Frequently Asked Questions About Green Burial
GreenBurials.com provides information about green and natural burial practices and offers biodegradable urns, caskets, coffins, burial shrouds, scattering tubes, memorial products, and other eco-friendly funeral products. The questions below address common questions about green burial, natural burial, cremation, biodegradable burial products, and environmentally conscious memorial options.
What are the benefits of a green cemetery over a traditional cemetery?
Green cemeteries and natural burial grounds are designed to provide a more natural setting for burial while reducing the use of conventional burial materials and intensive landscaping practices.
Depending on the cemetery, green burial may avoid or reduce the use of conventional embalming, burial vaults, non-biodegradable burial containers, and other materials commonly associated with traditional burial.
Natural burial grounds may also emphasize native vegetation, natural landscaping, habitat protection, and responsible land management. A conservation-oriented burial ground can provide additional protection for the surrounding landscape.
The practices of individual cemeteries vary, so families should ask a cemetery about its specific burial and land-management policies.
What is green burial?
Green burial, also called natural burial, is an approach to burial that allows the body to return naturally to the earth while minimizing unnecessary environmental impacts.
Green burial commonly involves biodegradable burial materials, such as a natural casket, coffin, or shroud. Depending on the cemetery, conventional embalming and burial vaults may not be used.
GreenBurials.com offers a range of products designed for families considering green and natural burial, including biodegradable caskets, coffins, shrouds, carriers, and earth burial urns.
What is the difference between green burial and natural burial?
The terms green burial and natural burial are often used interchangeably.
Both generally describe burial practices intended to allow natural decomposition while reducing the use of non-biodegradable materials and unnecessary chemicals.
However, individual cemeteries and organizations may use these terms differently. When choosing a burial ground, families should ask what specific practices the cemetery follows.
Is green burial environmentally friendly?
Green burial is intended to reduce certain environmental impacts associated with conventional burial.
Depending on the burial ground and products selected, this can include using biodegradable caskets or shrouds, avoiding conventional burial vaults, reducing chemical use, and managing cemetery land with greater emphasis on natural landscaping.
The overall environmental impact depends on the complete burial process, including the cemetery’s land management, transportation, materials, and other services.
Is a conservation easement important when considering a green burial?
A conservation easement can be an important tool for protecting land from future development.
A conservation easement is a legal agreement that can restrict certain uses or development of property while protecting specified conservation values. For conservation burial grounds, long-term protection of the land can help ensure that the natural landscape remains available for conservation and burial purposes.
The terms and legal protections of a conservation easement vary, so families interested in conservation burial should ask the cemetery or landowner how the property is protected.
What is a conservation burial ground?
A conservation burial ground combines natural burial with the long-term conservation of the surrounding land.
In addition to providing a place for natural burial, a conservation burial ground may incorporate habitat protection, ecological restoration, native vegetation, and legal mechanisms intended to protect the property.
Not every green or natural burial ground is a conservation burial ground, so it is important to ask about the cemetery’s conservation practices and land protections.
Does green burial require a casket?
Not necessarily.
Depending on the cemetery’s requirements, a person may be buried in a biodegradable casket, coffin, or burial shroud.
GreenBurials.com offers biodegradable caskets and coffins made from natural materials, as well as burial shrouds and carriers for families looking for alternatives to conventional burial containers.
Always confirm the requirements of the cemetery where the burial will take place before purchasing a burial container.
What is a biodegradable burial casket?
A biodegradable burial casket is a burial container made from materials designed to break down naturally over time.
GreenBurials.com offers several biodegradable casket and coffin options. For example, its Natural Leaf Casket is handcrafted using sustainably sourced water hyacinth or banana leaf over a timber frame and base.
The materials and construction of biodegradable caskets vary by product, so families should review the product specifications and confirm that the casket meets the requirements of their selected cemetery.
Can you be buried in a shroud instead of a casket?
Some green and natural burial cemeteries permit burial in a shroud instead of a conventional casket.
GreenBurials.com offers a selection of burial shrouds made from materials such as cotton, bamboo, hemp, and other natural fibers. Certain shrouds are designed for burial or cremation and may be used with a carrier where appropriate.
Because cemetery requirements differ, always confirm that shroud burial is permitted before making arrangements.
Are burial shrouds biodegradable?
Many natural-fiber burial shrouds are designed to be biodegradable.
For example, GreenBurials.com’s Cotton Shroud with Handles is described as 100% biodegradable and suitable for burial or cremation. The site also offers bamboo, cotton, hemp/cotton, organic cotton, and other shroud options.
Families should check the individual product description for the specific materials and intended use of each shroud.
What is a burial carrier?
