How is a green burial different from a traditional burial?
Green burial practices are meant to lessen the environmental impact of the funeral process.
In many ways a green burial is like a traditional burial. Green burial practices are meant to lessen the environmental impact of the funeral process. They can still preserve many of the important aspects of a traditional funeral while blending them with more environmentally conscious options.
There will be some differences between a traditional funeral and green funeral or burial.
Materials
Traditional caskets are made with paint, varnish, metal, and precious woods. In contrast, green burial caskets are made of natural and biodegradable materials such as bamboo or rattan.
Cost
Green burials can reduce some of the costs associated with the traditional funeral. Since embalming isn’t used, there is no cost for this. Caskets can get very expensive and biodegradable options can be considerably cheaper since they are easier to make. If the cemetery you choose does not require a vault or grave liner you can forgo this cost as well. And since most green cemeteries do not allow traditional headstones you can skip this cost too.
Some things may be more expensive, however, such as the plot itself. Since green cemeteries are relatively new, they may not have as much space available. In this case, since the supply is less, it may be that demand drives the price of the grave plot up.
Some cemeteries may also choose to hand dig their graves, since machine digging is difficult without grave liners, and is also considered to be less environmentally friendly. If this is the case, the cost to dig the grave would likely be more than a traditional grave.
Also, even if embalming isn’t used, there will be costs for refrigeration or dry ice to preserve a body, if that is necessary. Though those costs are typically less than embalming.
Depth
Green burial graves are typically dug to a depth of 3.5 feet. Traditional graves are 5 – 6 feet deep. Some people may wonder if the shallow grave will attract animals. But even the depth of only 3.5 feet is enough to keep animals away.
Space
Green cemeteries may actually require somewhat more space between gravesites and so can require a larger burial plot. This is because there are no grave liners or vaults to mark each grave. Cemeteries will want to space gravesites out enough that they won’t accidentally disturb one grave when digging a new one. This can mean that the plot itself will cost more than a traditional plot.
All Green Burial certified funeral homes are committed to being transparent. They will provide you with a cost sheet so you can begin to understand your options. But the best thing to do is to reach out to a Green Burial certified funeral home and ask questions.
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