Natural burial offers a gentle, environmentally conscious alternative to conventional funeral practices. For many families, it reflects values of simplicity, sustainability, and a desire to return to long-standing traditions that honor the connection between human life and the natural world. Whether motivated by ecological concerns, cultural heritage, or personal preference, natural burial provides a calm, thoughtful approach that emphasizes minimal environmental impact and a meaningful farewell.
This page offers a clear, research-based overview to help you understand what natural burial is, how it works, what it costs, and how it compares to other eco-friendly options.
🌱 What Is a Natural Burial?
A natural burial—sometimes called green burial—is a method of interment that allows the body to return to the earth naturally, without the use of chemicals, metal caskets, concrete vaults, or other long-lasting materials. Instead, the body is placed in a shroud or biodegradable casket and buried at a depth that supports soil ecology, microbial activity, and natural decomposition.
Natural burial differs from conventional burial in several key ways:
- No embalming: The body is not preserved using chemicals. This prevents formaldehyde and other toxins from entering the soil.
- Biodegradable materials: Caskets are made from natural materials such as wood, willow, bamboo, or cardboard.
- No burial vaults or liners: The grave is allowed to settle naturally, without concrete structures.
- Environmentally responsible cemetery practices: Natural burial grounds often emphasize habitat restoration, native plants, and reduced landscaping.
While modern embalming and vaults became common in the 20th century, natural burial closely resembles burial practices used for most of human history. Today, it is a growing choice for people seeking a simple, sustainable end-of-life option.
How Natural Burial Works: The Process Step-by-Step
Although every cemetery or burial ground may have its own procedures, the natural burial process generally follows these steps:
1. Planning and Preparation
Families begin by choosing a burial ground and determining the burial method—casket or shroud. Many people document their wishes in advance, but others make arrangements at the time of need. Funeral homes can support natural burial, though some families choose to work directly with the burial ground.
2. Choosing a Natural Burial Site
Natural burials can take place in:
- a green section within a traditional cemetery
- a hybrid cemetery
- a dedicated conservation burial ground
Each location has its own requirements, but all support burial without vaults or embalming.
3. Selecting Biodegradable Materials
Caskets may be made of:
- untreated pine
- wicker or willow
- bamboo
- cardboard
- seagrass
- plain cloth shrouds
These materials break down slowly and support natural decomposition.
4. Paperwork and Legal Requirements
Natural burial involves the same core legal steps as any burial:
- filing a death certificate
- obtaining a burial permit
- ensuring state requirements for transportation and care are met
Most states do not require embalming. Refrigeration or dry ice is typically sufficient.
5. The Burial Day
The gravesite may be marked by a simple stone, a native plant, or GPS coordinates. Families often choose to participate—lowering the casket, reading poems, placing flowers, or simply being present in a quiet, natural setting.
6. Aftercare and Memorial Practices
Natural burial grounds maintain the land according to conservation principles. Over time, graves blend naturally into the surrounding environment, becoming part of a living landscape.
🌎 Environmental Benefits of Natural Burial
One of the primary reasons families choose natural burial is its positive ecological impact. Unlike traditional burial or flame cremation, natural burial:
- Avoids toxic chemicals. Embalming uses formaldehyde, methanol, and phenol—chemicals linked to occupational hazards and environmental concerns.
- Reduces carbon emissions. No cremation furnace, concrete vault, or metal casket is required.
- Restores natural habitats. Conservation cemeteries actively restore native plants, wildlife habitat, and soil health.
- Supports soil ecosystems. Natural burial encourages the natural soil cycle, returning nutrients to the earth.
For those seeking an end-of-life choice that aligns with sustainability and environmental stewardship, natural burial offers meaningful alignment with ecological values.
🌾 Materials Used in Natural Burial
Materials used in natural burial prioritize biodegradability and simplicity.
1. Biodegradable Caskets
Common materials include:
- Pine
- Poplar
- Willow and wicker
- Bamboo
- Seagrass
- Cardboard (often reinforced but biodegradable)
These caskets decompose gracefully over time.
2. Burial Shrouds
Some families prefer simple linen or cotton shrouds. Shrouds may include a biodegradable board for support, which also breaks down naturally.
