How To Choose A Green Funeral Home

When you think of your happy place, what comes to mind? Is it a peaceful forest? A backyard garden where birds nest and flowers bloom? Green funerals let you have it all, by allowing people to choose nature as their final resting place.

With the growing awareness of green funerals, more people are coming to understand the importance of caring for the environment and the damage done by traditional funeral practices. Green funerals offer a variety of alternatives that honor our connection to nature while minimizing harm to the planet.

In recent years, the green funerals market has seen significant growth. According to Semafor, the market is expected to grow an estimated 8.7% by 2030, reflecting a shift towards more eco-friendly death care practices. As demand grows, so do the options for green funeral homes and services.

It’s now never been easier to find a funeral provider that aligns with you and your values. If you’re looking for a green funeral home, either for yourself or a loved one, this guide will help you make the right choice.

What is a Green Funeral Home?

A green funeral home incorporates sustainable practices throughout the funeral and memorialization process. These providers offer alternatives to traditional burial and cremation that are more in harmony with nature, helping to protect the environment.

People are drawn to green funerals for many reasons, including concern for the environment and a desire to honor their connection to nature or a special place.

What is a green burial?

Green burials use eco-friendly materials, neutralize carbon emissions, and nourish local ecosystems. They return our bodies to the earth naturally, supporting new life for generations to come. Green burials often avoid embalming chemicals and elaborate caskets, opting instead for biodegradable shrouds or simple, natural burials.

What is human composting?

Human composting transforms a body into nutrient-rich soil through a carefully monitored process involving organic materials and naturally occurring microbes. An individual is placed in a specially designed vessel, along with organic materials. The moisture, temperature, and Oxygen levels of the vessel are carefully monitored to encourage the natural composting of the body. After 30-45 days, the resulting soil can be returned to family and friends for use in gardens, trees, or conservation sites, promoting a healthier planet.

The Environmental Benefits of Green Funerals

Green funerals go beyond a final farewell – they acknowledge and emphasize our responsibility to care for the Earth.

Fewer/No chemicals

Traditional burials may use embalming chemicals, which, as Science Direct reports, can contaminate groundwater and soil. Green burials do not involve embalming and allow for a natural return to the earth.

Preservation of resources

Traditional caskets are made from chemically-treated wood and steel, along with other resource-intensive materials that can never be recycled. On the other hand, green funerals and human composting use organic, biodegradable materials that decompose naturally.

Cemeteries also take up ecologically valuable land, turning large swaths of space into monoculture lawns. Green funerals do not require land to be transformed into burial grounds; instead encouraging nature to flourish as it normally would.

Conservation

Green cemeteries often support conservation areas, protecting ecosystems from human development and promoting biodiversity. Human composting facilities, like Earth Funeral, can donate nutrient-rich soil to conservation sites, further supporting environmental sustainability.

The Costs of Green Funerals Compared to Traditional Burials

As green burial and human composting require fewer resources, they’re often more affordable than traditional funeral methods.

Let's look at a general comparison of the average cost for each funeral option (keeping in mind that prices may differ based on each home’s specific service offering).

While human composting might be more expensive than natural burials due to specialized equipment and time, it remains more affordable than traditional burial and cremation.

The overall cost of any green funeral can vary, depending on a variety of factors including the location, services, and memorial options. These decisions are all very personal. If you’re planning a green funeral for yourself in the future, it’s a good idea to discuss your preferences for funeral planning with those who might be carrying out those decisions for you.

At Earth, we are committed to honoring your values and preferences. Our care team will guide you through the entire planning process to ensure your final wishes are fulfilled.

What Determines Whether a Funeral Home is Green?

If you’re choosing a green funeral home, you probably care deeply about the environment. And it’s important that your choices align with your values. But how do you know that you’re picking a funeral home with eco-friendly practices in place?

A clear commitment to sustainability

Review the funeral home’s website for explanations of their eco-friendly practices and sustainability efforts. At Earth, we clearly outline the human composting process and the environmental benefits of healthy, nutrient-rich soil. Look for partnerships with third-party organizations that also support environmental sustainability. At Earth, we’ve partnered with OneTreePlanted to amplify efforts toward forest regeneration and environmental conservation.

Accreditations & licenses

Ensure the funeral home is licensed in your state and holds necessary accreditations. This helps guarantee professionalism and compliance with industry standards.

Earth is a BBB accredited business that is regularly inspected, so you can be confident that you’re receiving the highest standards of care.

What to Look for When Choosing a Green Funeral Home

Choosing a green funeral home is a significant decision, so we’ve put together some questions that you can ask to help ensure the provider you choose aligns with your values.

Are prices clear and transparent?

When planning a funeral, you don’t want any surprises. A reputable funeral home should have clear pricing with no hidden costs. Prepayment options can also help you to plan ahead and alleviate the burden on your loved ones.

At Earth, we believe in transparent and easy-to-understand pricing. By answering a few quick questions, we provide you with an instant quote.

Can you view the home? Do they offer facility tours?

Consider visiting the funeral home. This allows you to meet the people who will take care of arrangements, view the facilities, and learn more about their sustainability practices.

Earth offers tours of its facilities, where families can view the human composting vessels in person and learn more about the natural composting process.

Do you feel confident in your choice?

This decision may come at a difficult time—but you should feel good about your choice in a green funeral home. It can be helpful and comforting to hear from those who have been through this process already. Most green funeral homes will have online reviews that can provide insights into what it’s like to work with them and the quality of care provided.

Read what families who chose Earth have to say.

Involving Your Loved Ones in the Decision-Making Process

Discussing funeral plans can be difficult, but it’s important to ensure your final wishes are understood and respected. Set aside some time to discuss your decision with family and friends.

Here are some ways to involve your loved ones in the decision-making process:

• Be Sensitive: Recognize that the conversation might be emotional and challenging.
• Discuss Their Wishes: Consider their preferences for memorializing you or the person you’re planning for.
• Encourage Participation: Involve your loved ones in the decision-making process if they wish to help.

Where Can I Find A Green Funeral Home?

Laws governing green green funeral homes vary by state. Human composting is currently legal in several states, with many more considering legislating the process. Search by state to find available green funeral homes, and explore transportation options if there isn’t a provider local to you.

For more information about green funerals and human composting, you can visit our service area page and contact our team at (877) 327-4109 to see if Earth services your area. Otherwise, you can get an instant price on our website in under a minute.