Green burial

A modern natural (green) burial is an environmentally sustainable alternative to existing funeral practices where the body is returned to the earth to decompose naturally and be recycled into new life. Green burial ensures the burial site remains as natural as possible in all respects. Interment of the body is done in a bio-degradable casket, shroud, or a favorite blanket. No embalming fluid, no concrete vaults.

Nature has intended that our bodies be reunited with the earth. All organisms that have lived, die and return to the soil…only to be recycled into new life. Constant microbial activity in the soil breaks everything down. Nature creates no waste. Everything is recycled.

A green burial is a cremation alternative, and a viable alternative to “traditional” burial practices in the United States. It is an earth friendly option when considering burial –vs- cremation. Many families choose cremation because it’s seen as more environmentally friendly than traditional burial. Embalming, sealed caskets and burial vaults are not required by law. Though traditional memorial parks may require them, a green cemetery or memorial nature preserve does not. The simplicity of a green burial is in tune with nature.

Until recently, interment in an environmentally friendly burial ground was not an option. Now we can consider and encourage a natural burial, helping to preserve open spaces throughout the United States. This will increasingly become a cremation alternative. When choosing a green burial, involve your family and friends now, so difficult decisions do not need to be made in a time of grief.

The body is prepared for burial without chemical preservatives and is buried in a biodegradable material. If no body preparation is done, it must be a closed casket service. Burial is done in a “green cemetery” without a metal casket or concrete vault. There are some conventional cemeteries that offer natural burial as well.

The cost of green burial depends on the type of service and products a family chooses.

No, green cemeteries do not require a burial vault. All cemeteries have rules and regulations, presently, most conventional cemeteries require some type of vault.

The usual time from death to burial is 48-72 hours.

Biodegradable containers include cloth shrouds made of natural fibers, simple wooden or fiberboard caskets without special finishes or varnish, and wicker, sea grass, and bamboo caskets.

Green burials can occur in any cemetery where a concrete vault or liner is not required by cemetery policy. Remember, a green burial is simple. It only involves an unembalmed body, a biodegradable container, and a vaultless grave. Often rural and pioneer cemeteries do not have rules requiring the use of a vault or grave liner.

Yes. You can instruct the cemetery to invert the vault/liner. This causes the bottom of the grave to be exposed to the earth, while the top of the grave has the concrete top. (Visualize an inverted, empty shoebox without its lid.) This is a common request and a “green” natural solution, as several religious traditions specify for a natural burial and installing the liner as described meets the requirement of that particular cemetery.