How to Plan a Green Burial: Finding a Cemetery and What It Involves

The short answer: a green burial means the body goes into the ground without toxic embalming, in a shroud or a casket that breaks down naturally, with no concrete vault. Start by finding the cemetery, because that decides almost everything else. The Green Burial Council (GBC) lists certified cemeteries, funeral homes and shroud and casket makers on its website, in three grades: hybrid (a section of a conventional cemetery), natural (a whole cemetery run that way) and conservation (a natural cemetery set up with a land trust or conservation group). Then tell the funeral home you want no embalming. In the Federal Trade Commission's words, "except in certain special cases, embalming is not required by law."

If you have already read our comparison of cremation vs burial, you know what a green burial is. This guide is about actually arranging one, often in a hurry, for someone who asked for it.

Step One: Find the Cemetery

This is the step that takes the longest, and it comes first. A funeral home can't give you a green burial if there is nowhere nearby to bury.

The Green Burial Council's Green Burial Defined page sets out the three kinds of cemetery it certifies:

Type	What the GBC says	What it means for you
Hybrid	"A conventional cemetery that offers the essential aspects of natural burial"	Often the closest option. Mown lawn, sometimes ordinary headstones nearby, but no vault and no embalming required
Natural	"A cemetery dedicated in full to sustainable practices/protocols that conserve energy, minimize waste"	Whole grounds kept as meadow or woodland. No toxic chemicals, no part of a vault, natural containers only
Conservation	"A type of natural cemetery that is established in partnership with a conservation organization"	The land itself is protected. Usually the furthest drive and the wildest setting

The same page has a "Find Help From GBC-Certified Providers" directory for the US and Canada. There are also many cemeteries that offer green burial without being certified. Certification is a useful shortcut, not a requirement.

Questions to ask the cemetery

• Do you require a vault or a grave liner? Most conventional cemeteries do, for lawn maintenance. A green section will not. (More on liners in our guide to buying a cemetery plot.)
• Do you require embalming? A green cemetery will say no. Some may require the burial to happen within a set time if the body isn't embalmed.
• What containers do you accept? Shroud only, a plain wooden casket, wicker, cardboard?
• Can the family lower the body or help fill the grave?
• What marker is allowed? Many natural grounds allow only a flat native stone, a planted tree or a GPS record, not an upright headstone.
• Who opens and closes the grave, and what does that cost? Ask for the price list in writing.
• Is the land protected for good? For a conservation ground, ask who holds the easement.

If the person owned a plot somewhere conventional, call that cemetery too. Some have quietly added a green section.

Step Two: The Funeral Home

Tell them at the first call: we want a green burial at [cemetery], no embalming. Many funeral homes have done it. The GBC directory also lists funeral homes that, in its words, "will work with you to create an embalming-free funeral."

What they actually do without embalming is keep the body cool, usually by refrigeration, until the burial. You can still have a viewing. A short private one, soon after the death, is normal. If you want a long public visitation days later, ask the funeral home honestly whether that works without embalming in your case.

Under the Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule, a funeral home has to give you an itemised price list and let you buy only what you choose. You don't have to buy their casket, and they can't charge you a fee for bringing your own. If something on the quote says it is "required," ask them to show you the law or the cemetery rule that requires it.

Some families skip the funeral home altogether and care for the body themselves. That is legal in most states, with conditions. Our guide to a home funeral covers it.

Step Three: The Shroud or Casket

Anything that breaks down naturally. Common choices:

• A shroud. Cotton, linen, wool or silk, usually with a board underneath to carry the body. Often the simplest and least expensive.
• A plain wooden casket. Untreated pine or another local wood, with no metal handles or varnish.
• Wicker, willow, seagrass or bamboo. Light, strong, and quite beautiful.
• Their own quilt or blanket. Check with the cemetery first. Natural fibres only.

Some families build the casket themselves, or decorate a plain one at the gathering beforehand. That can be one of the most meaningful hours of the whole week.

What the Day Itself Looks Like

Green burials tend to be simpler and more hands-on than conventional ones. There is no tent over a vault or green carpet over the dirt. Often:

• The grave is dug by hand or with a small machine, and the earth is left visible.
• Family or friends carry the body to the grave and lower it on straps.
• People drop flowers, herbs or a handful of soil onto the shroud.
• Some families take turns with a shovel to fill the grave. Ask the cemetery first.
• The site is marked with a native stone, a planted shrub or a GPS point.

Bring good shoes and expect to walk. In a natural cemetery the grave may be a field away from the parking area. Let older relatives know in advance, and ask whether the cemetery has a cart.

Any part of a normal service still works: a reading, music, a eulogy, a prayer from your own tradition. Our guides on choosing funeral songs and how to plan a funeral apply just the same.

Cost

We don't quote numbers, because they vary so much by place. The pattern is that without a vault, embalming or a metal casket, the bill is often lower than a conventional burial. The plot and the opening and closing of the grave can still be the largest items, and a conservation ground may charge an endowment for looking after the land. Get every price in writing from both the cemetery and the funeral home. Our guide to funeral costs shows what to compare.

If a Green Cemetery Isn't Possible

Sometimes the nearest one is too far, or the timing doesn't work. Options that keep the spirit of it:

• A conventional cemetery with no embalming, a simple wooden casket and a liner rather than a sealed vault.
• Water cremation (aquamation) where it is legal. It uses much less energy than flame cremation. See our guide to aquamation.
• Cremation, then scattering or burying the ashes in a natural place. Rules for that are in our guide on what to do with ashes.

Questions People Ask

Is green burial legal everywhere in the US? No state law requires embalming in every case or requires a vault. Vault rules come from cemeteries. Whether green burial is possible near you depends on whether a cemetery there allows it.

Do I need a funeral director? In most states, no, though some require one for certain steps. See home funeral for what families can do themselves.

Can someone be buried on their own land? In some places, with local permission. Rules are set by state and county, so call the county health department before planning on it.

Can a veteran have a green burial? Ask the national cemetery directly. Some VA cemeteries have green sections. See veteran burial benefits.

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A green grave is often marked by nothing more than a tree. GetMemorial gives your family a place to keep their name, their photos and the stories that go with them. Start an online memorial when you are ready.