in a simple and natural way. This approach is one of the most significant eco friendly funeral services available.
This guide will explain what a natural burial is, how it differs from modern funeral practices, and how you can plan for one. It is one of several important funeral options explained: burial, cremation & other alternatives that you can consider for your final arrangements.
What is a green burial?
A green burial, or natural burial, is a way of caring for the deceased with minimal environmental impact. The core principle is to allow the body to decompose naturally and become part of the earth again. It is a return to the way most of humanity cared for its dead for centuries, before the advent of modern funeral practices.
Defining the terms and principles
A true green burial follows three main principles:
- No Toxic Chemicals: The body is buried without embalming, avoiding the use of formaldehyde-free chemicals that can harm the soil and groundwater.
- Use of Natural Materials: The deceased is placed in a biodegradable casket made from sustainable materials like pine, bamboo, or wicker. Alternatively, a simple burial shroud made of natural fibers like cotton or linen is used.
- Direct Earth Burial: No concrete or metal burial vault or grave liner is used, allowing the body to be in direct contact with the soil.
What is a shroud burial? This is a key practice in green burial where the body is simply wrapped in a natural-fiber cloth instead of being placed in a casket. It is one of the most traditional and simplest forms of burial.
Natural burial vs. traditional burial.
The differences between a green burial and a conventional modern burial are significant. A traditional burial is designed to preserve the body and protect it from the elements, while a green burial is designed to do the opposite.
Key differences in practice
- Embalming and Vaults: A traditional burial often involves formaldehyde-based embalming for a public viewing and requires a concrete burial vault to prevent the ground from sinking. Green burial avoids both of these elements. You can learn more about traditional burial options: caskets, vaults & cemetery choices here.
- Cemeteries: A conventional cemetery has manicured lawns and rows of polished headstones. A green cemetery or natural burial ground often looks like a meadow, prairie, or forest, with the goal of conserving the natural landscape.
- Memorialization: Instead of large, upright headstones, a green burial memorialization might involve a simple, flat native stone, the planting of a native tree, or just GPS coordinates that the family can keep.
How to find a green burial cemetery?
Finding a cemetery that allows for a true green burial is a critical step. Not all cemeteries permit burials without a vault, so you need to find one that specializes in or allows natural practices.
Locating and selecting a natural burial ground
The best place to start your search is with the Green Burial Council (GBC). The GBC is an organization that certifies cemeteries, funeral homes, and product providers that meet their standards for sustainability. Their online directory is a valuable resource for finding a provider near you.
There are different types of green cemeteries:
- Natural Burial Ground: A cemetery dedicated entirely to green burial practices and conservation.
- Hybrid Cemetery: A traditional cemetery that has a specific section set aside for green burials.
- Conservation Burial Ground: A green cemetery that partners with a conservation organization to protect the land in perpetuity.
When you contact a cemetery, ask about their specific rules and regulations. You can also work with a specialized funeral homes: religious, green, or cultural that has experience with these practices.
Cost of a green burial.
A common question is whether a green burial is more or less expensive than other options. In most cases, the cost of a green burial is significantly lower than a traditional burial.
Breaking down the financial aspects
The savings from a green burial come from eliminating several major expenses. You do not have to pay for:
- Embalming services.
- An expensive, decorative casket.
- A concrete burial vault, which can cost thousands of dollars.
- An elaborate, polished headstone.
The main costs are the funeral home’s basic service fee, the burial plot in a green cemetery, the opening and closing of the grave, and a simple casket or shroud. When compared to the cost of cremation explained: process, urn types & final resting places, the price can be competitive, depending on the services chosen. You can learn more about managing these costs by reading about funeral costs & financing: navigating expenses and payment options.
Green burial regulations by state
There are no federal laws that govern green burial. All regulations are handled at the state and local levels. Most states have very few laws that would prevent a green burial. For example, no state legally requires embalming or a casket for burial.
The most important rules are typically set by the cemeteries themselves. It is the cemetery’s policy, not state law, that usually requires a burial vault. This is why finding a certified green or hybrid cemetery is so important. To be sure about the rules in your area, you can contact your state’s cemetery board or department of health. In New York, for example, the Division of Cemeteries oversees these regulations.
What is human composting?
A related but distinct eco-friendly option is human composting, also known as Natural Organic Reduction (NOR). This is a process where a human body is gently transformed into nutrient-rich soil over a period of several weeks.
An emerging eco-friendly option
The process involves placing the deceased in a reusable vessel with organic materials like wood chips, alfalfa, and straw. Over 30 to 60 days, the body and organic materials break down into about a cubic yard of soil. This soil can then be returned to the family to use in a garden or be donated to a conservation project.
Human composting is one of the newest cremation alternatives. It is currently only legal in a handful of states, such as Washington, Colorado, and New York, but more states are considering legislation to allow it. It shares the same goal as green burial: a gentle, sustainable funeral that returns the body to the earth.
Choosing a sustainable funeral is a powerful way to honor a life lived with respect for the environment. Green burial offers a simple, beautiful, and meaningful alternative to modern funeral practices. By understanding the principles and options, you can make a choice that is both personally comforting and ecologically responsible. This decision is a key part of any funeral planning guide: step-by-step arrangements & checklist.
Claire brings over 15 years of experience in end-of-life planning and funeral coordination. Before joining FuneralHomesListings.com, she worked directly with hundreds of families across the Midwest, helping them navigate difficult decisions with clarity and care. Her mission is to simplify the funeral planning process so families can focus on what matters most—honoring their loved ones.
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