A natural burial (or green burial) is a simplified and natural way of returning the body to the earth. Natural Burials are low impact, use less energy, and consume fewer resources than traditional burials. 'Going green' often does not involve embalming and is instead focused on making more natural choices such as simple, biodegradable caskets.

If you have decided upon natural burial in a green cemetery, then you'll choose a naturally-finished casket made of biodegradable materials or a simple shroud. Some green cemeteries require that the selected casket, urn or shroud are made from materials that are biodegradable, non-toxic and harvested in a sustainable manner. 

These caskets are constructed of renewable Northeastern hardwoods, contain no metal parts and use only biodegradable glues and finishes. They are approved by the Green Burial Council and are suitable for burial or green cremation.  Green caskets are designed to move the funeral and burial process to a greener and more human-centered place. We can only achieve this through continuous attention to the environmental impact of our products and practices and by attentively listening to our client's ideas for meaningful ceremony.

Green 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. 

Sources:

Green Burial Council

DavidSuzuki.org