Why Choose Natural Burial?

A Better Alternative for Today, and the Future

In recent times, funeral and burial practices have not typically considered their impact on our natural environment. These North American practices often use harmful chemicals, and impact acres of land that can serve no other purpose. Natural burial is an environmentally sensitive practice, where the body is returned to the earth to decompose naturally and contribute to new life – thus creating a living memorial.

A Sustainable Choice

Nature’s Way
This practice is not new – many modern cultures and most ancient civilizations have practiced some form of natural burial tradition and practice for hundreds of years. Natural burial is, and always has been, nature’s way.

Environmental Impact
Embalming, fancy varnished wood caskets with brass trim, marble urns, balloons, laminated bookmarks, Styrofoam cups, and large floral arrangements that use foam, wire and plastic ribbon – these can all negatively impact our environment.

Personal Choice
Natural burial provides an ethical and sustainable option to fulfill one’s end of life wishes in accordance with concerns and values about the environment today and in the future. When engaged properly, natural burial practices create the least amount of disruption possible to our natural environment.

Five Key Principles

While there are varying levels of eco-sensitive burial practices, a truly natural burial option must consider these five key principles to qualify as a sustainable practice:

• No Embalming
• Direct Earth Burial
• Ecological Restoration & Conservation
• Communal Memorialization
• Optimized Land Use

These concepts can be explored in greater detail by visiting the Green Burial Society of Canada.

“Natural burial isn't just a means to an end. It is an act of kindness, of connection, between people and the earth.”

– Lee Webster, New Hampshire Funeral Resources & Education

“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 Council

“Choosing a natural burial is a simple but powerful act that expresses our understanding of the interconnectedness of life and death, and how this understanding can be a source of hope and healing.”

– Catriona Hearn, Founding Member / Past President, Green Burial Society of Canada

Resources

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL GRIEF
Epilog’s Founder, Louisa Horne, was interviewed for CBC’s White Coat Black Art about environmental grief.
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THE GREEN BURIAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
Advocates for the adoption of environmentally responsible and ecologically sustainable interment, cremation, funeral service and bereavement care practices in every facet of death care delivery in Canada.
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ABOUT NATURAL BURIAL
A short video from The Natural Burial Society of Canada about Natural Burial to help people understand what it’s all about.
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THE GREEN BURIAL COUNCIL
The leading US based group that inspires and advocates for environmentally sustainable, natural death care through education and certification.
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