As more families prioritize environmental values, eco-friendly burial options are gaining popularity in the funeral space. According to the 2017 National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Consumer Awareness and Preferences Survey, 53.8% of respondents indicated an interest in exploring green funeral services. From green burials to biodegradable urns, modern funeral homes are offering solutions that honor loved ones while protecting the planet.
What is a Green Funeral
A green funeral is an environmentally conscious alternative to traditional burial in the U.S. that minimizes ecological impact through practices like natural burial, biodegradable caskets and avoiding embalming chemicals. It reflects a growing preference for sustainable, ethical end-of-life choices that honor both the individual and the planet. NFDA offers a guide for funeral providers on understanding and exploring green funerals as well as green alternatives for families.
Why Green Funerals Matter
Green funerals reduce environmental impact by minimizing chemicals, conserving natural resources, avoiding traditional burial materials and pouring resources back into the earth. Often, a person who chooses green funeral options wishes to maintain their personal values of sustainability, even after they have died.
Eco-Friendly Burial Options
Natural Burial
A natural burial is simply “the direct earth-burial of a body or cremated remains in a biodegradable container that allows the elements to return fully to the soil over time.” By using biodegradable products in permitted places and without embalming, you can decide if a completely natural burial is correct for you. If this isn’t right for you or isn’t permitted where you live, you can instead opt for environmentally-friendly elements such as a biodegradable urn or using recycled or seed paper for funeral service programs.
Other eco-friendly options for natural burial include biodegradable caskets and shrouds made from natural materials like wicker, bamboo or recycled paper. These items decompose naturally and reduce your environmental burial footprint.
Recomposition Burial
More widely-known as human composting, which received national attention last year, this burial “mimics the earth’s natural cycles in a controlled environment and is similar to what occurs on the forest floor as organic material decomposes and becomes topsoil.” Learn how human composting works.
Recompose, based in Seattle, specializes in human composting, providing respectful care “as the body transforms into soil.” When the process is complete, they offer soil donation options to help “restore and revitalize protected areas where vital environmental repair is needed.”
Biodegradable Urns
If you choose cremation, you have a variety of final disposition options, including biodegradable and environmentally-friendly urns. From an urn for your loved ones to keep to a bio urn that grows a memorial plant or tree, you’ll find a sustainable option that’s right for you and your loved ones.
Aquamation
Also known as alkaline hydrolysis, this processing of human remains uses water and electricity instead of fire.
Bio-Response Solutions is one aquamation provider. “It’s the same process that occurs as part of nature’s course when a body is laid to rest in the soil. A combination of gentle water flow, temperature and alkalinity are used to accelerate the breakdown of organic materials.”
“Aquamation uses significantly less energy than flame cremation, but more importantly — our process does not rely on fossil fuels. Because aquamation uses electricity, it will move into the future as our society improves infrastructure for cleaner energy sources — like wind, water and solar energy.”
Costs of a Green Funeral
Green funerals can be less expensive than traditional funerals due to the absence of embalming, elaborate caskets or vaults. However, prices vary based on the type of service and burial location. You can speak with your funeral provider about available options and costs.
How to Choose a Green Funeral Provider
Choosing a funeral home is very personal, and it’s important to find a funeral provider that you feel comfortable with. This often means asking the right questions and communicating your values and desires with your funeral provider. If sustainability is important to you when selecting a funeral home or cemetery, ask about their green certifications, available eco-options and transparency in pricing.
Certified green burial providers must meet specific criteria including land conservation, no embalming chemicals and sustainable materials. The Green Burial Council offers a national standard for certification.
Additionally, the Conservation Burial Alliance houses resources and a community around caring for and sustaining the earth through burial practices.
Keep in mind that where you live could impact the availability of eco-friendly options. Selecting the right funeral home ensures that your values and end-of-life wishes are respected.
We hope this guide is a helpful start as you explore sustainable funeral and burial options. Writer Wendell Berry said, “The earth is what we all have in common,” so seeking to leave it better than we came to it is always a worthwhile cause.
