
Chemicals, makeup and processes have been created to help us “restore” a body, and many find comfort in this. Over the last century we have developed a preference for viewing our loved ones who have died in a way that preserves them one last time. One of the biggest differences between green funerals and their more traditional counterparts centers on the idea of a viewing. People often ask us, what’s different between a green funeral and a more traditional tribute? It mainly comes down to processes and materials. This can have a healing and comforting effect on those grieving. Green funerals often find people gathering in nature, honoring natural processes, and connecting to our relationship with the earth and the seasons. Personalize a sendoff in a way that honors the natural world, and that feels good.But in general, a green burial will be more economical as you are saving on the cost of embalming, an expensive casket, a vault or liner, and a headstone. Of course you can choose to spend more or less on a green burial, since you can choose to make it simple or very elaborate (add flowers and a horse-drawn carriage for example). The average green burial costs between $2,000-$3,000 whereas the traditional funeral averages $8,000-$10,000. A natural burial limits these elements and aims to let the body return to the earth in a more organic process. Traditional burial puts tons of wood, metal, steel and gallons of embalming fluid into the ground each year. While opting to have a green burial might require a bit more thought and planning, there are obvious benefits.
#GREEN BURIAL SHROUD HOW TO#
Here’s a primer on how to have a green funeral on your own terms. Traditional headstones would be avoided in favor of natural stones, plants or other markers.īut as with most topics relating to environmental friendliness, you can choose varying degrees and options for a natural burial, from a more hybrid approach to evaluating every detail and making low-impact decisions all along the way. The burial itself would take place in a green cemetery or other natural setting. In the “greenest” expression of a burial, the body would be unembalmed and buried in a simple shroud, an eco-friendly casket, or even a tree pod.

But the subject can be confusing, so we’re breaking it down here to help you decide if a green funeral is right for you, and if so, just how green?Ī green funeral is one that has a more limited impact on the environment. “Green burials” or “green funerals” are certainly a hot topic right now, and environmentally friendly options for burials are being requested more and more.
