A green funeral is one that reduces the environmental impact of caring for the dead, most often through natural burial without embalming, a concrete vault or a metal casket. Other green options include alkaline hydrolysis (water-based cremation), natural organic reduction (human composting) in states that allow them, and simpler choices within a conventional funeral, such as skipping embalming or choosing a biodegradable casket. Which options you can use depends on your state's laws and the providers near you.
This guide explains the main green funeral options, how they work, and how to find a provider. You can browse green funeral homes or search by state on the states page.
Options at a glance
| Option | What it is | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Natural (green) burial | Burial without embalming, vault or non-biodegradable casket | Natural burial grounds and some conventional cemeteries |
| Hybrid burial | Green practices in a conventional cemetery section | Growing number of cemeteries |
| Conservation burial | Natural burial that also protects land under a conservation easement | Limited number of sites |
| Alkaline hydrolysis | Water and alkali reduce the body to bone, returned like cremated remains | Only in states where it is legal |
| Natural organic reduction | Body is transformed into soil over several weeks | Only in states where it is legal |
| Greener conventional funeral | Skip embalming, choose a simple casket, limit travel | Almost anywhere |
Natural burial
Natural burial, also called green burial, returns the body to the earth as simply as possible:
- No embalming. The body is kept cool with refrigeration or dry ice until burial.
- A biodegradable container. A plain wood casket, a wicker or bamboo casket, or a cloth shroud.
- No concrete vault or liner. The grave is filled with soil directly.
- Natural landscaping. Many natural burial grounds use native plants and flat stones or GPS records instead of upright headstones.
Natural burial often costs less than a conventional burial because there is no embalming, vault or expensive casket, though plot prices vary widely. Many families keep the funeral simple and hold a graveside service.
Hybrid and conservation cemeteries
Not every family lives near a dedicated natural burial ground. Hybrid cemeteries are conventional cemeteries that offer a section where vaults are not required and embalming is not allowed. Conservation burial grounds go further and use burial fees to protect land permanently, often working with a land trust.
The Green Burial Council certifies cemeteries, funeral homes and products against published standards, and its directory is a useful starting point. Certification is voluntary, so an uncertified provider may still follow green practices. Ask directly.
Alkaline hydrolysis
Alkaline hydrolysis, sometimes called aquamation, water cremation or flameless cremation, places the body in a stainless steel vessel with water and an alkaline solution. Heat, pressure and circulation break down soft tissue over several hours. What remains is bone, which is dried and processed like cremated remains and returned to the family in an urn. The remaining sterile liquid is handled according to local wastewater rules.
Supporters point out that it uses less energy than flame cremation and produces no direct air emissions. It is legal in a growing number of states, but not everywhere, and availability is still limited even in states that allow it. Check current state law and ask cremation services near you whether they offer it or can refer you.
After alkaline hydrolysis, families have the same choices as with cremated remains: burial, a niche, scattering or keeping the urn. Some pet providers also offer it, as described in pet cremation explained.
Natural organic reduction (human composting)
Natural organic reduction places the body in a vessel with plant material such as wood chips, alfalfa and straw. Microbes break the body down over several weeks into soil. The family can receive the soil, which is a considerably larger volume than cremated remains, or donate it to conservation land.
Washington was the first state to legalize human composting, in 2019, and other states have followed since. The list keeps changing, so check your state's current law, and note that some providers serve families in other states by arranging transport. See transporting a body across state lines.
A greener conventional funeral
If a natural burial ground or new technology is not an option, you can still reduce the impact of a traditional funeral:
- Decline embalming unless it is required by your situation. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, embalming is not required by law in most cases, and a funeral home cannot charge for it without your permission. See embalming explained.
- Choose a simple casket of unfinished wood, or a shroud where the cemetery allows it. The Funeral Rule lets you buy a casket elsewhere without paying a handling fee.
- Ask about vault rules. Many cemeteries require an outer burial container. Some will accept a lighter liner, or allow none in certain sections.
- Hold a closed-casket or no-viewing service, or a memorial service after burial.
- Use fewer vehicles and choose local flowers, or ask for donations instead.
- Livestream the service to reduce travel. Some funeral homes offer livestreaming.
Is flame cremation green?
Flame cremation uses little land but uses fuel and releases emissions. Some families consider it a reasonable compromise, especially combined with scattering or a natural burial of the remains. If environmental impact is your main concern, compare it with natural burial and alkaline hydrolysis. See burial vs cremation.
Questions to ask a green funeral provider
- Are you certified by the Green Burial Council, and at what level?
- Do you require embalming for any service? How do you care for the body without it?
- Which caskets, shrouds and containers do you allow?
- Does the cemetery require a vault or liner?
- How are graves marked and recorded?
- For alkaline hydrolysis or composting: is it done on site, and how long does it take?
Planning ahead
Green options are easier to arrange when they are planned in advance, because natural burial grounds and alternative methods may be far away or require specific arrangements. Write your wishes down and share them with family, or prearrange with a provider. See how to preplan a funeral and browse funeral homes with pre-planning.