Green burials are not something new. In fact, it has been the custom of many cultures for centuries to bury their dead in this manner. In a green burial, the body is neither prepared with any embalming chemicals nor cremated. The body is wrapped in a simple shroud and placed in a biodegradable coffin. The body is allowed to decompose naturally and return to the soil.
There are several reasons why you may want to consider this option:
- Simplicity — The simplicity of this burial may be more aligned with your values and wishes.
- Cost — Green burials do not involve the expense of embalming, coffins, or concrete vaults. This can lower funeral costs by thousands of dollars.
- Eco-friendly — In the U.S. alone, tens of thousands of tons of metals, steel, and wood are used in burials, depleting resources. More than 5 million gallons of embalming chemicals are used each year, exposing funeral workers to this carcinogen. It can also leach out and contaminate the soil and groundwater.
- Respect for nature —Green cemeteries respect the environment by eliminating the use of fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides in maintaining the site. The burial sites preserve the natural landscape with trees, wildflowers, and shrubs, and offer food and shelter to birds and other wildlife.
In addition to green burials, there are other green options you may choose:
- Water cremation, or alkaline hydrolysis, is the process in which the body is submerged in a solution of water and alkali, with the goal of reducing the body to just bone fragments. The bones are then processed into ashes and returned to the family.
- Human composting places the body in a vessel with organic materials such as wood chips, straw, and alfalfa. Over several weeks, the body naturally decomposes.
- Tree pod burials place the body in a biodegradable container with a tree planted over it. Over the course of time, the body decomposes and is used to nourish the tree. A biodegradable urn may also be used in the same way if preferred.
- Coral reef balls involve fashioning remains into an artificial part of a reef. The decedent spends eternity in the sea to help support marine life and underwater ecosystems.
- Medical school donations involve giving the remains to a medical school for scientific research.
Eco-friendly alternatives to traditional burials are a unique way to express your love of nature and your concern for the environment. Happily, there are many green options to find peace in your final resting place.
If you have made burial arrangements, please talk to your estate planning attorney about where to document them in your plan. For clients of our firm, send us an email to let us know if you have not already done so.
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