Traditional burial in the U.S. involves formaldehyde embalming, hardwood or metal caskets, concrete burial vaults, and manicured cemetery lawns maintained with fertilizers and pesticides. Green burial asks: what if we just returned to the earth instead? The options have expanded significantly in recent years — from simple natural burial to human composting.
What Makes a Burial "Green"?
Green burial (also called natural burial) means burial that allows the body to decompose naturally, without chemicals or materials that impede that process, and ideally in a way that benefits rather than burdens the environment. The core principles:
- No embalming (or the use of non-toxic preservation alternatives)
- No synthetic materials in the burial container (natural shrouds, untreated wood, wicker, or bamboo caskets)
- No concrete vault (required by many traditional cemeteries but not by law)
- Burial at a depth that supports natural decomposition
- Cemetery management practices that support natural ecosystems rather than conventional lawn maintenance
Types of Green Burial
Natural / green burial
The simplest form: burial in a biodegradable shroud or container, at appropriate depth, in a dedicated green cemetery or a designated section of a conventional cemetery. No embalming; the body is refrigerated if needed before burial. The grave may be marked with a native plant, a GPS-registered location, or a simple natural stone — or not marked at all, allowing the land to remain natural.
Green cemeteries range from "hybrid" sections in conventional cemeteries to dedicated conservation burial grounds that function as nature preserves. The Green Burial Council (greenburialcouncil.org) certifies providers at three levels of green practice.
Conservation burial
The most ecologically integrated form of green burial. Conservation burial grounds are permanently protected natural land — a wildlife sanctuary, a nature preserve — where burials fund and support conservation efforts. The burial itself becomes part of the ecosystem. The land is protected from development by a conservation easement. Providers include Ramsey Creek Preserve (South Carolina), Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery (Florida), and others.
Home burial
In some states, burial on private property is legal with appropriate permits. Requirements vary significantly by state — some allow it relatively freely; others have significant restrictions or prohibit it. If you own land and want to pursue this option, consult your county health department and an attorney familiar with your state's burial laws. This is the oldest form of burial in human history; it's less common today but remains legal in many jurisdictions.
Alternatives to Traditional Cremation
Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis)
Aquamation uses water, heat, and an alkaline solution to break down the body over 4–8 hours — the natural decomposition process accelerated. The result is a sterile liquid effluent (returned to the water treatment system) and bone fragments returned to the family, similar to ash from flame cremation. Aquamation produces about 90% less greenhouse gas than flame cremation and uses significantly less energy. It's legal in approximately 20 states (including California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and others) and growing. Cost is comparable to flame cremation.
Natural organic reduction (human composting)
The most recent addition to green options. The body is placed in a vessel with organic material and undergoes accelerated natural decomposition over 30–60 days, resulting in approximately one cubic yard of rich compost. Families receive the soil to use however they choose: nourishing a tree, a garden, a restored natural area. Currently legal in: Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, California, Nevada, New York, Minnesota, Hawaii, and more states being added regularly.
Providers include Recompose (recompose.life) and Earth Funeral. Cost currently ranges from $3,500–$7,000 as the industry scales.
Tree pod burial / Capsula Mundi
A growing category of products that combine burial with a living memorial — placing remains (or a body in some designs) in a biodegradable pod that nourishes a tree. Currently, most available products are for cremated remains, not whole body burial. The emotional appeal is significant: a specific living tree grows as a living memorial.
The Environmental Case
Traditional burial in the U.S. uses significant resources:
- ~4.3 million gallons of embalming fluid annually (primarily formaldehyde, a carcinogen)
- ~20 million board feet of hardwood for caskets
- ~17,000 tons of steel for caskets
- ~1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete for vaults
Flame cremation, while avoiding these materials, produces approximately 535 lbs of CO₂ equivalent per cremation, plus particulates and mercury from dental fillings.
Green burial methods dramatically reduce these impacts — and some (conservation burial, composting) actively contribute to soil health and ecosystem restoration.
Planning for Green Burial
If you want a green burial, the most important planning steps:
- Document your wishes clearly. State your preference explicitly in writing — in your advance directive, a letter of instruction, or a document in your legacy files. Without this, your family may not know your wishes or may default to traditional options.
- Research local options. Find green cemeteries and providers in your area. The Green Burial Council's directory (greenburialcouncil.org) is the best starting point.
- Pre-plan or pre-pay if desired. Some green cemeteries allow you to purchase a plot in advance. Pre-planning locks in your wishes and can reduce costs.
- Tell your family. The most detailed written plan is only as effective as your family's knowledge of it. Have the conversation.
FinalKeepSake includes a space to record your burial and memorial wishes — including green burial preferences — as part of your Legacy Handoff Package, so your family has clear guidance when the time comes.