A burial carrier is used to help move and transport a shrouded body.
GreenBurials.com offers willow carriers designed to complement shroud-based burial arrangements. The appropriate carrier and handling method depend on the funeral provider, cemetery, and circumstances of the burial.
Does green burial use a burial vault?
Green burial generally seeks to minimize or avoid conventional burial vaults and other non-biodegradable outer burial containers.
However, cemetery policies vary. Some cemeteries may have specific requirements concerning grave construction or outer burial containers.
Always check with the cemetery before selecting a green burial product.
Is cremation an environmentally sound option?
Cremation has environmental considerations, including energy use and emissions, but its overall environmental impact depends on factors such as the cremation equipment, energy source, operating practices, transportation, and what is done with the cremated remains.
GreenBurials.com provides biodegradable cremation urns and other cremation memorial products for families who want environmentally conscious options after cremation.
There is no single answer that makes cremation or burial environmentally preferable in every circumstance. Families should consider the entire process and the options available in their area.
What is the difference between green burial and cremation?
Green burial places the body in the ground and allows natural decomposition. Cremation uses heat to reduce the body to cremated remains.
After cremation, the remains can be kept, buried, scattered, or used with certain memorial products where permitted.
Green burial and cremation have different environmental considerations. Green burial involves land use, burial materials, transportation, and cemetery management, while cremation involves energy consumption and emissions.
GreenBurials.com offers products for both natural burial and environmentally conscious cremation memorialization.
What is a biodegradable cremation urn?
A biodegradable cremation urn is an urn made from materials designed to break down naturally under appropriate conditions.
GreenBurials.com offers several types of biodegradable urns, including earth burial urns, water cremation urns, and scattering products.
The appropriate urn depends on whether the family plans to bury the cremated remains in the ground, place them in water, or scatter them.
What is an earth burial urn?
An earth burial urn is designed to hold cremated remains for burial in the ground.
GreenBurials.com offers biodegradable earth burial urns in different materials, styles, colors, and sizes. Product options include biodegradable paper and other environmentally conscious materials.
Families should check cemetery requirements before purchasing an urn for ground burial.
What are water burial urns?
Water burial urns are biodegradable urns designed for placing cremated remains in water where permitted.
GreenBurials.com offers several water cremation urn options, including Himalayan rock salt urns and biodegradable paper-based urns.
For example, the Himalayan Rock Salt Urn is designed to dissolve in water, while certain biodegradable paper urns are designed to float briefly and then sink and break down naturally.
Water burial and scattering are subject to applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Families should verify the rules for their intended location before proceeding.
Can cremated remains be scattered in water?
Some biodegradable urns are specifically designed for water scattering or water burial.
GreenBurials.com offers biodegradable water urns and scattering products intended for these types of memorial practices.
However, families must follow applicable laws and regulations governing the placement or scattering of cremated remains. For example, certain ocean scattering activities are subject to federal requirements concerning distance from shore.
What are scattering tubes?
Scattering tubes are containers designed to make the process of scattering cremated remains easier and more manageable.
GreenBurials.com offers biodegradable scattering tubes in different styles, including products designed for memorial scattering.
Families should check applicable laws and location-specific requirements before scattering cremated remains.
Are GreenBurials.com cremation urns TSA approved?
GreenBurials.com states that its cremation urns are airport security X-ray approved for carry-on luggage and are TSA approved.
Airline and security procedures can change, so travelers should confirm current requirements with the airline and TSA before traveling with cremated remains.
What does the Green Burial Council three-leaf rating mean?
The Green Burial Council uses an Eco-Rating System for qualifying products.
According to the criteria published on GreenBurials.com, products can receive one, two, or three leaves based on the number of applicable environmental criteria they meet. One criterion earns a one-leaf rating, two to three criteria earn two leaves, and four to five criteria earn a three-leaf rating.
The criteria address areas including materials, finishes and adhesives, sustainable or reclaimed materials, organic components, transportation, and post-mortem chemical considerations.
How do I choose a green burial casket?
When choosing a green burial casket, consider:
- The materials used
- Whether the materials are biodegradable
- Any finishes, adhesives, or synthetic components
- The casket’s dimensions
- Cemetery requirements
- Transportation requirements
- Whether a lining is required
- Whether personalization or memorialization is desired
GreenBurials.com offers several biodegradable casket and coffin styles, including natural-leaf and other eco-friendly options.
How do I choose the right cremation urn size?
The correct urn size depends primarily on the amount of cremated remains and the intended use of the urn.
GreenBurials.com offers urns in different sizes, including adult, medium, keepsake, and mini options depending on the product.
