Twelve Green Burial Options to Ponder

For nearly a century, a traditional funeral included a satin-lined wooden coffin, a burial vault, embalming, a funeral, a graveside service, and an after burial gathering. Then, in the 1980s, cremation gained in popularity.

Cost of Traditional Burials

According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the U.S. median cost of a funeral in 2022 was $7,848 while the median cost of a funeral with cremation was $6,971. Caskets can range in price from $2,500 for metal to as much as $10,000 for wood, fiberglass, or plastic. Mortuaries often encourage a concrete or metal burial vault costing between $900 and $7000 or more. Law does not require these containers nor does it require embalming.

Diminishing cemetery space is becoming an issue. States most likely to run out of cemetery space include: California, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. Consequently, the cost of cemetery plots will continue to increase. The average burial plot in California costs $5,545.

Growing Natural Burial Trend

According to a recent survey by the NFDA, 54% of Americans say they are interested in natural burial options. These options are often lower cost, plus they benefit the planet. There is no need for carcinogenic embalming chemicals to seep into the soil or the myriad of non-biodegradable materials conventional burials put into the earth.

Cremation that seemed a more economical choice is not environmentally friendly. One standard cremation emits about 880 pounds of carbon dioxide — a greenhouse gas blamed for climate change — along with other pollutants. On top of that, each cremation consumes as much energy, in the form of natural gas and electricity, as a 500-mile car trip.

So, green burial seems like a great way to reduce costs, while helping to preserve our environment. Green burial cemeteries and green burial certified funeral homes may be found on the Green Burial Council website. Green burial cemeteries in California are also listed here.

Green after Death Options

1. Forgo embalming or use non-formaldehyde alternatives
   Embalming is unnecessary for any hygienic or legal reasons. Mortuaries do not generally require it.
2. Human composting
   The above ground process, called recomposition, requires state approval and is currently legal in Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, California and New York. Washington has three providers for this service while plans exist to open providers in Colorado and California in the future.
3. Alkaline hydrolysis (aquamation)
   Currently legal in 20 states including California, this process also known as resomation utilizes a heated solution of water and potassium hydroxide (lye) to reduce the body to a liquid which is flushed down the drain. The body’s bones can be crushed and returned to the deceased person’s survivors.
4. The Mushroom Suit
   A mushroom burial suit, also known as the Infinity Burial Suit by its manufacturer Coeio, is a biodegradable burial shroud made from mushroom spores. The spores are designed to help decompose the body and filter toxins so it does not contaminate surrounding plant life after a body is buried in it. The suit is accepted at most green burial sites. Critics say that the mushroom suit is unnecessary as soil already does the work of decomposition.
5. Simple wooden casket
   A simple coffin needs to be made of solid wood, with no glue, metal or varnish in order to be considered green, and to be accepted in most green burial grounds. A lining or interior should be made of unbleached fabric, with natural materials for bedding such as wool or cotton fiber, or even straw.
6. Cardboard containers
   Cardboard is an acceptable green container or casket. It is advisable to check what the weight guidelines are for the cardboard casket you are considering as some may not be suitable for people over a certain weight. Strapping or ropes may be needed as cardboard caskets do not have sturdy handles.
7. Woven caskets
   These containers are often made of willow, bamboo, wicker or combinations of those. Some may incorporate seagrass or other natural materials to enhance the design.
8. Shrouds
   Shrouds are fabric caskets that may be made from natural materials including unbleached cotton, muslin, linen, and bamboo. They often come with pockets where loved can place flowers, herbs, or mementos.
9. Tree pods
   This is a concept in which human remains wrapped in a natural cloth are placed in an eco-friendly, egg-shaped pod. This pod is buried within the ground and a tree is planted directly above it. As the body decomposes, it feeds the tree. Since it is uncertain where tree pods containing a corpse could be buried, currently smaller eggs are being utilized to bury cremated remains.
10. Biodegradable urns
    While cremation itself may not be the greenest choice, cremated remains may be buried in such urns depending on the cemetery. They may be made from leaves, recycled paper, wool fiber, tree bark, coconut shells, rock salt, untreated wood and other materials that will break down in the earth.
11. Natural resting places
    There are several forested sites in California offering a more natural environment for cremated remains. They include Better Place Forests and the Ancestral Forest Project in Los Angeles.
12. Plan your funeral
    If the environment is important to you, don’t leave these choices to someone else. There’s no better way to ensure that your funeral has minimal impact on the environment than to make your choices in advance and to inform your loved ones.