A Natural, eco-conscious way to say goodbye.
Green Burial
Green Burial: a Gentle Return to Nature
Green burial is a natural approach to burial that uses biodegradable materials and avoids practices that may interfere with the natural decomposition process. It offers families a meaningful way to honour a loved one while minimizing environmental impact.
Green Burial Service Options
With green burial, the deceased is cared for without conventional embalming and is placed in a biodegradable casket or shroud for burial in a designated green burial area. Natural and biodegradable materials must be used, allowing the body to return naturally to the earth. Families may still choose to have a visitation, funeral, graveside service or Celebration of Life, allowing green burial to be combined with many of the same meaningful traditions and personal touches as other forms of burial.
FAQs
Below are some common questions that previous families have asked regarding Green Burial:
Green burial is a simple and environmentally conscious approach to burial that allows the body to return naturally to the earth. The deceased is placed in a biodegradable casket or shroud, without the use of conventional embalming chemicals or non-biodegradable materials. The goal is to minimize environmental impact while providing a natural and meaningful place of remembrance.
Green burial uses natural, biodegradable materials and avoids practices that may interfere with the natural decomposition process. Unlike traditional burial areas, green burial areas are maintained in a more natural state, with native vegetation and without individual monuments or manicured gravesites.
Yes. Choosing green burial does not limit how you can honour and remember someone. Families may still have a visitation, funeral, graveside service, Celebration of Life or memorial reception. Because conventional embalming is not used with green burial, the time between the death and any visitation or funeral service will need to be considered. Our funeral directors can help families understand the options available and plan a meaningful service within an appropriate timeframe.
Conventional embalming is not permitted for green burial because of the chemicals used in the process. However, there are other ways to care for the deceased when a family wishes to have a visitation or viewing. Our funeral directors can explain the options available and help determine what is appropriate.
Green burial requires a casket or shroud made from natural, biodegradable materials. Options may include simple wood or woven caskets as well as burial shrouds. We can help families select an option that meets both their wishes and the requirements of the cemetery.
Green burial areas are designed to preserve the natural landscape, so traditional flat or upright headstones are not used. At Royal Oak Burial Park, families may choose to have an inscription placed on one of the memorial boulders located throughout the green burial area. Graves may also be identified with a tree or shrub, while the exact location of each grave is permanently recorded in the cemetery’s records. Specific memorialization options vary by cemetery.
Other Services
Cremation
Honouring your loved one with dignity and simplicity through personalized cremation services.
Traditional Burial
Honouring tradition. Remembering a life. A meaningful place for generations to come.
Entombment
Honouring legacy in a serene setting.