All funerals are customized to some degree, but sometimes you'll know that a loved one would have wanted their funeral to take place in a very certain way. If your loved one was a committed environmentalist, they'd want their funeral to reflect these deeply held beliefs (and may have even left instructions to that effect). Your chosen funeral director will be able to assist you, but how do you arrange custom funeral services for a loved one who loved the planet?

Returned to the Earth

The ultimate interment of your loved one's remains will be a priority. Both traditional burial and cremation can create some ecological concerns, so you may wish to explore the possibility of a green burial (also known as a natural burial). This takes place on specially-designated land (which is typically forested) and essentially involves returning someone to the earth. 

Details of a Green Burial

There's no coffin or casket, and your loved one is simply dressed in a plain shroud and placed inside their burial plot. The land remains wild (there's no landscaping in a green funeral area), and there's no gravestone or marker. The location of their burial is mapped (and GPS coordinates are recorded), so their final resting place can still be visited when you want to pay your respects.

During the Funeral Service

It's not practical for your loved one to be presented in only a burial shroud for their own funeral service. Your funeral home can provide a rental coffin or casket for the service. Once the service has concluded, your loved one will be removed and prepared for their green burial. 

Making the Service Environmentally Friendly

The funeral service itself should be as environmentally friendly as possible. There are several practical ways to achieve this:

  • In lieu of flowers, you may specify that donations should be made to an environmental charity or advocacy group. 
  • Any flowers at the actual funeral service should be local, seasonal, and grown in line with sustainable principles. 
  • The order of service for the funeral should be printed on recycled paper.
  • The funeral service itself could be held outside in nature, but there should be a fallback option on standby in case of bad weather. 
  • To symbolize your loved one's dedication to the environment, you could ask that all guests wear green to the funeral service.

There are many ways to reflect your loved one's passion for environmentalism during their funeral and burial, and your funeral director will be happy to assist you. Contact a funeral director to learn more about custom funeral services. 

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