From Recent Trend To Cultural Tradition: Why Green Burials Are Being Widely Accepted By Mainstream Society

Traditional burial practices have been passed down from generation to generation throughout Western cultures, and these end-of-life ceremonies typically follow a familiar script that includes things like ornate caskets, embalming procedures, concrete vaults, and perfectly manicured cemeteries. 

However, a quiet revolution has begun in recent years that’s starting to reshape how people think about death and the environment, and this alternative lifestyle decision is known as a green burial. 

Green burials have officially shifted from being a fringe idea to now being a part of the cultural mainstream, and this reflects all sorts of deep shifts in how people view death and life itself. 

We recently got in touch with the green burial experts at Jackson, Lytle & Lewis to better understand what green burials are, and what we learned is undoubtedly going to impact the long-term future of the entire funeral industry. 

So, check out the below sections to learn more about why green burials are growing in popularity:

What Exactly Are Green Burials?

Green burials, also referred to as natural burials, are essentially an internment method that aims to minimize a decedent’s environmental impact. 

This means that green burials avoid embalming chemicals, concrete vaults and metal caskets. Instead, simple wooden caskets and biodegradable shrouds are typically used during the burial process—which allows for a more natural decomposition.

Green burials always emphasize simplicity, sustainability and ecological restoration. This is why a lot of green burials take place in conservation cemeteries and nature preserves where land is protected. 

Why Are Green Burials Currently Rising In Popularity?

There are many reasons why people all over the world are now embracing green burials over more traditional funeral procedures, including: 

• Environmental Awareness 

As environmental degradation and climate change continue to dominate news headlines, it’s easy to see how more people are becoming concerned about their personal carbon footprints and ecological impacts. 

It’s also no secret how conventional burial practices often involve concrete vaults, toxic embalming fluids and resource-heavy caskets.

On the other hand, green burials offer a much lighter ecological footprint that many people see as their last way to showcase their environmental stewardship. 

• Ongoing Cultural Shifts 

Death is currently being redefined from a cultural standpoint, and it’s now more of an open discussion than it was in the past thanks to TED Talks and social media. 

Ongoing movements like home funerals and death positivity are now encouraging people of all ages to take a more active approach toward end-of-life planning. 

Green burials just so happen to coincide well with this type of hands-on, conscious approach toward death, and countless families are embracing this more grounded alternative to institutional deathcare. 

• Authenticity & Simplicity 

The growing appeal toward green burials isn’t just about the obvious ecological benefits, because for many it’s also about simplicity. 

Returning to the earth in a more natural way offers a more authentic approach toward death, and the rituals themselves typically feel much more personal—as opposed to commercialized. 

Families are now more active participants in the burial process as they choose burial sites and even plant trees instead of headstones. This leads to a greater emotional intimacy associated with green burials. 

The Institutional Shift From The Fringes To Formal Funeral Homes

As the widespread demand for green burials has grown, so has its formal recognition throughout the funeral industry. 

This had led to the following results:

• Over 300 U.S. cemeteries providing green burials
• TheGreen Burial Council providing funeral organizations with certifications oriented around ecological integrity
• States updating their regulations to better accommodate natural burials

So, what was once considered to be a fringe movement is quickly becoming a new industry standard in today’s modern funeral landscape.

The Future Of Green Burials Will Shape The Future Of The Entire Funeral Industry

It’s safe to say that the widespread normalization of green burials is a true reflection of much broader consumer-driven transformations toward value-driven, eco-conscious investments. 

This is why families all over the world can expect to see more hybrid cemeteries, urban green burial solutions, and integrated cemetery conservation efforts in the coming years ahead. 

And as more people seek sustainability and authenticity with their final spiritual connections, green burials are undoubtedly going to become a lasting tradition in the United States and abroad!