GREEN BURIAL SERVICES

What is a green funeral?

A green funeral incorporates environmentally friendly options such as green products, services or burial.



A green funeral may include any or all of the following: no embalming or embalming with formaldehyde-free products; the use of sustainable biodegradable clothing, shroud or burial container; using recycled paper products, locally grown organic flowers or food; carpooling; arranging a small memorial gathering in a natural setting; natural or green burial.

What is natural or green burial?

In a "purist" natural or green burial, the body is buried, without embalming or a vault, using biodegradable, natural materials, in a natural setting.

Any shrouds or caskets used are biodegradable, nontoxic, and of sustainable material. With this type of burial, memorial markers are usually limited in type, size, and visibility. For example, flat rocks, plants or trees may serve as grave markers; some cemeteries use GPS to mark the locations of gravesites.



To some families, a “natural or green burial" may simply mean burial without embalming, in a biodegradable casket without a vault, when permitted by a cemetery.

When a cemetery does require a vault, do I have "green" alternatives?

Check first with the cemetery to determine what is allowed, such as:

Casket protectors or grave liners that are open on the bottom, such as those used in Orthodox Jewish funerals, so that the body comes into contact with the earth.



Using a regular vault that is turned upside-down.

What about cremation? Is it considered "green"?

In general, cremation is not considered "green" because the cremation process uses nonrenewable fossil fuels, even though a funeral including cremation may use fewer resources than conventional forms of disposition.



Cremation also produces airborne emissions. However, cremated remains do not need to be interred in a cemetery, which reduces land use.