Green Burials: The Eco-Friendly Way to Bury Your Body Without a Trace

A green burial is a way of caring for the deceased with minimal environmental impact. It aims to reduce the consumption of resources, and carbon emissions, and preserve natural habitats.

Do you know what is going to happen to your body when you die? Does your family know and understand what you would like to happen? Many people assume they only have the two most common options: traditional embalming with a burial and traditional cremation. Lack of planning for what you want to happen to your body will often result in one of these two options. Planning what you want your burial and funeral to look like is as simple as adding it to your will or letting your family know.

Embalming was initially used mainly for medical and scientific purposes to keep the body from decomposing so that it could be studied longer and by more people. During the Civil War, it became more widely popular to get soldiers home so their loved ones could see them one last time. Abraham Lincoln was then embalmed after his assassination, and his body was taken all over the country for people to see. The practice became increasingly popular. 

However, most of us don’t need our bodies preserved for months after we die like they used to. During the process of embalming, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, methanol, and many other toxic chemicals are forced through your body, often resulting in the body looking more like a wax figure than the actual person. Your chemical-filled body is then buried and put into the earth. There are many other ways of preserving and handling a body that doesn’t harm the environment.

Cremation is significantly better for the environment but is still not the best option for the Earth. Cremation releases natural gasses into the air and any chemicals within the body. With the rising popularity of green burials, now is the time to reconsider your options.

What is a Green Burial?

A green burial is a way of caring for the deceased with minimal environmental impact. It aims to reduce the consumption of resources, and carbon emissions, and preserve natural habitats. Unlike traditional burials, which often involve embalming fluids, non-biodegradable materials, and resource-intensive practices, green burials prioritize eco-friendly and sustainable methods.

Why Go Green?

Because you become part of the nature around you instead of being buried in a traditional cemetery in a coffin.

Traditional burials are taking a toll on the Earth. Each day, we are coming up with new ways to honor the lives we lived in death. We should be able to honor the Earth through the green burial processes.

Forest Burial

If you have ever been to a cemetery, you know they often look very similar. They are filled with headstones, statues, mowed grass, and fences. They may have a tree, maybe even a few trees. But most of them have very little plant life. Traditional cemeteries are not your only option.

When you die, you could have a forest burial. You can be buried in a burial forest that is very similar to a regular forest. You become part of the nature around you instead of being buried in a traditional cemetery in a coffin. Oftentimes, a tree or another plant is planted to mark the spot should your family wish to visit.

Human Composting

Have you ever used compost to bring nutrients to your garden? When you die, your body can enter the very natural process of decomposing. As your body decomposes, you can essentially be turned into a very nutrient-rich soil. Even though you have died, you still can bring new life into this world. 

Donating Your Body

Donating your body decreases the expense of a funeral. It is one of the least expensive options, depending on what kind of celebration of life you wish to have. Donating your body can also help advance medical research. Donating your body is a great way to reduce environmental impact while helping others.

Where your body goes after you donate it often depends on who you set it up with and what you die from. For example, if you die of a heart attack, your body may go somewhere that is studying the heart. Donating your body could result in helping save lives, cure diseases, and teach people how to better care for the living.

Promession

Promession is a process of freeze-drying the body and then breaking it down into a powder. The liquid is then evaporated from the body. Metals will also need to be removed, such as fillings, implants, or joint screws. After this is complete, the body will fully decompose within the year and become compost. A tree or plant can be buried above the remains.

Promession is a newly developed process that is currently only legal in the UK, Sweden, and South Korea. People are being trained every day in the process, and it will hopefully become more readily available in the coming years. While it is still not legal in many countries, it could be something to consider by the time you or your family will be planning your funeral.

Green Embalming

Green embalming might be your answer if you still want a traditional funeral alongside a conventional burial while reducing the environmental impact.

Green embalming is very similar to traditional embalming. Fluids are still pumped through the body, replacing the blood in the body. However, traditional embalming uses very harsh chemicals that go into the ground with the body, harming the environment. Green embalming is non-toxic and biodegradable. The process includes a mixture of essential oils and non-toxic chemicals.

If you want to keep your funeral as traditional as possible while reducing your harmful impact on the Earth, green embalming might be the best option for you to consider.

