Green Burial Packages

What Is a Green Burial

Green burial services are a modern approach to honoring loved ones while prioritizing environmental sustainability and natural processes. Unlike traditional burials that involve embalming fluids, metal caskets, and concrete vaults, green burials aim to minimize the ecological footprint of the burial process. Here’s a description of what green burial services typically entail:

1. Biodegradable Materials:

• Caskets or Shrouds: Instead of metal or treated wood caskets, green burials use biodegradable materials like bamboo, wicker, or sustainably sourced wood. Some opt for burial shrouds made from natural fibers such as cotton or linen.
• No Embalming: Embalming chemicals are avoided in green burials to allow the body to naturally return to the earth.

2. Natural Burial Grounds:

• Designated Sites: Green burials often take place in designated natural burial grounds or conservation areas that are dedicated to environmentally friendly practices.
• Native Plants: These sites typically use native plants and landscaping that enhance biodiversity and contribute positively to the local ecosystem.

3. Minimal Environmental Impact:

• No Vaults: Concrete burial vaults are omitted, allowing for direct contact between the biodegradable casket or shroud and the earth. This promotes natural decomposition and minimizes environmental disruption.
• Reduced Carbon Footprint: Green burials reduce carbon emissions associated with traditional funeral practices, such as manufacturing and transporting metal caskets and using embalming fluids.

4. Personalized Ceremonies:

• Customized Services: Families can personalize green burial ceremonies with meaningful rituals, such as tree plantings, readings, or musical performances, in natural settings.
• Memorialization: Options for memorialization include planting native trees or shrubs as living memorials, placing natural stone markers, or choosing GPS coordinates to mark the burial site.

5. Community and Ethical Considerations:

• Support Local Communities: Green burial practices often support local economies by sourcing materials and services locally, promoting sustainability on multiple levels.
• Ethical Choices: Choosing a green burial aligns with ethical considerations of environmental stewardship and reverence for natural processes, reflecting personal values and beliefs.

Green burial services offer a serene and eco-friendly alternative to traditional funerals, providing families with a meaningful way to celebrate the life of a loved one while contributing positively to the environment.

Approved and Proud Member of the Green Burial Council: