What Is a Green Burial or Funeral?
The characteristics of a green funeral will vary, but most share several similarities aimed at reducing the environmental impact of end-of-life arrangements. In most cases, these burials use materials and storage containers that are biodegradable and environmentally friendly by avoiding:
- Embalming fluids
- Cement or metal coffin vaults
- Clothing made from certain materials
Natural burials don’t use traditional embalming fluid. There are alternative chemical-free embalming oils that may be used instead when needed. These essential oils degrade without leaving trace chemicals in the soil.
Typical Options for a Natural Burial
For a more conventional approach, there are many ways to ensure your final arrangements are environmentally friendly. And with each option, there are plenty of things to consider. Do you want to be buried in a set location that your visitors know? Do you want to be cremated and have your ashes scattered? Do you want to have a traditional burial, but have it performed by a green funeral home/cemetery?
Because of the wide variety of options available today, it’s important to make sure your final wishes are written down and that your preferences are clearly listed. Include where you’d like the burial to take place, such as a mortuary that is certified to perform green services. Among the things you should specify are:
- Ceremony preferences (passages read, flowers used, music, etc.)
- Preferences for biodegradable coffins, organic or non-toxic embalming fluid, etc.
- Whether or not to have a viewing beforehand
If the idea of becoming one with nature is appealing to you, there are a wide variety of unique options to consider:
- Capsula Mundi is an Italian concept that encapsulates the body in an egg-shaped organic container to feed a tree that’s planted above it.
- Eternal Reefs is a company that uses cremated ashes to create an artificial reef ball that is added to a living coral reef, which helps restore marine habitats by attracting fish and other organisms.
- Celetis Memorial Spaceflights will send cremated remains into space.
Why Choose a Natural Option?
There is nothing new or revolutionary about eco-friendly burials. Most burials before the mid-19th century were conducted this way, and many traditions still call for it. The reasons for selecting this type of burial vary from person to person, but the major motivations for this type of service are:
- Cost-savings. Green burials are typically cheaper than traditional burials because you don’t need to purchase a traditional casket.
- Environmentally friendly.They have less of an impact on the environment because of the materials used.
- Spiritual significance.Many people feel a special connection with nature. This approach allows the deceased to return to the earth naturally.
Costs
As with most funeral costs, prices for green funerals vary widely based on region and the type of burial site. Plots for green burialsin a eco-friendly cemetery, for example, tend to be larger than those in a conventional cemetery so they may cost more.
For this type of burial, it typically costs $1,000 – $4,000 and usually includes a burial plot, fees to open and close the grave, a plot marker, and a one-time endowment to a perpetual care fund to maintain the property as a natural burial site. It does not include the cost of a funeral or memorial service or any processing/transporting of the body.
The cost for a gravesite and interment range from $200 to $1,000 for cremated remains. Keep in mind these charges do not include the cost of the cremation process itself, which averages$1,000-$2,500and is handled by a funeral home, mortuary, or crematory. Be sure to shop several funeral homes to find a fair price. Keep in mind you can save money by providing your own casket. The law requires funeral homes to accept any appropriate burial container without assessing an additional fee. So-called “earth-friendly caskets” may be unnecessary and add thousands of dollars to the final bill.
Below is chart of typical green burial items and their associated costs:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Burial | $1,000 – $4,000 |
| Plot | $750 – $3,500 |
| Opening and Closing the Grave | $300 – $700 |
| Ash Scattering | $200 – $300 |
| Ash Burial | $200 – $1,100 |
| Biodegradable Urn | $65 – $350 |
Because green burial gives you the freedom to decline unnecessary services and merchandise, it is generally easier on your budget. In a green cemetery, you usually won’t pay for a large headstone or the associated costs of installation. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider your budget. Because of its increasing popularity, a cost of $5,000 or more is not unheard of for a green burial with a simple pine casket. You can help your loved ones cover your costs by applying for final expense insurance, also known as funeral insurance or burial insurance.
Natural Burial Sites
Natural burial promotes the restoration of poor soil areas and allows for long-term reuse of the land. Natural burial sections typically do not allow upright monuments. Individual graves are identified with a marker flush with the ground at the head of the body. The markers may be a natural rock or a plaque, although they are not typically set using concrete. Some natural burial sites choose to have no physical markers, instead indicating grave locations recorded by GPS. To preserve the pristine natural landscape and protect native plants and wildlife, most green cemeteries limit personal plantings and memorial decorations like potted flowers, wreaths, flags, chimes, and balloons.
If this approach appeals to you, you will need to search for specific green funeral homes or natural cemeteries that are certified to perform burials this way, and you may need special permission from your state or county to be buried naturally. Some states allow you to conduct a burial on private land, but this differs from state to state. If this appeals to you, be sure to check your state laws.
Hybrid Cemeteries
A hybrid cemetery is a conventional cemetery that offers the essential aspects of natural burial, either throughout the cemetery or in a designated section. Hybrid cemeteries can earn a certification that does not require them to use vaults. This will allow you to use any eco-friendly, biodegradable burial container such as a shroud or a soft wood casket.
Natural Burial Grounds
The goal of a natural burial ground is to restore or preserve a natural landscape populated by native vegetation and wildlife. Many support sustainable management through land conservation efforts by avoiding fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides to encourage native habitats.
Conservation Burial Grounds
Conservation burial takes environmental stewardship a step further, committing burial fees to pay for land acquisition, protection, restoration, and management. These tend to be expansive tracts of land, sometimes contiguous with an existing park, critical habitat area, wildlife refuge, or nature conservancy area.
Choosing a Cemetery
Every cemetery has its own policies. For example, many green cemeteries do not use any machinery or heavy equipment for digging the gravesite. Instead, the gravesites are dug by hand. But this is not necessarily the rule. In addition, some natural cemeteries have very strict limitations on the decorations permitted on-site, while others encourage unique decor throughout the grounds. Unlike traditional cemeteries, many natural burial grounds permit flowers and other plants to be grown directly on top of the gravesite.
Be sure to inquire about any special restrictions before buying a plot. If you have very specific wishes, consult with a few locations to make sure your final requests will be honored.
Green Burial Caskets
Green caskets made of plain wood, wicker, and even cardboard are acceptable – and encouraged – at most green cemeteries. There are many new products that cater to these types of burials, including biodegradable containers that are made from paper, cardboard, willow, sea-grass, or bamboo that can break down with little environmental impact.
Supplying your own green casket instead of buying an expensive option from a funeral director saves a lot of money, but opting for a burial shroud and foregoing the casket entirely can further reduce the cost. You can sew a shroud (or hire a tailor to make one for you at a reasonable price) or you can simply have your loved one wrapped in a favorite blanket or quilt made of natural materials like cotton or wool.
