Green Burial & Eco-Funerals

Green Funerals and Eco-Funeral mean having a simple, natural funeral,
There is no waste of resources in a green funeral, and as such, green burial is a key aspect of an eco-funeral. Using green materials to construct the coffin or the urn contributes to maintaining an all-natural burial site. In a green burial, the body may be buried wrapped in a blanket, or shroud, or held within a biodegradable casket, or if cremated, a biodegradable urn may be used.

With our changing environment, it is ever more important to continue to protect our planet for future generations. In nature, when an organism dies, it returns to the ground to become part of the earth itself.  As humans, we defy this natural process, wasting resources in the process.  A traditional funeral results in the burial of concrete, metals, and toxic fluids in the ground, as well as the body.  Given several million burials a year, the combined impact is significant.


Natural, eco-friendly burials are available.  These places are beautiful, natural places, which lack headstones, concrete, and other man-made materials that detract from the natural environment.  Special flowers, plants, shrubs, and native or newly planted trees can be used in place of a headstone to mark the burial location of a loved one.  Family and friends can plant, care for, and witness the new growth and nature in that special place. 

Natural Coffins and Urns

Green Burials provide Natural Coffins and urns that are constructed from non-toxic, biodegradable materials, such as wicker, cardboard, and cotton shrouds.  The use of natural, biodegradable materials for coffins ensures that the surrounding environment will not be adversely impacted by the burial.  Rather than being designed to prevent the decomposition process, as is often the case in traditional coffin construction, natural coffins are designed to be fully biodegradable to ensure a natural burial process.  

 

"Green," biodegradable urns are designed to degrade in time, leaving no man-made material behind. If a resistant urn or container is not required by the cemetery, biodegradable burial urns are a terrific choice, as they allow the human body to return to the earth with little environmental impact. There is also water-absorbent biodegradable versions for when the final resting place for the ashes is in the water.
 
If interested in minimizing your ecological footprint on the environment, you should consider cremation or an eco-friendly burial method. "Green" eco-friendly funeral options are available in most countries, as green and natural burials have become a more popular option.  Green and natural burials promote the growth of trees and natural shrubs and support wildlife within a cemetery designed to allow nature to take its course. 
 
Typically, green cemeteries consist of meadows or wooded areas in which a special tree, shrub, or flowering bush is planted in place of a headstone or other marker, creating a living memorial.  Foregoing the more common image of rows of headstones in a cemetery, picture the burial in a beautiful meadow, where family and friends can visit and spend an afternoon in a natural, peaceful setting.
 

Natural Burial

Locations for natural burial are becoming more common, as more people learn about the benefits of natural burial.  In the United States, there has been growth in natural burial sites, with hundreds of sites available and additional sites every year.  These environmentally friendly, natural burial sites are a preferable choice to normal burial grounds, particularly for loved ones who cared for the environment.

  Natural burials ensure that the natural process of decomposition of the deceased’s body is not inhibited in any way, allowing for the natural recycling process to occur as nature intended.  This process is similar to the burial process used before the end of the 19th century when embalming was not a common practice and the caskets were made of natural, plain wood.  
 
In a natural burial, the body is prepared without the use of chemical disinfectants and preservatives. Natural burials can be done in burial sites and cemeteries that accept the natural burial process and do not require a vault or private land.

As noted previously, natural burials often forego man-made markers for the use of flower beds, shrubs, and trees planted either near or on the grave to create a living memorial.
 

Plantable seed paper memorials are a perfect choice for your garden. With each planting of the seed paper, you will remember your loved one.