<h2>Eco-funerals and green burials are growing in popularity. Here’s what’s different about a sustainable farewell.</h2>
<h2><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="full-width alignnone wp-image-31193 size-full" src="https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GreenBurial.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="500" srcset="https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GreenBurial.jpg 900w, https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GreenBurial-300x167.jpg 300w, https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GreenBurial-768x427.jpg 768w, https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GreenBurial-400x222.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></h2>
<p>A green burial is an alternative to traditional funerals. They rely on more sustainable materials and avoid elements or traditions which can harm the environment.</p>
<p>If you’re interested in arranging a green funeral, this guide can help. It covers:</p>
<p><a href="#features">Key features of a green funeral</a></p>
<p><a href="#naturalburial">Natural burial grounds</a></p>
<p><a href="#green">Green coffins and caskets</a></p>
<p><a href="#gravemarkers">Natural gravemarkers</a></p>
<p><a href="#costs">Green funeral costs</a></p>
<p><a href="#tips">Tips for a green funeral</a></p>
<p><a href="#example">Example of a green funeral</a></p>
<p><a href="#cremations">Are cremations green?</a></p>
<h3 id="features">Key features of a green funeral</h3>
<p>A green funeral is still recognisable as a modern funeral. However, there are some key elements which distinguish it from traditional funerals.</p>
<ul>
<li>The body is buried at a green cemetery, a natural burial site, or on private land.</li>
<li>If the person is cremated, their ashes may be buried in an eco-urn</li>
<li>An environmentally conscious coffin, casket or shroud is used.</li>
<li>Grave liners and burial vaults aren’t used</li>
<li>The body is dressed in biodegradable clothing</li>
<li>No embalming takes place, avoiding chemical preservatives</li>
<li>A natural gravemarker is used, or none at all</li>
<li>Graves might be marked with a tree or other natural signifiers</li>
<li>A specialist green funeral director may be used</li>
</ul>
<h3>Natural burial grounds</h3>
<p>There are natural burial grounds which exclusively welcome and help facilitate green burials. There are also some traditional cemeteries which have opened natural burial sites within them.</p>
<h4><strong>NSW natural burial grounds</strong></h4>
<p><a href="https://kempscreekcemetery.com.au/planningahead/sydney-natural-burial-park/">Sydney Natural Burial Park</a></p>
<p><a href="https://lismore.nsw.gov.au/files/Lismore-Cemeteries-Natural-Burials-a5-folded-brochure.pdf">Lismore Bushland Cemetery</a></p>
<h4><strong>VIC natural burial grounds</strong></h4>
<p>Kurweeton Road Cemetery, which is dedicated to <a href="http://www.uprightburials.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">upright burials</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.uypct.org.au/areas/donna-buang">Donna Buang</a> at Uppa Yarra Public Cemetery</p>
<p><a href="https://www.gmct.com.au/our-locations/lilydale-memorial-park">Lilydale Memorial Park</a></p>
<h4><strong>ACT natural burial grounds</strong></h4>
<p><a href="https://www.canberramemorialparks.act.gov.au/visit/gungahlin-cemetery-and-crematorium">Gungahlin Cemetery</a></p>
<h4><strong>QLD natural burial grounds</strong></h4>
<p><a href="https://www.ecomemorialpark.com.au/">Eco Memorial Park</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Services/Venues-facilities/Cemeteries/Cemetery-locations/Alberton-Cemetery">Alberton Cemetery</a></p>
<h4><strong>WA natural burial grounds</strong></h4>
<p><a href="https://www.mcb.wa.gov.au/our-cemeteries/fremantle-cemetery/natural-burials">Fremantle Cemetery</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.mcb.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/general-website-documents/natural-burials-brochure.pdf?sfvrsn=f3f8884b_6">Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park</a></p>
<h4><strong>TAS natural burial grounds</strong></h4>
<p><a href="https://www.millingtons.com.au/our-cemeteries/kingston-cemetery/">Kingston Cemetery</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.burnie.net/Community/Services-and-Programs/Cemeteries/Natural-burial">Burnie Cemetery</a></p>
<h4><strong>SA natural burial grounds</strong></h4>
<p><a href="https://aca.sa.gov.au/burials/natural-burials/">Enfield Memorial Park</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.aca.sa.gov.au/Our-Cemeteries/Smithfield-Memorial-Park" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Smithfield Memorial Park</a></p>
<p>Another alternative is to arrange a burial on private land, although this won’t be a feasible option for everything.</p>
<p>For a body to be buried on private land, permission must be granted from the general manager of the local council, the director of public health, and the landowner.</p>
<figure id="attachment_31194" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-31194" style="width: 900px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="full-width wp-image-31194 size-full" src="https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GreenBurial-1.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="500" srcset="https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GreenBurial-1.jpg 900w, https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GreenBurial-1-300x167.jpg 300w, https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GreenBurial-1-768x427.jpg 768w, https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GreenBurial-1-400x222.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-31194" class="wp-caption-text"><em>St Francis Natural Burial Field in Kemps Creek, NSW.</em></figcaption></figure>
<h3 id="green">Green coffins and caskets</h3>
<p>Green coffins are made with sustainably-sourced, biodegradable materials. They break down faster than traditional coffins and aren’t harmful to the environment.</p>
