Death planning is a deeply personal and often unpleasant topic, so reasons for choosing one type of burial over another are as varied as you can imagine. But for many people who opt for a green burial, it can come down to cost, environmental impact and legacy.

The reason others choose green burial is right in the name: It’s environmentally friendly. Green burials do away with both the embalming chemicals and the extraneous cement, steel or other non-biodegradable materials conventional burials put into the earth, and lack the carbon footprint of cremation, which has been calculated to be the equivalent of a 500 mile journey by gas powered car.

Perhaps the most personal reason of all is one where the idea of green burial simply speaks to someone. They might find comfort in their body “returning to nature,” or want to take part in a conservation burial where burial fees are also used to cover land protection, restoration and management. Even existing cemeteries can offer a "Shades of Green" burial by inverting required liners or vaults, and allowing for shrouded burials as well.

But I thought we had to embalm bodies? Generally speaking, no. Embalming — the preservation of human remains for public display through the use of a chemical mixture that delays decomposition and makes the body “look natural” — is more of a cosmetic procedure than a public health safeguard. We have on site refrigeration in a temperature and moisture controlled environment, so no worries there.

We simply bathe the body with a natural soap, like Dr. Bronners, dry them, and then shroud, dress, or casket. Nothing invasive. Not to you, not to the earth.

Here is what Americans put in the ground each year through traditional burials: 20 million feet of wood, 4.3 million gallons of embalming fluids, 1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete, 17,000 tons of copper and bronze, and 64,500 tons of steel, according to the Green Burial Council.

Green burials eliminate much of this waste by leaving out almost all of those materials; most bodies are simply wrapped in shrouds made from a biodegradable material like cotton and placed in the ground. And although cremations often have the reputation as being an eco-friendly option, they have a sizeable carbon footprint, unless performed by Water.

Is a green burial your choice? We can help. Call our director at 360.642.8885