Twenty years ago, Martha’s family buried her father beneath a vibrant apple tree in a quiet woodland clearing. He’d requested a return to nature—no varnished coffin, no marble marker. At the time, the funeral director called it 'oddly poetic'; today, it’s simply known as a green burial. This piece unpacks why natural interments are rising, what they involve, and how UK and Australian families can embrace eco-friendly farewells in 2025. Expect honest facts, a touch of emotion, and just enough quirk to help you plan a truly meaningful departure.
1. The Green Burial Awakening: What Are Green Burials and Why Now?
Traditional funerals in the UK and Australia have long involved embalming, hardwood or metal coffins, concrete vaults, and manicured cemeteries. These practices, while familiar, often carry a significant environmental footprint—using non-renewable resources, introducing toxins into the soil, and hindering natural decomposition. In contrast, green burials (also known as natural burials) focus on returning the body to the earth with minimal environmental impact. The natural burial process typically uses biodegradable coffins or shrouds, avoids chemical embalming, and takes place in woodland or meadow settings, allowing nature to reclaim the land.
The origins of green burial in the UK can be traced back to the early 1990s, when the first woodland burial ground opened in Carlisle. Initially seen as a niche or subcultural movement, the concept has since gained mainstream acceptance. Australia followed suit, with eco funeral guide groups and local councils establishing natural burial sites in response to growing demand for sustainable burial options. Today, both countries are home to hundreds of green cemeteries, with the UK boasting over 300 certified natural burial grounds as of 2024 (Natural Death Centre).
For many families, the appeal of a woodland resting site is deeply personal. One family in Kent shared how a woodland burial for their mother offered solace: “We walked through bluebells to her grave, surrounded by birdsong. It felt gentle, peaceful—like a true return to nature.” Such experiences are increasingly common as more people seek meaningful, environmentally responsible farewells.
Eco burial statistics reflect this shift. In 2023, the UK saw a 20% year-on-year rise in natural burials, with over 10,000 green funerals conducted (Good Funeral Guide). Australia reports similar trends, with green burial grounds expanding in every state. This surge is driven by environmental motivations: green burials improve soil health, support local biodiversity, and eliminate toxins associated with conventional funerals. They also align with broader public values—recent surveys show that 70% of Britons now consider climate-positive funerals and low-impact funeral options when planning end-of-life arrangements.
As society’s focus shifts towards sustainable afterlife choices, green burials stand out as a compassionate, practical response—honouring both loved ones and the planet.
2. The Process: Simple Green Burial Steps and Organic Burial Details
A green burial in 2025 is designed to return the body gently to the earth, minimising environmental impact and honouring life’s natural cycle. The process is straightforward, compassionate, and increasingly accessible across the UK and Australia.
Step-by-Step: From Paperwork to Final Committal
Legal Arrangements: The process begins with securing the necessary organic burial permit and complying with environmental burial law. Green cemeteries and woodland burial grounds guide families through the required documentation.
Eco-Friendly Preparation: Unlike traditional funerals, green burial involves no embalming. Instead, natural cooling or formaldehyde-free solutions are used, preserving the body without harmful chemicals.
Biodegradable Materials: The deceased is placed in a biodegradable coffin, natural shroud, or even a tree pod burial. Only sustainable, non-toxic materials are permitted, in line with green burial certification standards.
Transport and Committal: The body is transported using low-carbon methods where possible, such as electric hearses or local conveyance, reducing fossil fuel use. The committal takes place in a woodland burial site or memorial garden, with the grave hand-dug to minimise disturbance.
Natural Grave Markers: Options and Emotional Resonance
Instead of traditional headstones, natural grave markers such as engraved stones, wooden plaques, or native plants are chosen. These blend seamlessly with the landscape, creating a living memorial and supporting local biodiversity. Families often find these markers deeply meaningful, as they reflect a commitment to sustainability and remembrance.
The Low-Impact Funeral: Embalming Alternatives and Legality
Green funerals avoid embalming fluids, opting for natural cooling or essential oil-based solutions. This approach is fully legal in the UK and Australia as of 2025, provided local cemetery guidelines are followed. The focus remains on a low-impact funeral with minimal carbon footprint.
Family Tips: Personalising the Eco Memorial
Arrange viewings or simple outdoor ceremonies with music and readings.
Choose an eco memorial service in nature, fostering connection and peace.
Consider a digital memorial—such as the Evaheld green burial memorial—to celebrate a life online, reducing waste and offering a lasting, accessible tribute.
3. What Lies Beneath: Materials Used—From Biodegradable Coffins to Natural Shrouds
Central to the natural burial process is the use of materials that return gently to the earth. Unlike traditional funerals, which often involve metal caskets and concrete vaults, green burial 2025 options prioritise sustainability and minimal environmental impact. The choice of materials is not only a matter of eco-consciousness but also a reflection of personal values and local regulations.
Biodegradable Coffin Materials
Eco-friendly coffins are crafted from a range of natural, renewable materials. Popular choices in the UK and Australia include:
Willow: Hand-woven willow coffins are both beautiful and sturdy, breaking down naturally without leaving toxins.
Cardboard: Affordable and lightweight, cardboard coffins are often made from recycled materials and can be customised with natural dyes.
Wool: Woollen coffins, lined with organic cotton, offer a soft, warm alternative and are fully compostable.
Untreated FSC-certified Wood: Sustainably sourced pine or oak, left untreated, ensures a low-impact return to the soil.
Prices vary widely: a simple cardboard coffin may cost as little as £250, while hand-crafted willow or wool options can range from £600 to £1,200, depending on supplier and design (Eco Funeral Guide UK 2024).
