For immediate contact: Greg Marshall (916) 203-9151 P.S.T.
The ultimate [re]connection with
Mother Nature.
What is a green burial?
A green burial is a simpler, more natural method of returning a body to the earth.
As defined by the Green Burial Council, "We define green burial as a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact, the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat."
More simply...
A green burial avoids using carcinogenic embalming fluid [formaldehyde] and does not use an outer concrete vault or liner. Additionally, a green burial generally uses a biodegradable casket material, such as a cloth shroud, repurposed wood, wicker, willow, etc.
The concept of a green burial is not new. This age-old method has been in practice for thousands of years.
Source: University of Sheffield
The environmental impact from dying
A study found on the Green Burial Council website shows the annual resources used for traditional burials in the United States:
- 4.3 million gallons embalming fluid, 827,060 gallons of which is formaldehyde, methanol, and benzene
- 20 million board feet of hardwoods, including rain forest woods
- 1.6 million tons of concrete
- 17,000 tons of copper and bronze
- 64,500 tons of steel
- Caskets and vaults leaching iron, copper, lead, zinc, and cobalt
How much does a green burial cost?
It depends...
As with most funeral costs, prices for green funerals vary widely based on region and the type of burial site.
Typical costs may include:
- The plot: $1,000-$4,000+
- Hand digging and body placement: $800-$2,500+
- Endowment fee (lifetime maintenance): $200-$400
- Applicable permits and misc: $200-$400+
Conventional burial comparison...
According to the National Funeral Directors Association [2021], the national median cost for a conventional burial in the US is $7,848. A cemetery plot can range from $1,200 to over $4,000.
Are you ready to take this journey toward a green burial?
Determine the green burial location nearest you
Use the green burial site locator from the Green Burial Council for GBC-certified locations in the United States. There may be other green-certifying sources other than the GBC. Additionally, you may encounter advertised green cemeteries that have no certifications.
See the next section for body transportation information and tentative costs if you cannot find locations in your state. Back to top.
Transportation
If your green burial location is a great distance away, you may need to use a body (or mortuary) transportation service. If utilizing a funeral home, there may not be a charge for the first 25–50 miles. Afterward, the cost may increase to $3.50 per mile or more.
Federal law requires a funeral home to provide transportation pricing in their general price list. A private body transportation service may use another pricing structure. If you are traveling more than 500 miles, using an air transportation service could be more cost-effective.
Depending on state restrictions, embalming may be necessary before transportation. A green burial cemetery may not accept a body embalmed with formaldehyde. When evaluating a service, consider the following options:
- Refrigeration
- Dry ice
- Using a "green" (non-formaldehyde) embalming fluid
Repatriation services, such as Inman, may come up in your search. This type of service returns a body to its legal residence if a person dies more than 75 miles from home, but does not offer general body transportation. Back to top.
The dreaded carbon footprint
The carbon footprint of fossil-fueled vehicles (and airplanes) used to transfer bodies to green burial locations may be significant.
Electric vehicles can theoretically leave a minimal footprint as well, so how can we justify traveling to a green burial destination while polluting the environment?
We can give back to our ecosystem after our death in order to help offset that 'transportation' carbon footprint. Unlike a conventional burial, a green burial is free of harsh chemicals and difficult-to-decompose materials.
Another eco-friendly option is to plant a tree nearby. The tree contributes to the ecology throughout time by producing oxygen and removing CO2 from the air.
Should you use a funeral home or funeral director?
That question is comparable to the question of whether or not a person should use a real estate agent to sell their home.
Using a funeral director in this scenario may reduce the risk of missing a key step or violating a regulation. The following are a few of a funeral director's responsibilities:
- Grief support
- Transfer to the funeral home or mortuary
- Body preparation
- Coordination with the green burial cemetery
- Arranging transportation to the green burial location
- Preparation of the death certificate, related permits, etc.
A funeral director knows about state and federal rules, especially those rules governing body transportation.
To ensure proper body preparation, you should seek a funeral home or funeral director familiar with the green and the natural burial process.
Pre-planning
Are you environmentally conscious? Do you want to 'depart' this world leaving a clean footprint? Pre-planning may assist you in achieving that goal.
You will need to gather the following information if you do not currently have a plan in place:
- Does your spouse/relatives know of your green burial preference?
- Have you discussed the proposed green burial location?
- Is your family aware of the total cost, including any transportation costs?
- Which family member will be responsible for the funeral/burial expenses?
Without that knowledge, your family may not have a choice but to bury or cremate you conventionally.
To guarantee that 'clean exit,' click the button below to receive additional pre-planning information.
The three basic burial/cemetery options
1) Natural Burial
2) Conservation Burial
3) Hybrid Burial
Natural: This process allows a body to decompose in a natural setting free from toxic chemicals and difficult-to-break-down materials.
Conservation: This is a natural burial area that receives help from a land trust, which protects the ecological integrity of the land.
Hybrid: Describes a traditional cemetery offering designated areas that provide key elements of natural burial.
Options...
The Flameless Cremation
A special benefit for Veterans
A special benefit for Veterans
A conventional cremation typically involves fire... but there is now an ALTERNATIVE method.
This new and gentle method returns a body to Mother Nature using... WATER.
A special benefit for Veterans
A special benefit for Veterans
A special benefit for Veterans
Many veterans do not take full advantage of their benefits. One of them is the Pre-Need Burial Eligibility Determination benefit for burial in a national cemetery.
You may not die soon, but when you do, taking care of this responsibility ahead of time could save your family the time and aggravation of navigating through the VA paperwork maze.
For details, go to www.preplanningforveterans.