Aquamation

Aquamation is very similar to cremation. However, instead of fire, there is water. The body is placed in water for a few hours, along with a very strong alkali. The water and the body are then vibrated or gently heated so the body is broken down into chemical components. The only thing that remains are any metals that were in the body and the bones. The bones are usually then ground into a powder. This powder is generally given to the family, similar to a traditional cremation.

Aquamation was initially used to dispose of bodies that were donated to science. They are becoming more widely used in the funeral industry. While aquamation is only legal in 20 states, it is becoming increasingly popular.

Shrouds

You do not need to do any fancy process or treatment on your body after you die. You can be placed in the earth, and your body will naturally decompose. People do not realize how harmful being buried in a casket can be to the environment. Millions of acres of forests are destroyed to make wooden caskets. Various metals are also used to make caskets as well. There are other options, including a shroud. 

A shroud is a cloth that wraps the body for burial or cremation. It is typically a cloth made of a natural and biodegradable material. Shrouds have been used for thousands of years, dating back to prehistoric times. They are not specific to any specific religion or group of people and are still used to this day. 

Shrouds are a more environmentally friendly way of being laid to rest. You can still have a traditional funeral with a shroud. There are so many options today for the type of wrapping you can choose. Different shrouds can have different materials, different colors, different designs, and different styles.

Legal Considerations

Each state decides its cemetery, funeral, and burial regulations. This means that in the United States, there is no set law or regulation in place for green burials. Regulations vary by state, some key considerations include:

• Burial Depth: Several states, including California, Georgia, Maryland, and Washington, mandate minimum burial depths ranging from 3 to 3.5 feet.

• Distance from Water Sources: To prevent contamination, many states require burials to be at least 50 to 200 feet away from water sources.

• Specific Options: Certain green burial options, such as human composting, are currently legal only in a few states like Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

In addition, while all states allow green burials, not all states have companies that offer the services for a green burial. It's essential to research and comply with local laws and regulations when planning a green burial.

Budgeting for a Green Burial

One of the advantages of green burials is their potential cost-effectiveness compared to traditional burials and funerals, which can range from $5,000 to $15,000. Green burials typically involve fewer chemicals, fewer materials, and less money. Because of this, green burials tend to be significantly cheaper. However, this largely depends on where you live and what kind of green burial you choose. 

Here are some average cost estimates for different green burial options:

• Body Donation: If you decide to donate your body to science, your family would only have to pay for the cost of a memorial.

• Biodegradable Coffins or Shrouds: Usually range from $50 to $500. Other processes may cost a little bit more but are still significantly cheaper than traditional funerals and burials since you will not be paying for embalming, hair, makeup, and other costs that come with a traditional burial.

• Forest Burial: Approximately $3,000.

• Human Composting: Around $5,000.

• Aquamation: Approximately $2,500.

• Green Embalming: Around $2,500.

These numbers are a rough estimation. For green burials and options in your state, you should contact a few places that offer the services you are looking for to get a more accurate estimate. Green burials can vary widely, just like traditional burials can. It is also dependent on what kind of celebration you want.

Potential Challenges of a Green Burial

There are also potential challenges and limitations that green burials present. By understanding these nuances, you'll be better equipped to make an informed decision about a green burial that aligns with your values and preferences.

Less Readily Available

While green burials are becoming more popular, they are still less readily available than traditional burials. Most traditional funeral homes include some form of green burials as part of their services, but even those options are limited. Depending on where you live and want to have your burial, the options for green burials are slim.

Grave Markers

With traditional burials, there are usually grave markers with details of your life, such as your name, your birthday, your death day, and any other significant information you or your family want to include. Many green burials do not have such grave markers. In many cases, there might be a plant planted where you are buried.

Less Extravagant

Green burials are usually less extravagant, but they tend to be more centered around conserving resources and being more minimalistic. As a result, green burials tend to be smaller, quieter, and not as fancy.

More Hurried

Traditional embalming buys time for the family to get into town and for a funeral to be thoroughly planned out. Green burials are on more of a time crunch due to body decomposition. There is a limited window to have a viewing for the family before something needs to be done with the body.

Controversial

Green burials are becoming increasingly popular, but people may not completely understand your choice to stray from a traditional burial. You may get people who are not too excited about your choice of a green burial, especially if they are not as environmentally conscious as you are.

Green burials can be more challenging to arrange, but the more people that show interest in them, the more readily available they will be. Traditional burials are taking a toll on the Earth. Each day, we are coming up with new ways to honor the lives we lived in death. We should be able to honor the Earth through the green burial processes.