After a loss
Green and natural burial
No embalming, no vault, and a simple shroud or casket.
Green burial, also called natural burial, returns the body to the ground as simply as possible. It's become more common as people look for options that are simpler and often less expensive.
What it usually means
- No embalming
- A biodegradable casket, or a shroud (a simple cloth the body is wrapped in)
- No concrete vault or liner
- A grave often marked with a flat stone, a plant or GPS coordinates
Where it happens
| Type | What it is |
|---|---|
| Natural burial ground | A cemetery set aside only for green burial, often on protected land |
| Hybrid cemetery | A regular cemetery with a section for green burial |
| Home or family land | Allowed in many states, subject to local zoning and health rules |
The Green Burial Council certifies cemeteries and funeral homes that meet its standards.
Other options families ask about
- Water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis), which uses water and chemicals instead of flame. Legal in some states.
- Human composting (natural organic reduction), which turns the body into soil over several weeks. As of October 2026, legal in 14 states, though California's law doesn't take effect until 2027.
Good to know
Because the rules vary by state and cemetery, many families ask a funeral home or green cemetery directly what's possible where they live.
Current rules and figures in this guide:
- States where human composting is legal: 14 (California from 2027)
- Last verified: October 2026 against state legislation trackers