An eco-cemetery, also known as a green burial ground, or natural burial preserve, is a cemetery where the body is returned to the earth to decompose and recycle naturally, this is an environmentally sustainable alternative to existing funeral practices.
A Green Burial Ground promotes the use of biodegradable burial products such as simple wooden caskets or burial shrouds. The body is prepared without chemical preservatives to allow natural decomposition. The burial ground may be designed with natural memorial structures, such as local stones engraved with the deceased’s name, to be used as grave markers, and, as in all cemeteries, meticulous records are kept of the exact locations of each interment. Living memorials are also used, such as trees planted in memory, and pesticides and herbicides are forbidden.
Green Cemeteries are protected in perpetuity from future development, and provide a peaceful place of rest for those who seek to minimize their impact on the planet. For those who appreciate the cyclical nature of life, a natural burial is a spiritually fulfilling and environmentally benign alternative to conventional burial methods.