Natural burial is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional funerals, popular in Europe and gaining traction in the US since the 1990s. It involves a simple ceremony and a biodegradable coffin or shroud, with natural markers or GPS used to track graves. Natural cemeteries prioritize wilderness areas and parks for contemplation. It is cheaper than traditional funerals and avoids the use of toxic chemicals and non-biodegradable materials. Families can personally care for their dead, with options for graveside memorials and professional interment services.
Natural burial is an alternative type of funeral that places a strong emphasis on environmentally friendly practices, simplicity, and return to the Earth. In many ways, it is similar to a traditional Jewish burial, which involves a simple ceremony and a simple wooden coffin. Numerous cemeteries around the world offer natural burial as an option to their clients, and some have been established entirely focused on natural burial.
Natural burial is part of a larger environmental movement and has its roots in the trend towards simpler funerals that began in the United States after the publication of The American Way of Death in 1963. In Europe, funeral trends have always favored simple ceremonies , with cremation it took hold much earlier than in the United States. Several eye-opening revelations about the funeral industry have led to a desire to reform and return to a simpler way of handling the dead, and natural burial, an option in Europe for decades, also started to gain traction in the United States in the 1990s. 1990 .
Besides being much cheaper than a traditional funeral, natural burial is also much more environmentally friendly. In a basic natural burial, the deceased is not embalmed and is buried in a simple coffin or shroud. In some cases, a headstone may be placed, while in others, the body is buried in a large natural park, where mourners can wander through well-maintained paths lined with trees and flowers. Sometimes a natural marker such as a stone or tree will be used: in all cases, a GPS marker is buried with the body so that the cemetery can keep track of its residents. Most natural cemeteries focus on having wilderness areas and parks for contemplation, rather than rows of regimented graves.
Ecologically, a traditional funeral can be very unsustainable. The chemicals used in embalming are toxic and will leach into the water table as the coffin cracks and the body decomposes. Additionally, conventional coffins are often made from heavy metals, plastics, and other materials that don’t biodegrade easily. The use of heavy concrete or stone vaults further disrupts the natural environment and also means that cemeteries take up a large amount of space. In a natural burial, the body can return to the earth naturally and gently.
Mourners who are uncomfortable with cremation often consider natural burial because it offers a kind, natural, and inexpensive way to honor the dead. Some families also prefer natural burial because it gives them the opportunity to personally care for their dead, rather than turning them over to a funeral home. In some cases, a cemetery that specializes in natural burials will allow families to dig graves and handle all funeral procedures themselves, although the options of a graveside memorial service and professional interment services are also offered. Individuals interested in natural burial can use their favorite search engine to look for a nearby natural funeral association or co-op that assists them.
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