Montevista | What Is Green Burial? Natural Burial Explained
What Is Green Burial? Natural Burial Explained
Green burial, also called natural burial or eco-friendly burial, is an environmentally sustainable approach to laying someone to rest. Instead of using embalming chemicals, metal caskets, and concrete vaults, green burial returns the body to the earth naturally using biodegradable materials that allow natural decomposition.
This comprehensive guide explains what green burial is, how it works, what makes it environmentally friendly, and whether it might be the right choice for you or your loved one.
Understanding Green Burial
The Core Principle
Green burial is based on a simple concept: allow the body to return to the earth naturally, enriching the soil and supporting the ecosystem rather than preventing decomposition.
Traditional burial approach: Preserve the body and prevent decomposition using embalming, protective caskets, and concrete vaults.
Green burial approach: Facilitate natural decomposition using biodegradable materials that allow the body to nourish the earth.
What Makes a Burial “Green”
A burial is considered green or natural when it minimizes environmental impact through some or all of these practices:
No embalming with toxic chemicals: The body is not preserved with formaldehyde and other harsh chemicals.
Biodegradable burial container: The body is placed in a casket, shroud, or container made from natural materials that decompose.
No concrete vault: The grave doesn’t use a concrete or metal vault that prevents decomposition.
Natural cemetery setting: Burial occurs in a conservation area or natural environment rather than a manicured lawn cemetery.
Minimal grave marking: Simple natural stone markers or native plants rather than large monuments.
Shallow burial depth: Graves are often shallower (3-4 feet) to facilitate decomposition in the biologically active soil layer.
Not all green burials include every element—there’s a spectrum from fully natural to partially green.
The Three Levels of Green Burial
Green burial exists on a spectrum. The Green Burial Council recognizes three categories:
Hybrid Burial
What it includes: – No embalming or non-toxic embalming only – Biodegradable casket or shroud – No vault required (though cemetery may allow) – Burial in conventional cemetery
What it allows: – Traditional cemetery setting with manicured lawns – Upright headstones and monuments – May occur in dedicated natural burial section of traditional cemetery
Best for: People wanting eco-friendly choices within a conventional cemetery setting.
Natural Burial
What it includes: – Everything from hybrid burial plus: – Burial in protected natural area – Native landscaping instead of lawn – Natural fieldstone or native plant grave markers
What it restricts: – No upright monuments – Grave markers must be natural and low-profile – Landscaping must be natural, no manicured lawns
Best for: People wanting genuine natural setting with conservation focus.
Conservation Burial
What it includes: – Everything from natural burial plus: – Burial site is protected land with conservation easement – Cemetery actively manages for ecological restoration – Burial fees fund ongoing conservation work – Grave sites selected to support habitat restoration
What it restricts: – Strictest requirements for biodegradability – No exceptions for non-biodegradable elements – Markers highly restricted
Best for: People wanting their burial to directly support land conservation and ecological restoration.
Most people choosing green burial opt for hybrid or natural burial levels.
How Green Burial Works
The Green Burial Process
1. After death: – Body is refrigerated rather than embalmed – Or minimal preservation using non-toxic methods if needed
2. Body preparation: – Body is dressed in natural fiber clothing or burial shroud – Placed in biodegradable casket or wrapped in shroud alone
3. Transportation: – Transported to cemetery in eco-friendly manner when possible
4. Burial: – Grave dug to appropriate depth (usually 3.5-4.5 feet) – Body placed directly in earth without vault – Grave filled with soil – Marked with natural stone or native plant if desired
5. Over time: – Body decomposes naturally over months to years – Nutrients return to soil – Grave site becomes part of natural environment
Timeline of Decomposition
Shroud burial: 6 months to 2 years for complete decomposition
Biodegradable casket: 1-3 years depending on materials
In both cases: Soft tissues decompose first, skeleton takes longer, all eventually returns to earth enriching soil.
Environmental Benefits of Green Burial
Eliminating Toxic Chemicals
Traditional embalming uses: – Formaldehyde (known carcinogen) – Methanol – Phenol – Other harsh chemicals
Annual impact in U.S.: – 4+ million gallons of embalming fluid enter the ground – These chemicals leach into soil and groundwater – Long-term environmental contamination
Green burial eliminates this by skipping embalming or using non-toxic alternatives.
Conserving Natural Resources
Traditional burial consumes: – Hardwood for caskets (millions of board feet annually) – Steel and bronze for caskets – Concrete for vaults – Energy for manufacturing, transportation, and cemetery maintenance
Green burial uses: – Rapidly renewable materials (bamboo, willow, seagrass) – Locally sourced materials when possible – Minimal manufacturing and processing – No resource-intensive vaults
Reducing Carbon Footprint
Traditional cemeteries: – Require ongoing maintenance (mowing, watering, chemical treatments) – Produce greenhouse gases from lawn care equipment – Use pesticides and fertilizers that run off
Natural burial grounds: – Require minimal maintenance – Native plants need no watering or fertilizers – Land remains natural habitat – Can actually sequester carbon through vegetation
Protecting and Restoring Land
Conservation burial grounds actively work to: – Protect habitat for native species – Restore degraded land to healthy ecosystems – Preserve open space from development – Create wildlife corridors – Support biodiversity
Your burial fees directly fund this conservation work.
What Green Burial Doesn’t Include
Understanding what’s avoided is as important as what’s included.
No Embalming
Bodies are kept refrigerated instead. If preservation is needed temporarily (for distant family to arrive), non-toxic essential oils or dry ice can be used.
Exception: Some states require embalming for transportation across state lines or after certain time periods. Check specific requirements.
No Concrete Vaults
Traditional cemeteries require vaults to prevent ground settling. Green burial grounds don’t use vaults, accepting natural settling as part of the process.
