What is green burial? A gentle introduction

Green, or natural, burial is a caring approach built around minimizing environmental impact, and it's been growing steadily as an option alongside conventional burial and cremation. Here's what the term truly means, and how it tends to affect cost for your family.

What actually makes a burial "green"

A few things typically define it. There's no embalming with the chemical solutions used conventionally, since a green approach avoids putting those into the ground. The container is biodegradable — sometimes just a simple shroud, sometimes a casket made from untreated wood, wicker, or bamboo designed to break down naturally. There's typically no concrete vault, and burial often takes place in a natural or conservation burial ground set aside specifically for this loving purpose.

Why it tends to cost less

Green burial often — though not always — costs less than conventional burial, simply because it eliminates several costs rather than discounting them. No embalming means no chemicals to pay for. A simple shroud or untreated wood casket typically costs less than a traditional metal one. No vault removes another cost entirely. That said, "often less" isn't "always less" — a natural burial ground still sets its own plot pricing, and some higher-end natural-material caskets aren't inexpensive.

Availability varies gently by area

Not every cemetery offers green burial, and what counts as "green" isn't applied the same way everywhere. Some burial grounds carry independent certification; others use the term more loosely. It's genuinely worth asking a specific provider what their green option actually includes, so your family knows exactly what to expect.

Where cremation fits alongside it

Cremation is a separate path from green burial — it uses its own energy and isn't automatically the "greener" choice, though some families see it as simpler and lower-impact. Some combine both ideas, choosing cremation followed by a biodegradable urn for a natural burial of the remains. There's no single right answer — it comes down to what matters most to your family.