Green Burial

Green Burial

A green burial, or natural burial, is a burial that emphasizes simplicity and sustainability. In a green burial, the body is not cremated or prepared with chemicals, and is buried without a concrete vault. Instead, the body is placed in a biodegradable coffin or shroud and interred in the ground.
The grave site is allowed to return to nature.

Green burials are designed to have minimal environmental impact and conserve natural resources. They also lack the carbon footprint of cremation, which has been calculated to be the equivalent of a 500-mile car journey.

Green burial, also known as natural burial, is a method of burying the deceased that minimizes
environmental impact using only biodegradable materials in the burial process. No concrete
vaults, embalming fluids, or other non-biodegradable materials are used. Instead, biodegradable
caskets, shrouds, and urns are used. Some people choose to be buried in a plain pine box
dressed in 100% cotton.

Green burials can support land conservation, restoration, and management. Green burials can help to conserve natural resources, reduce carbon emissions, and preserve habitats. Burial fees may be used to cover these costs. For optimal decomposition, the ideal burial depth for a green burial is 3.5–4 feet from the bottom of the grave to the soil horizon. This also helps to create a smell barrier that prevents animals from being able to smell the remains. If used, green burial grave markers must be flat on the ground.

Old Kennett Cemetery is a hybrid green burial cemetery. Burial Spots within the green burial area of the cemetery are buried in a row, placed in chronological order at the time of death. If relatives or others want to be buried next to bodies already interred, then they are buried in green burial spots either at the head, or foot, of the one already interred.