Natural burial is simply returning to the environmentally-sound way that burials used to be done:

-no embalming fluid
-no grave vault or liner
-a tree or other natural material might be used as a grave marker. If a headstone is used, it would be from local stone.
-a biodegradable coffin, casket or shroud – this is what we are here to help with

There are cemeteries devoted exclusively to natural burial but a burial or cremation in any cemetery can be greener by choosing as many of the above features as possible.

The Green Burial Council is the organization that certifies funeral directors, cemeteries and product manufacturers providing the components of natural burial. Here?s their definition of green burial:

“Green, or natural burial is a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact that aids in the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat. Green burial necessitates the use of non-toxic and biodegradable materials, such as caskets, shrouds, and urns.”