Green burials are the hot new-old thing.

When you consider how long humans have been living and dying on our planet, embalming is a relatively new practice. Ancient Egyptians mummified their dead, but modern embalming practices started during World War I when families wanted to preserve fallen soldiers’ bodies long enough to get them home from overseas for burial. Thanks to the funeral industry, the practice gained popularity for non-military folks in the decades that followed. Nowadays most people in the United States don’t even realize they have a choice.

Burial vaults, fancy caskets and embalming services are not required by law. They’re a choice in all 50 states. The average burial in the USA cost upwards of $7800 in 2024. There’s a lot of money to be made, but the funeral industry is responding to growing demand for more earth-friendly and inexpensive alternatives.

Green, or natural burials not only save money, but support land conservation and sustainable practices by avoiding toxic embalming chemicals and concrete. Biodegradable caskets, shrouds, and urns are set directly into the ground, not sealed in concrete vaults – ashes to ashes, dust to dust. There are even companies that will compost your body and turn it into a natural material that can be spread in a garden or orchard to help plants grow.

What will your choice be?