What Is Green Burial and What Are Your Natural Burial Options?
By CRYSTAL BAI •
The short answer: Green burial (natural burial) means returning the body to the earth without embalming, non-biodegradable caskets, or concrete burial vaults — allowing natural decomposition that returns nutrients to the soil. Options range from certified natural burial cemeteries and conservation cemeteries to home property burial and human composting (where legal). Green burial is legal in all 50 US states.
What Is Green Burial?
Green burial — also called natural burial or eco-burial — is the practice of burying the body in a way that allows natural decomposition and minimizes environmental impact. A green burial typically means:
- No embalming — the body is not preserved with formaldehyde
- A biodegradable container — a simple wooden casket, wicker or woven shroud basket, cotton shroud, or cardboard container
- No concrete burial vault — many conventional cemeteries require vaults to prevent ground settling; natural burial cemeteries do not
- No concrete or granite headstone — natural markers (rocks, native plants, GPS coordinates) are used instead
- Burial in natural settings — green cemeteries are often meadows, forests, or conservation land
Why People Choose Green Burial
Motivations include environmental values (avoiding formaldehyde, steel, concrete, and land use of conventional burial), spiritual or religious beliefs (desire to return to the earth naturally), cost (green burial is often significantly less expensive than conventional burial), and personal aesthetics (the appeal of a natural, unprocessed death).
Types of Green Burial
Natural/green burial cemeteries: Dedicated natural burial sections or entire cemeteries without embalming requirements, vaults, or non-biodegradable materials. The Green Burial Council (greenburialcouncil.org) certifies natural burial providers at three levels: Hybrid Burial Ground, Natural Burial Ground, and Conservation Burial Ground.
Conservation burial grounds: The most ecologically integrated option — burial takes place in protected conservation land (forests, prairies, wetlands) where burial fees directly fund conservation. Examples include Ramsey Creek Preserve (SC), the Forest of Nisene Marks (CA), and Foxfield Preserve (OH).
Home property burial: Legal in most US states under specific conditions (setback from water sources, county approval, property deed notation). Death doulas familiar with your state's laws can guide this process. This is the most intimate and often lowest-cost option.
Human composting (terramation): Legal in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Vermont, California, and a growing number of states. The body is placed in a vessel with organic material (wood chips, straw, flowers) and naturally converts to nutrient-rich soil over 30–60 days. Companies include Recompose (Seattle), Return Home (Seattle), and others. The resulting soil can be returned to family or spread on memorial land.
Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis): A water-based process (also called water cremation or flameless cremation) that uses warm water and alkali to dissolve soft tissue, leaving clean bones that are processed like cremation ashes. Legal in approximately 30 states; significantly lower carbon footprint than flame cremation.
Costs of Green Burial
Green burial is typically less expensive than conventional burial. Average costs:
- Simple shroud: $50–$500
- Natural wooden casket: $500–$2,500
- Natural burial cemetery plot: $1,000–$3,500 (varies widely by region)
- Human composting: $3,000–$7,000
- Aquamation: $2,000–$4,000
Compare to average conventional funeral costs: $8,000–$12,000 including burial, casket, and vault.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is green burial legal in the United States?
Yes. Green burial is legal in all 50 US states. No state law requires embalming (though some regulations apply to specific circumstances like shipping or extended delay before burial). No state requires a concrete burial vault — that is often a cemetery's own rule, not law. Natural burial cemeteries across the country have certified options. Human composting and aquamation are legal in a growing number of states.
What is a conservation burial ground?
A conservation burial ground integrates burial with land conservation — burial takes place in protected natural land (forest, prairie, wetland) where burial fees directly fund conservation of that land. The Green Burial Council certifies conservation burial grounds, the most ecologically rigorous level. Examples include Ramsey Creek Preserve in South Carolina, the first conservation burial ground in the US.
How much does green burial cost compared to conventional burial?
Green burial is typically significantly less expensive than conventional burial. A simple shroud and natural burial cemetery plot might total $1,500–$4,000. Human composting costs $3,000–$7,000. Compare to the average conventional funeral (burial, casket, vault, embalming) costing $8,000–$12,000+. Green burial's lower cost is one of its appeals alongside environmental values.
What is human composting or terramation?
Human composting (legally called natural organic reduction or terramation) places the body in a vessel with organic material — wood chips, straw, and flowers — where it naturally decomposes over 30–60 days into nutrient-rich soil. The resulting soil can be returned to the family, spread on donated conservation land, or distributed to gardens. It is legal in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Vermont, California, and other states with more passing the option.
Can a death doula help with green burial planning?
Yes. Many death doulas have specific training or expertise in green burial options, including natural burial cemetery selection, home burial logistics, human composting providers, and the legal requirements in their state. Death doulas can help families understand all their options and navigate the practical and legal details of choosing a green burial pathway.
Renidy connects grieving families with compassionate death doulas and AI-powered funeral planning tools. Try our free AI funeral planner or find a death doula near you.