Note: Some hybrid green burial sections in traditional cemeteries offer compromise—biodegradable containers without concrete vaults.
No Metal or Treated Wood Caskets
Metal caskets and wood treated with varnishes, stains, or preservatives don’t biodegrade naturally. Green burial uses only untreated, natural materials.
No Large Monuments
Upright headstones and large monuments are typically not permitted in natural burial grounds. Simple flat natural stones or native plants mark graves instead.
No Perpetual Care as Traditionally Understood
Traditional cemetery “perpetual care” means manicured lawns forever. Natural burial grounds maintain the land as natural habitat, which looks different but is ecologically healthier.
Is Green Burial Legal?
Yes, green burial is legal in all 50 states, including California.
California Regulations
Embalming: Not required by California law except in limited circumstances (certain diseases, long delays).
Burial containers: California doesn’t require caskets or vaults. Bodies can be buried in shrouds.
Burial location: Must be in licensed cemetery. Home burial is heavily restricted in California.
Cemetery requirements: Individual cemeteries set their own rules. Traditional cemeteries often require vaults even though law doesn’t; green burial cemeteries don’t.
No Special Permits Required
Green burial doesn’t require special permits beyond normal burial permits. It’s simply burial done without certain products and practices.
Who Chooses Green Burial?
Green burial appeals to people with diverse motivations:
Environmental Values
Primary motivation: Reduce environmental impact and live (and die) according to ecological values.
Mindset: “I’ve tried to live sustainably. I want my death to be sustainable too.”
Simplicity Seekers
Primary motivation: Return to simpler, more natural practices without modern funeral industry complexity.
Mindset: “I want something simple and natural, not elaborate or artificial.”
Cost-Conscious
Primary motivation: Green burial often costs less than traditional burial.
Mindset: “I can honor my values and save money at the same time.”
Religious or Spiritual Beliefs
Primary motivation: Many faith traditions traditionally practiced what we now call green burial.
Mindset: “This aligns with my Jewish/Muslim/other tradition of simple burial.”
Connection to Nature
Primary motivation: Feel spiritually connected to becoming part of nature again.
Mindset: “I want to return to the earth and nourish new life.”
Common Questions About Green Burial
Is green burial safe for the environment?
Yes. Natural decomposition is safe and actually beneficial for soil. The body becomes nutrients that support plant life and microorganisms.
What about disease?
Decomposition destroys pathogens. Bodies pose minimal disease risk after burial. Soil microorganisms break down potentially harmful bacteria.
Does the body smell during decomposition?
No. Buried 3-4 feet underground, odors don’t reach the surface. Natural decomposition underground is odorless to people above.
Can I have a viewing or visitation?
Yes. Bodies can be viewed without embalming, especially if refrigerated and viewed within a few days. Families can say goodbye before burial.
Can I have a funeral service?
Absolutely. Green burial refers to how the body is buried, not whether you have a service. You can have any type of memorial service, religious or secular.
What about cremation—is that green?
Cremation uses significant energy and releases emissions. While not as resource-intensive as traditional burial, it’s not as environmentally friendly as natural burial. Aquamation (water cremation) is a greener alternative to flame cremation.
Can my family visit my grave?
Yes. Natural burial grounds welcome visitors. The setting is simply more natural—a meadow or forest rather than manicured lawn.
What if I want to be buried with my spouse?
Green burial grounds often accommodate companion burial or nearby plots. Discuss options with the specific cemetery.
Green Burial Costs
Green burial is often more affordable than traditional burial because it eliminates expensive elements:
What you save: – Embalming ($700-1,000) – Expensive casket ($2,000-10,000+) – Burial vault ($1,000-5,000+) – Elaborate monuments
What you pay: – Biodegradable casket or shroud ($100-3,000) – Burial plot in green cemetery ($1,000-5,000) – Opening and closing grave ($500-1,500) – Natural marker (optional, $100-500)
Total cost: Often $2,000-6,000 compared to $7,000-12,000+ for traditional burial.
Green Burial in the Bay Area
The Bay Area has embraced green burial with several options:
Natural burial grounds exist within driving distance of most Bay Area cities.
Hybrid sections in traditional cemeteries offer green burial options.
Growing interest means more cemeteries are adding natural burial sections.
Monte Vista Memorial Gardens serves families interested in environmentally conscious burial options and can discuss approaches that align with your values.
Is Green Burial Right for You?
Consider green burial if: – Environmental sustainability matters to you – You prefer simplicity and natural approaches – You want to reduce costs while honoring your values – Your faith tradition encourages simple burial – You feel spiritually connected to nature – You want your burial to support conservation
Green burial may not be ideal if: – You or your family strongly value traditional practices – You want a typical cemetery with manicured lawns and upright monuments – Family members may struggle with less formal grave markers – The nearest green burial ground is too far for convenient visiting
Key Takeaways
Green burial offers an environmentally responsible alternative to conventional burial:
- Eliminates toxic chemicals, metal, and concrete from burial practice
- Allows natural decomposition that enriches soil and supports ecosystems
- Three levels from hybrid to conservation burial accommodate different values
- Legal in California with no special permits required
- Often more affordable than traditional burial
- Growing availability in Bay Area and throughout California
- Compatible with most religious and secular service preferences
For people seeking to minimize environmental impact or return to simpler, more natural practices, green burial provides a meaningful final resting option.
Exploring Green Burial at Monte Vista Memorial Gardens
If you’re interested in environmentally conscious burial options, Monte Vista can discuss approaches that align with your values. Whether you’re drawn to green burial for environmental, spiritual, or practical reasons, we’re here to answer questions and explore your options.
Call 510-299-1174 to discuss green burial and natural burial options that honor both your loved one and the earth.