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Green burials minimize negative environmental impacts by using biodegradable materials, avoiding toxic chemicals, and occurring on land maintained using good conservation practices.
Conventional burial practices harm the environment: they involve hazardous chemicals, non-biodegradable materials, and cemeteries that are often ecologically barren due to herbicide and fertilizer use. The term “green burial” refers to burial practices that minimize negative impacts on the environment. Unlike conventional burials, green burials:
Some people extend the eco-friendly principles of green burials to encompass other parts of the death process such as funerals (e.g., a family might seek contributions to an environmental charity in lieu of flowers or print programs on recycled paper).
Ultimately, there is no hard-and-fast definition of what constitutes a green burial. However, the Green Burial Council does operate a certification program for burial grounds, funeral homes, and products based on a set of rigorous standards.
Green burials can cost far less than conventional burials because they do not require a vault, expensive casket, or embalming fluids. A simple shroud or pine casket costs hundreds of dollars, not thousands. However, prices vary depending on a number of factors such as burial location and time of year.
Conservation burial is a form of green burial with an additional layer of environmental protection: the burial grounds are protected by conservation easement, which ensures that they are managed in perpetuity in accordance with conservation principles. Conservation burial grounds are still relatively rare in the United States, but there are a handful across the country.
For more information, see the tenets of conservation burial according to Dr. Billy Campbell, the pioneer of conservation burial in the United States.
Opinions are mixed on whether or not cremation counts as a green burial practice. Cremation generates air pollution and requires more fossil fuels than burial in a biodegradable shroud or casket; however, it has a much smaller environmental impact than conventional burial, since it does not require land, burial materials, or toxic chemicals.
The Green Burial Council does not certify cremation-disposition programs, but acknowledges that there are ways to offset the carbon footprint of cremation. See the FAQ page on the Council’s website for more information.
“On the Way to the Green Burial Cemetery: A Guide for Families”
“The Science Behind Green and Conventional Burial”
“Green Burial: An Environmentally Friendly Choice”
“What Is Green Burial Exactly?”
“11 Environmentally Friendly Burial Options”
“Important Facts to Know About Green Burials”
“Leave a Lighter Footprint: Green Funeral and Burial Tips”
“Green Burial Cemeteries in the U.S. and Canada“
The Green Burial Council website lists certified green cemeteries, hybrid cemeteries, and conservation burial grounds, as well as funeral homes.
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association produced this guide with support from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Environmental Stewardship Fund, under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. Nate Lotze compiled this guide.
Nothing contained in this or any other document available at ConservationTools.org is intended to be relied upon as legal advice or to create an attorney-client relationship. The material presented is generally provided in the context of Pennsylvania law and, depending on the subject, may have more or less applicability elsewhere. There is no guarantee that it is up to date or error free.
© 2019 Pennsylvania Land Trust Association
Text may be excerpted and reproduced with acknowledgement of ConservationTools.org and the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association.
