The Five Principles of Green Burial

A Guide To Environmentally Friendly Death Care Practices

In our last blog, we introduced green burial and briefly outlined its Five Principles. Today, we’re diving deeper exploring the principles, their roots in tradition, and why they matter for creating a sustainable future.

 

This post draws on guidance from the Green Burial Society of Canada, whose insights continue to inform sustainable death care practices across the country.

 

Before there was a funeral industry, people, communities and cultures took care of their dead.

They were unaware that the way they did this was a sustainable practice.

 

Learning from the Past: How Communities Historically Cared for Their Dead

Long before the modern funeral industry existed, communities and cultures cared for their dead in practical, sustainable ways without realizing they were preserving the environment.

 

Some common practices included:

  • Preparation by the community: Bathing, dressing, or shrouding the body at home, where neighbors could gather, pay respects, and help make burial arrangements. Ice was sometimes used to slow decomposition.
  • Locally sourced caskets: Carpenters crafted simple caskets from nearby wood, long before hardware stores existed.
  • Practical graves: Graves were dug by hand, with depth determined by soil type, water table, and natural conditions, far from the “six feet under” standard we often imagine today.

 

Interestingly, what we now call a “Traditional Funeral” would look very different to our ancestors. Modern practices, such as funeral homes, formal viewings, hearses, concrete vaults are far from the sustainable approach our forbearers naturally practiced.

 

Green Burial Today: Returning to Sustainable Principles

Green burial follows these time-honoured practices while emphasizing environmental stewardship. The Five Principles of Green Burial guide each step of the process:

 

1. No Embalming

Bodies are prepared without embalming, allowing nature to recycle them naturally.

 

Even without chemicals, the body can be cared for with dignity. Refrigeration and environmentally sensitive soaps, lotions, and disinfectants ensure proper handling for burial and viewing.

 

2. Direct Earth Burial

The body is wrapped in a biodegradable shroud or placed in a locally sourced, fully compostable casket.

 

No outer vaults are used, allowing the body to return to the soil and continue the natural cycle.

 

3. Simple, Locally Sourced Memorialization

Green burial emphasizes understated, site-appropriate memorials.

  • Communal memorials with simple inscriptions on natural materials are preferred.
  • Small, handcrafted monuments from local materials are also acceptable.

 

Over time, the green burial site becomes a living memorial. A peaceful space for reflection and remembrance.

 

4. Optimized Land Use

A well-planned green burial cemetery maximizes land sustainably.

  • Minimal infrastructure preserves natural features.
  • Grave placement respects trees, roots, and soil conditions.
  • Reuse of graves, a sustainable and common practice in many parts of the world, is slowly being adopted in Canada.
  • Cremated remains can also be accommodated in areas where full-body interment isn’t feasible.

 

5. Conservation and Ecological Care

Green burial sites aren’t just resting places. They’re spaces for ecological restoration.

 

Cemeteries often follow conservation plans to protect local flora, encourage wildlife, and maintain natural landscapes, ensuring that every burial contributes positively to the environment.

 

Your Next Steps: Planning with Clarity

Choosing green burial is about making thoughtful decisions and not rushing in moments of urgency.

Helpful resources include:


 

Start the Conversation Today

Your end-of-life choices can leave a lasting impact on both your community and the environment.

If you’re curious about green burial in Winnipeg, call 204-219-1126 or email richard@richardrosin.ca.


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