Green Burial Options: What They Are and How to Plan One

Green burial is a natural approach to burial that allows the body to return to the earth without the chemicals, metals, and concrete used in conventional burial. It is one of the fastest growing trends in the funeral industry, driven by families who want a simpler, more environmentally responsible option.

What Is a Green Burial

A green burial eliminates the practices that define conventional burial. There is no embalming with formaldehyde. There is no metal or lacquered hardwood casket. There is no concrete vault liner. Instead, the body is placed in a biodegradable container, such as a simple wooden casket, a wicker basket, or a shroud, and buried directly in the earth.

The grave is typically shallower than in a traditional cemetery, usually three to four feet deep, which allows natural soil organisms to break down the body more efficiently. The burial site may be marked with a native plant, a flat stone, or a GPS coordinate rather than a traditional headstone.

The philosophy behind green burial is straightforward: the human body is organic, and returning it to the earth without interference is the most natural thing a family can do.

Types of Green Burial

Hybrid cemeteries: Traditional cemeteries that offer a green burial section. They allow biodegradable caskets and skip the vault requirement for designated plots. This is the most accessible option for most families.

Natural burial grounds: Dedicated green cemeteries where every burial follows natural practices. These sites often double as nature preserves or conservation easements, protecting the land from future development.

Conservation cemeteries: The most rigorous standard. These are certified by the Green Burial Council and must be managed by a conservation organization. They permanently protect the land and restore native habitat.

Home burial: In many states, families can bury their loved one on private land with the proper permits. This is the most personal form of green burial, though zoning and property laws vary by county.

How Green Burial Differs from Traditional Burial

Traditional burial involves embalming the body with formaldehyde-based chemicals, placing it in a sealed casket (often metal or finished hardwood), and lowering it into a concrete vault inside the grave. This process is designed to slow decomposition and maintain the cemetery grounds.

Green burial takes the opposite approach. It embraces decomposition as a natural process. No chemicals are used. The container is designed to break down along with the body. There is no vault. The grave is dug and filled by hand in many cases, and the site is maintained as a natural landscape rather than a manicured lawn.

The environmental difference is significant. Traditional burial puts roughly 800,000 gallons of embalming fluid, 90,000 tons of steel, and 1.6 million tons of concrete into the ground each year in the United States alone.

Cost of Green Burial

Green burial is substantially less expensive than traditional burial. A complete green burial typically costs between $1,000 and $4,000, which includes the burial container, the plot, and the opening and closing of the grave. By comparison, a traditional burial with embalming, a casket, a vault, and a cemetery plot averages $7,000 to $12,000.

The savings come from every step. A biodegradable casket or shroud costs a fraction of a traditional casket. Skipping embalming saves $500 to $1,000. Eliminating the vault saves another $1,000 to $3,000. Plots in natural burial grounds are often less expensive than those in traditional cemeteries.

For families managing tight budgets, green burial offers a way to provide a respectful, meaningful burial without the financial burden that comes with conventional funeral practices.

How to Find a Green Burial Cemetery

The Green Burial Council maintains a directory of certified green burial providers across the country. You can search by state to find cemeteries, funeral homes, and product providers that meet their standards. Many conventional cemeteries have also begun offering green sections, so it is worth calling local cemeteries to ask.

When evaluating a green burial cemetery, ask about their land management practices, what containers they allow, whether they use GPS marking, and whether the land is protected by a conservation easement. Not all green cemeteries are equal, and the details matter.

If you are planning ahead, visiting the site in person can help you understand what the experience will be like. Many natural burial grounds are beautiful, peaceful places that feel very different from a traditional cemetery.