<p>Common materials include:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.gatheredhere.com.au/wicker-coffins">Wicker</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gatheredhere.com.au/cardboard-coffin-need-know">Cardboard</a></li>
<li>Rattan</li>
<li>Seagrass</li>
<li>Willow</li>
<li>Cotton</li>
<li>Bamboo</li>
<li>Banana leaf</li>
<li>Cane</li>
<li>Wool</li>
</ul>
<p>This is a stark difference from traditional coffins and caskets, which are made from synthetic materials or treated wood and often have metal trimmings. These types of coffin can take hundreds of years to break down and toxic chemicals can enter the environment.</p>
<figure id="attachment_31220" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-31220" style="width: 900px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="full-width wp-image-31220 size-full" src="https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CardboardCoffin_900x500_Unsplash.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="500" srcset="https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CardboardCoffin_900x500_Unsplash.jpg 900w, https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CardboardCoffin_900x500_Unsplash-300x167.jpg 300w, https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CardboardCoffin_900x500_Unsplash-768x427.jpg 768w, https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CardboardCoffin_900x500_Unsplash-400x222.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-31220" class="wp-caption-text"><em>Messages from loved ones, written on a biodegradable cardboard coffin.</em></figcaption></figure>
<h3 id="gravemarkers">Natural gravemarkers</h3>
<p>With green funerals or burials, the gravemarker may be made of natural materials or it could simply be a distinguishable feature of nature. In some cases, there is no gravemarker at all and friends and families are given coordinates to the burial location instead.</p>
<p>Some examples of possible natural gravemarkers include:</p>
<p>A tree<br />
A plant<br />
A rock<br />
A wooden sign</p>
<h3 id="costs">Green funeral costs</h3>
<p>The cost of a green funeral generally sits in between the <a href="https://www.gatheredhere.com.au/the-average-cost-of-a-cremation-in-australia/">cost of a typical cremation</a> and the <a href="https://www.gatheredhere.com.au/the-average-cost-of-a-funeral-in-australia/">cost of a traditional burial</a>.</p>
<p>A green funeral requires many of the same components as a traditional burial except the <a href="https://www.gatheredhere.com.au/guide-to-burial-plots-in-australia/">grave plot</a> is cheaper, there&#8217;s no requirement for grave liner or burial vault, and you don&#8217;t need a headstone.</p>
<p>If you opt for a burial shroud, you can also save on the cost of a coffin. Together, these items can easily add up to thousands of dollars in savings.</p>
<h3>Other tips for a green funeral service</h3>
<p>If you&#8217;re eager to arrange a more sustainable service, you might want to consider these suggestions:</p>
<ul>
<li>Instead of flowers, ask attendees for donations to a charity</li>
<li>Use recycled paper for orders of service</li>
<li>Opt for a shroud instead of a coffin</li>
<li>Care for the deceased at home rather than in a mortuary storage facility</li>
<li>If some type of preservation is required, consider formaldehyde-free alternatives approved by the <a href="http://greenburialcouncil.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Green Burial Council</a></li>
</ul>
<h3 id="example">Example of a green burial</h3>
<p>To bring the entire picture together, here’s a hypothetical example of a green burial:</p>
<p>Jack dies. In life, Jack was passionate about nature and loved the outdoors. His wife knows Jack wanted an environmentally-friendly funeral, so she contacts a funeral director who specialises in green ceremonies.</p>
<p>The funeral director collects Jack along with some letters his family have written, to be buried alongside him. The funeral director takes Jack back to the funeral parlour.</p>
<p>Instead of being embalmed with chemicals, Jack’s body is kept cool until the day of the funeral. He is dressed in a <a href="https://www.gatheredhere.com.au/burial-and-cremation-shrouds-australia">biodegradable shroud</a> and placed in a cardboard coffin that has been decorated by his family.</p>
<p>Jack’s friends and family gather together at a natural burial ground. There are no grave markers and the bushland is full of native plants and trees.</p>
<p>Finally, Jack is laid to rest. Instead of a marble headstone, Jack’s friends and family are given GPS coordinates so they can visit the exact spot whenever they like.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="full-width alignnone wp-image-31221 size-full" src="https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CardboardCoffin_900x500_Unsplash-1.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="500" srcset="https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CardboardCoffin_900x500_Unsplash-1.jpg 900w, https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CardboardCoffin_900x500_Unsplash-1-300x167.jpg 300w, https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CardboardCoffin_900x500_Unsplash-1-768x427.jpg 768w, https://app.gatheredhere.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CardboardCoffin_900x500_Unsplash-1-400x222.jpg 400w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<h3 id="cremations">Are cremations considered green?</h3>
<p>Many people assume cremations are environmentally friendly because they don’t require any person or products to be buried in the ground. However, the process can actually release a lot of CO2.</p>
<p>A report by <a href="https://www.thecdsgroup.co.uk/news/the-uk-cremation-industry-emissions">the Cemetery Development Services (CDS)</a>found that approximately 245 kg of carbon is released into the atmosphere with every gas cremation.</p>
<p>Progress is being made though with many manufactures moving towards electric cremators, instead of gas. According to the CDS report, electric cremators release around 90% less carbon compared to convention gas cremators.</p>
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