What to Consider When You’re Planning a Green Burial

It’s definitely understandable that not many people want to spend time thinking about and planning for when they die. Many people simply assume that their significant other knows what they want, or they may think that doesn’t matter. But there are dozens of decisions that need to be made, and these decisions are incredibly personal. 

One decision that will need to be made is the type of burial that you wish to have. While a majority of people are choosing the route of a traditional burial with a casket and typical cemetery, many are looking to learn more about green burials and want to know what to consider before making a final decision. 

EverAfterly offers green burial sites in Northern California that are located on land that is naturally preserved using restorative land management techniques. Through our work and your contributions, you and your family can feel good about protecting our environment and preserving a natural space for loved ones to visit. 

Making a decision about what to do with your body after you pass is undoubtedly challenging, but here are some things to consider if you are interested in a green burial. 

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If you are considering a green burial, there’s a good chance that you have ruled out a traditional burial. This may be because of the environmental impact or possibly with the high costs associated with traditional burials, such as the casket, purchasing the space in the cemetery, the headstone, etc. Whatever the reason, two alternatives include cremation and green burials. 

While cremation is a more environmentally friendly option, the process still requires energy and emits an average of 534 pounds of carbon dioxide for one cremation. However, if you live far away from the nearest green cemetery plot, you’re also using up resources for the transportation of your body. If you choose cremation, there is also the decision of what to do with the remains; spreading ashes can also have an impact on vegetation.

While the decision is clearly not up to your family or friends, you may want to consider how easy it will be for them to visit your burial plot. While the number of green burial sites are growing across the country, it may be difficult for them to spend time with you if the site is far away. However, with EverAfterly, we offer GPS location services, making it easy for people to find your exact location, and our burial sites are preserved to allow nature to thrive, making visiting your plot a more special experience.

There may be fewer materials and products to choose if you decide to go with a green burial, but there are still decisions to be made regarding the coffin and the type of wood and the material your body will be wrapped in. The good news is that these decisions are typically the only ones. There isn’t a headstone with a green burial, so you don’t need to worry about purchasing an item that is made from expensive materials. In many cases, people choose to forego the coffin and are simply wrapped in a cotton shroud and laid directly into the ground. This can greatly reduce the costs as well as your environmental impact.

As you may already see, there are various benefits to a green burial. With a green burial, your body is not embalmed, so there aren’t any chemicals that ultimately end up in the ground. There are far less materials that are put in the ground as well, such as processed wood made to use the coffin, metal fasteners, and others. Resources aren’t used to maintain a perfectly manicured cemetery. And with EverAfterly, our fees are used to protect the land in which you are buried, helping to protect our environment for generations.

When considering a green burial, it’s important to find a location that is close to where you live now, so that your body doesn’t need to be transported hundreds of miles. You may also want to consider how the land is protected to ensure that it remains natural for years to come. ​

​EverAfterly is located in Northern California and is passionate about helping people make a positive impact even in their death, and we work hard to ensure that the land used for our burials is kept natural and free of chemicals. If you’re interested in a green burial, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you have.