3. What’s Avoided
- Metal caskets
- Plastics
- Finishes or varnishes
- Synthetic fabrics
- Concrete vaults or liners
These materials interfere with decomposition and increase environmental impact.
🌲 Where Natural Burials Take Place
Natural burials occur in three primary settings:
1. Natural Burial Grounds
These cemeteries are designed for biodegradable burial only. Paths, plantings, and land use follow conservation principles, and the space looks more like a nature preserve than a traditional cemetery.
2. Hybrid Cemeteries
Traditional cemeteries that allow natural burial in certain sections. These are increasingly common and offer families a local option even if a full green cemetery isn’t nearby.
3. Conservation Cemeteries
These cemeteries protect ecologically significant land. Burial fees often help fund long-term conservation and habitat restoration. Burials are spaced to maintain ecological balance, and grave markers are typically minimal.
⚖️ Regulations and Legal Considerations
Laws governing natural burials vary slightly by state, but most are straightforward.
Key Points
- Embalming is NOT required by law (except in rare cases involving long-distance transport).
- Vaults are NOT required in many cemeteries, though some traditional cemeteries mandate them—hence the need to ask.
- Home burials are legal in many states with certain conditions.
- Cemeteries set their own policies regarding caskets, depth, and materials.
Your local funeral home or burial ground can clarify specific regional requirements.
đź’µ Costs and Financial Considerations
Natural burial is often more affordable than traditional burial, though costs vary.
Typical Costs Include:
- Burial plot: $1,000–$4,000 depending on location
- Biodegradable casket or shroud: $200–$2,500
- Opening and closing the grave: $500–$1,200
- Optional funeral home services
- Optional simple marker
By comparison, traditional burials often exceed $8,000–$12,000 due to embalming, vaults, and metal caskets.
Natural burial’s simplicity often makes it both environmentally and financially appealing.
🌄 Personal, Cultural, and Spiritual Reasons People Choose Natural Burial
Families choose natural burial for many reasons beyond environmental impact:
- A desire for simplicity
- Connection to nature
- Cultural or faith-based traditions
- A wish to avoid chemicals
- A minimalist or non-commercial approach to end-of-life care
- A sense of returning to ancient human traditions
For many, natural burial feels more intimate, grounding, and reflective of personal values.
🔄 How Natural Burial Compares to Other Eco-Friendly Options
Families exploring natural burial often consider:
Human Composting (Natural Organic Reduction)
A process that accelerates natural decomposition to create soil.
Aqua Cremation (Alkaline Hydrolysis)
A water-based alternative to flame cremation with lower emissions.
Conservation Burial
A subset of natural burial that emphasizes permanent land conservation.
Home Funerals
Often compatible with natural burial and chosen for similar reasons of simplicity and autonomy.
đź“‹ Planning a Natural Burial: What Families Should Know
Planning ahead makes natural burial easier for families. Consider:
- Identifying a natural burial ground
- Documenting your wishes
- Learning local laws
- Choosing a biodegradable casket or shroud
- Deciding whether to include a home funeral component
- Understanding timing without embalming
- Asking cemeteries about vault requirements and policies
Encourage families to explore your Planning Guide and Resources pages for additional support.
âť“ Common Myths and Misconceptions
“Is embalming required?”
No. Refrigeration and dry ice are sufficient in nearly all cases.
“Do animals disturb natural graves?”
Proper burial depth and soil cover prevent disturbance.
“Does natural burial mean a shallower grave?”
Natural burial uses safe, ecologically appropriate depths.
“Is natural burial allowed everywhere?”
Most states allow it, though cemetery policies vary.
Clarifying these misconceptions helps families feel more confident in their decisions.
🌿 Conclusion: A Peaceful, Intentional Choice
Natural burial offers a simple, thoughtful, and environmentally gentle approach to the end of life. It aligns with values of sustainability, tradition, and respect for the natural world, allowing families to choose a meaningful return to the earth.
To explore related options or learn more about planning, visit:
- Eco-Friendly Burial Options
- Human Composting
- Aqua Cremation
- Planning Guide
- Resources Center
Your journey toward understanding eco-friendly burial practices begins with calm, clear information — and natural burial provides an excellent foundation.