Why Are Green Burials So Popular?

Why are green burials so popular?
Various sorts of natural burial options are increasingly popular due to a collective, heightened consciousness. People aren’t interested so much in how they will be remembered, but rather how they can continue to give back. Even in death.

Green burials are obviously kinder to the environment and a more natural way to go. They offer a smart way to protect and preserve natural landscape. This method of disposition provides a habitat for native plants, wildlife and birds to live and flourish.

I talk to people quite a bit about this subject. The comment I continuously hear is the wish to have a tree planted above or next to the burial spot where that person will be buried. Their body would then fertilize the tree, and they find that thought heartening.

What are the most important components of a green burial?
What makes a green burial? In the most customary sense, a green burial means a person is buried in a container that can decompose, along with their remains, and return to the earth’s soil. This can be achieved by being laid to rest in your favorite comforter or sheet, or in a specific type of casket. Earth friendly caskets are crafted out of a variety of materials: wood, bamboo, banana leaves, even willow branches. Absolutely no metals, plastics, stains, varnishes or oils can be used in these caskets.

Also, green burial is burial that can take place without the use of formaldehyde-based embalming and concrete burial vaults. It’s fundamentally the way most of humankind has cared for its dead since the beginning of time. It is to be noted that green burial can also be used to facilitate ecological restoration and landscape-level conservation.

For those who want a more earth-friendly funeral, what things should be considered?
If you want to be more eco-friendly, think less extravagantly. Rather than fresh-cut flowers, choose a plant that can be replanted. Do keep in mind — the concept of a green burial is not a new idea. It is the oldest and most natural form of interment. And back in the day, the body was always kept at home.

A home funeral can encompass a memorial service, wake, viewing or a combination of the three. It’s also an intimate experience: friends or family members might help wash and dress the body, build or decorate a casket, plan a memorial service or accompany the deceased to the burial site or crematory.

What tips can you offer to plan a green burial?
When families come to see me about picking out an urn for their loved one’s cremains, we first suggest they take a look around their home and see if they have something that the deceased person loved, or something that would represent them. If not, do they have a family member or friend who would be comfortable making an urn?

We highly encourage taking it to an individual level. A green burial can truly be a DIY project. Have everyone get involved. We love the idea of personalization. Paint or draw on the burial apparatus with a non-toxic implement. Bury your loved one on your own land if state and county rules permit. And consider leaving a living marker. This means planting native trees, shrubs, and flowers on or near the grave.

Are there any regulations regarding green burials that people should be aware of?
To locate specific laws regarding green burial in your state, contact the proper authorities. The policy varies and is not uniform throughout the United States, or other countries.