How to Have a Green Burial
Green burial is the final, natural step to living a green life. Natural burial grounds, eco-cemeteries, woodland cemeteries and memorial nature preserves offer earth-friendly alternatives to embalming and cremation. Follow these steps to leave this world with dignity and respect to the earth that bore you in life.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Decide with your family whether or not a green burial is right for you. Make sure they are comfortable with the way your body will or (won't be) preserved.
-
2
Understand the practices of green burial. Many eco-cemeteries do not mark graves with traditional tombstones and most will not use embalming chemicals and sealed caskets to protect your body from the elements. Instead they take measures to protect the environment as your body decays naturally.
-
-
3
Find out about laws regarding green burials in your state via the Internet.
-
4
Pay particular attention to embalming laws. Although a funeral home is not allowed to embalm without permission, some laws require that a body be embalmed if it is not buried within a certain time after death.
-
5
Find a funeral home or cemetery that offers green burial. There are many organizations on the Internet that would be more than willing to help you find a green cemetery or natural burial ground.
-
6
Choose an environmentally friendly casket. Consider a woolen shroud or a casket made from biodegradable cardboard or a more natural wood.
-
7
Plan ahead. Let your loved ones know that you wish to have a green burial and include it in your will. If possible, purchase a burial package beforehand.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Visit a few eco-cemeteries to see how they function and what they look like. There are many different approaches to green burial. Find one that suits you and your family the best.
Consider a home funeral. Similar to a midwife who assists with birth in the comfort of her client's home, a funeral provider can help guide you through the process on your family's terms.
Environmentally friendly preservation is not as good as traditional embalming. Plans for transportation and viewing of the body may be compromised as decomposition sets in.