Families should review the capacity listed for the specific urn and consider whether it will hold all of the cremated remains or only a portion for a keepsake or sharing arrangement.
Does GreenBurials.com sell biodegradable pet urns and pet memorial products?
Yes.
GreenBurials.com offers biodegradable pet urns, pet scattering products, and pet casket options for families memorializing a dog, cat, or other companion animal. The website includes pet-specific products such as dog and cat scattering tubes and biodegradable pet urns.
Product availability and suitability depend on the type and size of the pet and the intended memorial method.
Does GreenBurials.com offer baby and child burial products?
Yes.
The GreenBurials.com catalog includes baby caskets and other products intended for infant and child burial or memorial arrangements.
Families should review the dimensions and specifications of individual products and confirm cemetery or funeral-provider requirements before ordering.
Does GreenBurials.com offer memorial products in addition to urns and caskets?
Yes.
In addition to biodegradable urns, caskets, coffins, shrouds, and scattering products, GreenBurials.com offers other memorial products, including keepsakes, seed paper mementos, eco-friendly stationery, and pet-specific memorial products.
Where can I find a green cemetery or natural burial ground?
GreenBurials.com provides information and resources related to green cemeteries and burial parks to help people research natural burial options.
Because cemetery rules and available services vary by location, families should contact the individual cemetery directly to confirm whether it permits green burial, what products are allowed, and what its current requirements are.
What should I ask a cemetery before buying a green burial product?
Before purchasing a casket, coffin, shroud, urn, or other burial product, ask the cemetery:
- What burial containers are permitted?
- Are biodegradable caskets or coffins accepted?
- Is shroud burial permitted?
- Are burial vaults required?
- What types of urns are permitted?
- Are water or scattering urns permitted for the intended use?
- Are there size or material restrictions?
- Are there specific requirements for grave markers?
- Does the cemetery have conservation or natural-landscape requirements?
Confirming these details before purchasing can help ensure that the product is compatible with the cemetery’s policies.
Can green burial products be used with a traditional funeral?
Some green burial products can be incorporated into funeral or memorial arrangements even when the overall service is more traditional.
For example, families may choose a biodegradable casket, coffin, shroud, urn, or memorial product while still holding a viewing, funeral service, religious ceremony, or family gathering.
Whether a specific product can be used depends on the funeral provider, cemetery, and applicable requirements.
Can green burial products be shipped directly to my home?
GreenBurials.com sells its products online and provides shipping options for customers in the United States. The website states that standard ground shipping is available within the contiguous United States, with expedited shipping options available for certain products.
Shipping requirements and costs vary by product. Caskets, shrouds, carriers, and expedited orders may have different shipping arrangements.
Does GreenBurials.com ship internationally?
International shipping may be available for certain products, but customers are advised to contact GreenBurials.com regarding international shipments. The website specifically instructs customers to call for international shipping information.
International customs, transportation, and import requirements can vary by destination.
What makes a burial product eco-friendly?
An eco-friendly burial product generally considers the materials, manufacturing process, chemical content, biodegradability, transportation, and eventual disposition of the product.
The Green Burial Council criteria referenced by GreenBurials.com evaluate factors such as sustainable or reclaimed materials, finishes and adhesives, organic components, transportation distances, and post-mortem chemical considerations.
Families should review the specifications of individual products rather than assuming that every product described as “natural” or “eco-friendly” has identical environmental characteristics.
Is green burial less expensive than traditional burial?
Green burial can reduce some conventional funeral expenses because certain arrangements may not require embalming, elaborate caskets, or burial vaults.
However, there is no universal price for green burial, and total costs depend on the cemetery, funeral provider, transportation, burial location, products selected, and services requested.
The cost of the biodegradable product itself is only one part of the overall funeral or burial expense.
Can I pre-plan a green burial?
Yes. Pre-planning can help families research natural burial grounds, understand cemetery requirements, select an appropriate casket, coffin, shroud, or urn, and communicate their preferences to family members and funeral professionals.
GreenBurials.com provides educational information and products that can help families research environmentally conscious burial and cremation options.
Where can I learn more about green burial?
GreenBurials.com provides educational resources covering green burial, natural burial products, biodegradable urns, caskets, coffins, shrouds, cremation, cemetery information, Green Burial Council criteria, and related topics.
Families should also speak directly with the cemetery, funeral provider, or other appropriate professional to confirm requirements for their particular situation.
Important Information
Green burial and funeral practices can vary by cemetery, state, local jurisdiction, funeral provider, and individual circumstances. The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes and should not be considered legal, funeral-service, or regulatory advice. Always confirm current requirements with the appropriate cemetery, funeral provider, government agency, airline, or other responsible authority before making arrangements.