Green & Eco-Friendly Options
Explore burial, disposition, and memorial choices that may reduce resource use, avoid unnecessary materials, and support conservation.
What Makes an Option “Green”?
There is no single environmentally perfect funeral or disposition method. The impact of any choice depends on factors such as materials, energy use, transportation, land management, local facilities, and what happens afterward.
Green funeral practices generally aim to use fewer manufactured materials, avoid unnecessary chemicals, reduce energy and transportation, and allow natural processes to occur with less interference.
For many families, the most practical approach is not to pursue a special label, but to identify which environmental priorities matter most and ask providers what choices are actually available locally.
Start With Your Priorities
- Avoiding unnecessary chemicals and manufactured materials
- Using biodegradable products and less energy
- Protecting land and limiting transportation
Ways to Reduce Environmental Impact
Environmental impact is shaped by several separate decisions. Some changes can be made even when a dedicated green cemetery or specialized disposition provider is not available.
Green Burial Settings
Green burial may be available in several types of cemeteries. The terminology can be useful, but individual rules matter more than the name alone.
Hybrid Cemetery
A conventional cemetery that permits green burial throughout the property or within a designated section.
Hybrid cemeteries may allow biodegradable containers and burial without a vault, while continuing to offer conventional burial elsewhere on the grounds.
Natural Cemetery
A cemetery operated primarily for natural burial. These grounds generally restrict embalming chemicals, non-biodegradable containers, and conventional burial vaults.
Landscaping and grave marking may be designed to preserve a more natural appearance.
Conservation Cemetery
A natural burial ground connected to permanent land-conservation goals. Burial fees may help protect habitat, open space, or ecologically significant land.
Ask who holds the conservation protections and how the property will be managed over time.
How Green Burial Works
In a green burial, the body is usually placed directly into the earth in a biodegradable shroud or container. Embalming is generally avoided, and a concrete burial vault is not used.
The grave may be dug and closed by cemetery staff, a contractor, or—with permission—family and community members. Practices vary considerably among cemeteries.
A funeral, graveside service, viewing, home vigil, religious observance, or other ceremony may still be held. Choosing green burial changes the physical arrangements; it does not require giving up meaningful rituals.
Containers & Body Care
Product labels such as “natural,” “biodegradable,” and “eco-friendly” can be misleading. Check both the materials used and the requirements of the cemetery or provider before choosing a container or body-care method. You are a dream
Burial Shrouds
A body may be wrapped in cloth made from cotton, linen, wool, silk, or another material accepted by the cemetery. Some cemeteries require a rigid lowering board or carrier.
Woven Containers
Wicker, willow, bamboo, seagrass, and other woven materials may be used when their construction and finishes meet cemetery requirements.
Cardboard Caskets
Cardboard caskets can be simple and lightweight, but coatings, inks, adhesives, reinforcement, and weight limits should be checked.
Wooden Caskets
Simple unfinished wood may be preferred. Ask about wood species, metal hardware, stains, sealants, fabric linings, and adhesives.
Refrigeration & Cooling
Refrigeration, dry ice, cooling blankets, or prompt burial may be possible alternatives to embalming, depending on local rules and provider capabilities.
Minimal Preparation
Washing, dressing, positioning, and other noninvasive care may be provided by professionals or, where permitted, by family and community members.
Questions to Ask
Ask specific questions rather than relying on labels such as “green,” “natural,” or “eco-friendly.” Providers may use the same words for very different practices.
- Is embalming required for the arrangements I selected?
- What alternatives to embalming do you offer?
- Does the cemetery require a vault or grave liner?
- Which burial containers and shrouds are accepted?
- May the family provide or build the container?
- May family members participate in caring for the body?
- May the family help dig, lower, or close the grave?
- How are graves located and marked?
- How is the land maintained?
- Are fertilizers, pesticides, or irrigation used?
- Are any conservation protections permanent?
- What is included in the total price?
Verify Before You Purchase
- Accepted materials, construction, size, and weight
- Vault, liner, handling, or equipment requirements
- Delivery rules and approved-supplier restrictions
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to questions often associated with this topic.
Is green burial legal?
Green burial is generally legal, but state and local requirements, cemetery rules, transportation requirements, and timelines for disposition vary.
The more common difficulty is not whether green burial is legal, but whether a suitable cemetery and provider are available nearby. Confirm requirements through the appropriate state and local agencies.
Is embalming required?
Routine embalming is not required for every death. Some states require embalming or refrigeration under particular circumstances, and a funeral home may require embalming for certain services, such as an extended public viewing.
Ask what is legally required, what is required by the provider, and what alternatives are available.
Can there still be a viewing or funeral?
Yes. A funeral, home vigil, graveside ceremony, religious service, or private viewing may be possible without conventional embalming.
The timing and condition of the body, local requirements, and the funeral provider’s policies will affect what arrangements can be offered.
Does green burial cost less?
Sometimes, but not automatically. Avoiding embalming, a conventional casket, or a burial vault may reduce some expenses. However, cemetery property, transportation, labor, grave opening and closing, and specialized services may still be costly.
Request itemized prices and compare the complete arrangement rather than comparing only the price of the burial container.
Can green burial take place in a conventional cemetery?
Yes, when the cemetery allows it. Some conventional cemeteries have designated green burial sections, while others permit selected green practices throughout the grounds.
Ask specifically whether a vault is required and which containers are accepted.
What is conservation burial?
Conservation burial combines natural burial practices with legally protected land-conservation goals. The burial ground may preserve wildlife habitat, open space, or other environmentally significant land.
Ask who owns the property, what legal protections apply, who is responsible for long-term management, and how burial revenue supports conservation.
Are green burial options available to veterans?
Some veterans may have access to green burial through a VA national cemetery or another veterans cemetery, but availability is location-specific.
The National Cemetery Administration has established green burial sections at selected national cemeteries and may accept naturally prepared remains in biodegradable containers under certain cemetery arrangements. Contact the cemetery directly before making plans.
Is cremation environmentally friendly?
Cremation generally uses fewer land and material resources than a conventional casket burial, but it requires fuel and produces emissions. The total impact also depends on transportation, the crematory, merchandise, memorial choices, and what is done with the cremated remains.
Rather than treating any option as impact-free, compare the tradeoffs that matter most to you.
Related Topics
Compare the Complete Arrangement
Environmental claims can be vague. Ask each provider what materials, procedures, transportation, land practices, and fees are actually involved before deciding.