Green Burial Options: What It Is, How Much It Costs, and Where to Find Providers

Green burial has moved from a fringe conversation to a mainstream option in the last decade. More families are asking about it, more cemeteries are offering it, and the costs are often significantly lower than traditional burial. Here is what it actually involves.

What Is Green Burial?

Green burial is the practice of returning the body to the earth without embalming, without a metal or hardwood casket, and without a concrete vault. The body is typically wrapped in a shroud or placed in a biodegradable container and buried at a depth that allows natural decomposition.

What Makes a Cemetery Green?

The Green Burial Council certifies cemeteries at three levels. A hybrid green cemetery allows green burials in a designated section of a conventional cemetery. A natural burial ground prohibits vaults and embalming throughout the entire property. A conservation burial ground is permanently protected land where burials help fund ecological preservation.

Is Embalming Required?

No. Embalming is not required by law in any U.S. state for a standard burial. A funeral home may suggest it as a matter of course, but you have the right to decline. Refrigeration is the alternative and is entirely adequate for a funeral held within a few days of death.

How Much Does Green Burial Cost?

Green burial is almost always less expensive than conventional burial. Typical cost: $1,000 to $4,000 for the burial itself. There is no embalming fee (saving $400 to $800), no concrete vault (saving $1,000 to $1,500), and a shroud or simple casket costs far less than a conventional casket ($200 to $1,500 vs $2,000 to $10,000).

Aquamation and Other Alternatives

Aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis or water cremation, uses water and an alkaline solution rather than flame. It produces no direct air emissions and is legal in about 25 states including California, Colorado, and Florida. Cost is comparable to conventional cremation: $1,500 to $3,500.

How to Find a Green Burial Provider

The Green Burial Council maintains a searchable directory at greenburialcouncil.org. Ask funeral homes specifically about their practices -- do they use refrigeration instead of embalming, what container options do they offer, and do they work with natural burial cemeteries in the area.

Find funeral homes near you at funeralhomedirectories.com.