A Guide To Buying Green Burial Products

Green products—specifically green caskets—must conform with the green standards of the green cemetery or natural burial ground.

What Makes Burial Products "Green"?

• All finishes and adhesives must not contain any plastics, acrylics, or synthetic polymer materials
• All finishes and adhesives must not release toxic by-products in the facility where the product is manufactured
• Materials must be produced and harvested in environmentally sustainable manners or must be produced using reclaimed or recycled materials
• The transportation of materials to the manufacturer and the transportation of the product to the consumer may not exceed 3000 miles

Green Burial Product Options

For most green burial products, you will have many options in terms of the price style of the products, as well as your own personal preferences. If you're working with a green funeral home, they will likely have a wide selection of green caskets for you to choose from. Many traditional funeral homes, however, will not carry green caskets at all. If the funeral home you're working with doesn't have the product (or price) you want, consider shopping around. Another vendor may have the product or price you are looking for.

Personal Advocacy

According to the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, you have the right to purchase any funeral products from the retailer of your choice and the funeral home must use those products without additional charge. So if you'll be purchasing a casket from an outside vendor, you are legally allowed to use that casket at the funeral home without being charged a fee.

To learn more about this topic check out these articles and resources: Green Burial | Green Funeral Homes |Guide: Finding a Green Funeral Home | Green Cemeteries | Guide: Finding a Green Cemetery