What are the common elements of a green burial/ green funeral?
There is no “right way” to do green burial. Beyond the 3 tenets(biodegradable casket or shroud, no vault, no embalming) folks have come up with all kinds of lovely ways to honor the green soul into the next chapter. Music, readings, plantings, celebration, nature hikes. Anything that feels right is okay to include in your plans. For articles and inspiration, check out our Facebook page or The Green Burial Guidebook by Elizabeth Fournier.
How much does a green burial cost?
Costs in our area will be highly variable. You will have base expenses from your funeral director, plus any extra services you choose(remember to get a GPL, or General Price List!). Costs for a cemetery plot range from a few hundred to a few thousand, with small rural cemeteries tending to be less expensive. The casket or shroud you choose will affect your overall price, but generally green burial caskets and shrouds are much less expensive than conventional caskets. If you have the time to shop around, it may be worth the extra effort. The table below is adapted from The Green Burial Guidebook, published in 2018, and gives a general idea of what costs to expect and where you might save money by choosing a green burial or home funeral.
How can a funeral service be held at home?
Along with the green burial movement, there has been a resurgence in home funerals. A traditional home funeral simply means that the body of the loved one is kept at home. A one or two day vigil is held for family and friends to pay their respects and spend meaningful time with the deceased in order to say their goodbyes. Family and friends can be involved in the cleaning and care of the body and dry ice is generally used to keep the body cool during the time at home. You can find all the home-funeral information you need from The National Home Funeral Alliance.
How can I “green” a conventional funeral and/or burial?
If a person wishes to be buried in a conventional casket with a vault, embalmed, cremated, or any other practice that isn’t considered “green”, that is okay. You can still lighten the environmental footprint in a number of ways. Consider these options:
- Use local organic produce and food goods for the funeral meal.
- Skip flowers that are heavily sprayed with chemicals and shipped long distances, buying flowers from a local grower instead, or cutting them from your own garden or yard.
- Use recycled paper for memory cards or create them digitally.
- Encourage those wanting to provide a contribution to plant a tree in honor of the deceased, or make a donation to a local environmental group.
Could I use a green casket with a conventional burial site?
Yes. According to The Funeral Rule, you can use any casket of your choosing. However, some cemeteries require outer burial vaults for conventional burial sites. Park Cemetery in Marquette does require a vault for all sites except those in the Prairie Mound green burial plot. It is prudent to check with your cemetery before hand to find out if an outer burial vault/container would be required.
I don’t plan on dying tomorrow. Should I buy my casket now anyways?
Maybe. If you have a dry, safe place to store a casket(garage/basement/spare room) then making end of life arrangements now is a thoughtful way to take the burden off loved ones who will be grieving. Purchasing a casket and funeral/burial services ahead of time ensures that your wishes will be honored and allows you to personally choose your last resting vessel and location.
You will find more planning help and a vast array of resources from The Green Burial Council and The National Home Funeral Alliance
FAQ MENU
Fair Use & Content Disclaimer* This site contains copyrighted material in accordance with the Fair Use Act. We are making this material available for educational purposes because we believe it may be useful to members of our community and the general public. We work to keep our site current, but some information may have changed since our last update. Please double check the details directly with providers. Site content is not intended to be used as legal advice.
