The Green Burial ALLIANCE

What defines Green Burial has to some degree been subject to interpretation.  We are here to promote green burial in its purest form as it concerns the earthly remains of the deceased, the memorial observances of the bereaved, and the place of actual burial.  We believe the integrity of true Green Burial must be preserved for those who value it.  Specifically, a "Green Burial" is when a loved one is laid to rest in the following manner:

• The body of the deceased is not embalmed in any way.

• The body of the deceased is not placed in any type of burial vault.

• The body of the deceased is only draped in a biodegradable shroud and/or placed in a biodegradable burial container that is free of any toxic dyes, glues and metals.

• The body of the deceased is placed in a hand-dug grave located on a natural burial site with a forever commitment to its care and preservation.

Historically Speaking

With Green Burial, the ways of the past have again become the ways of the present.  Prior to the Civil War, common burial practices in America were consistent with what we now call "green."  That's when things started to change, as fallen soldiers were embalmed to delay the natural decomposition process, thus affording time to return the body to the family.  Nowadays, embalming has become customary practice.

Vaults, or outer burial containers, came into use with the advent of concrete.  Prior to the 1800's, graves were often lined with bricks.  The vault is now sold as a necessary level of protection, but is not required by any state law.  Many cemeteries require vaults to preserve the landscape by preventing the natural settling of the earth, which would otherwise need ongoing and costly restorative maintenance.

Shades of Green

Because Green Burial is receiving more attention, people who had previously disregarded the trend have started to get involved.  That's a good thing.  However, not everyone shares the true vision of green and natural burial.  There are some who want to take advantage of the growing public interest in green burial by marketing 'green' versions of burial-related products and services.  But such offerings may not be ideal or even appropriate for truly natural burial.  The purveyors of these maintain that when it comes to burial there are shades of green.  This sort of equivocating has become known as greenwashing, and it unfortunately causes confusion for some people who are sincerely interested in genuine natural burial.

For example, cemeteries that have opened for green burial existing sections that were re-designed to look "natural" may have relied on greenwashed advice.  Another example is the recent marketing of "green" embalming fluid.  Even if it truly does no harm to the environment, it is not appropriate for green burial simply because embalming itself is antithetical to the natural burial process.  One more example is the marketing of bottomless concrete vaults for green burial based on the idea that concrete is a "natural substance" and because they do allow some contact with the earth.

A major objective of green burial is to facilitate the natural process by which the body returns to the earth.  That goal is best served by affording the body optimal contact with the earth, which vaults prevent.  Similarly, in truly natural burial, embalming is not done for the very same reason it was done on Civil War soldiers--that it retards the natural process.

On the other hand, conventional cemeteries with green burial sections may nonetheless provide a satisfying natural burial experience to those for whom location is an issue and, because of this, they can be considered an acceptable option.

Serenely Green 

If it's truly Green Burial you want, don't be influenced by greenwashing. Know what you want, and be sure of what you are getting.  Natural burial is, after all, a "dust to dust" journey.  Let us provide for the living and future generations by choosing the burial option that is right for ourselves and our loved ones.  Green Burial is the option that best enables us to practice good stewardship of the Earth, our home in this life, while caring for our beloved departed in their journey to the next.