Eco Coffin Suppliers: UK & AU
Leading eco coffin suppliers such as Ecoffins, The Natural Coffin Company, and Green Endings (UK), as well as LifeArt and Living Legacy (Australia), offer certified products. Always check for FSC certification or equivalent to ensure materials are responsibly sourced.
Natural Shroud Burial: A Practice Revived
Shroud burial, an ancient tradition, is experiencing a revival. Organic cotton, linen, or wool shrouds—sometimes with a simple wooden board for support—allow for direct, intimate contact with the earth. This option is increasingly popular for those seeking a simple green burial and is often less expensive than a coffin.
Biodegradable Urns & Human Composting
For ashes, biodegradable urns made from salt, sand, or recycled paper are accepted at most green burial grounds. In Australia, emerging human composting sites also require fully organic containers.
Sustainable Grave Markers & Tree Pods
Instead of stone monuments, many choose wooden markers, natural boulders, or living memorials such as trees or wildflowers. Tree pod burial—where remains nourish a newly planted tree—is gaining interest as a sustainable afterlife option.
Spotting Certified Materials & Avoiding Greenwashing
Look for Natural Burial Ground Association or Green Burial Council certification. Avoid products with plastic, metal, or chemical finishes. Always ask for proof of eco credentials to ensure your choices are genuinely green.
4. The Green Ledger: Costs, Comparisons, and Green Funeral Planning 2025
Understanding the financial side of green burial in 2025 is essential for families seeking both sustainability and transparency. Costs can vary widely, depending on location, provider, and chosen services. Below is a clear breakdown of what to expect in the UK and Australia, and how green funeral planning is evolving.
Green Burial Cost 2025 UK & AU vs. Traditional Funerals
In 2025, a traditional funeral in the UK averages £4,800–£5,500, including embalming, a hardwood coffin, and a standard cemetery plot. In contrast, a green burial typically ranges from £1,800–£3,200 in the UK and AUD $3,000–$5,000 in Australia. This covers a biodegradable coffin or shroud, natural grave preparation, and a simple woodland or memorial garden plot, with no embalming or concrete vaults required.
Green Cemetery Cost by Location
Woodland Burial UK 2025: Plots cost £800–£1,500, depending on region and site popularity.
Memorial Garden Burial: Slightly higher, £1,200–£2,000, often including a tree or wildflower planting.
Local Green Cemeteries: Community-run sites may offer plots from £700, with limited memorial options.
Price Comparisons: What’s Included?
Plot: Single-use, no concrete liner.
Coffin/Shroud: Biodegradable options (£350–£800), or eco shrouds (£200–£500).
Memorial Products: Natural markers, wildflower seeds, or tree saplings (£50–£300).
Hidden Fees: Some providers charge for grave preparation, paperwork, or eco-certification (£100–£400).
Eco Funeral Homes: Pricing & Transparency
Eco funeral homes are increasingly upfront with itemised quotes and green burial certification. Many offer package deals, including carbon-neutral transport, biodegradable urns, and digital memorials. Always request a full breakdown to avoid unexpected costs.
Low-Carbon Burial Methods & Carbon Offset Funerals
Some providers now offer carbon offsetting—such as tree planting or supporting conservation projects—for an additional £50–£200. While this may slightly raise the total, it helps families achieve a climate-positive funeral.
Affordable Sustainable Memorial Ideas
Wildflower seed packets for guests
Handmade natural grave markers
Digital memorials (free or low-cost)
Community tree planting in memory
Green funeral planning in 2025 offers a range of affordable, transparent, and environmentally responsible options for every family and budget.
5. Environmental Benefits—and the Curveballs: Law, Certification, and Surprising Consequences
Green burials are widely celebrated for their positive environmental impact, but the path to a truly sustainable farewell is shaped by evolving laws, certification standards, and a few unexpected twists. As of 2025, both the UK and Australia have updated their environmental burial laws to encourage natural burial practices, while also ensuring public health and land conservation. In the UK, the Natural Death Centre and Association of Natural Burial Grounds set clear guidelines for eco-friendly interments, while Australia’s Green Burial Council and state regulations provide similar frameworks.
Environmental Burial Law: Legality and Updates in 2025
Legal requirements for green burials now focus on the use of biodegradable coffins, natural shrouds, and the prohibition of embalming chemicals. Cemeteries must demonstrate land stewardship, protect groundwater, and maintain records for organic burial permits. In both countries, new legislation supports the expansion of woodland burial sites and memorial gardens, making it easier for families to choose low-impact funeral options.
Green Burial Certification: Meeting Rigorous Standards
Certification is crucial for ensuring that providers meet strict environmental criteria. Accredited eco funeral homes and cemeteries must:
Use only natural casket materials and biodegradable urns
Limit grave markers to natural or renewable products
Implement habitat restoration and conservation plans
These standards are regularly audited, giving families confidence in their sustainable afterlife choices.
Biodiversity Boosts: Natural Burial Grounds as Wildlife Havens
Natural burial grounds often double as protected habitats, supporting wildflowers, pollinators, and native fauna. Many UK woodland burial sites have become vital corridors for biodiversity, with conservation-focused cemeteries planting native trees and wildflower meadows as living memorials.
Curveball: Travel-Related Carbon and Local Choices
One surprising consequence is the location of many green cemeteries in rural areas. While these sites offer peace and natural beauty, they can increase travel-related carbon emissions for mourners. The eco funeral guide tip: seek local green cemeteries or advocate for new sites closer to urban centres to reduce overall environmental impact.
Trends and Hypotheticals: The Wildflower Revolution
Eco deathcare is evolving, with climate-positive funeral projects, carbon offset funeral options, and carbon-neutral funeral planning gaining traction. If green burial becomes mainstream, conservation-focused cemeteries could spark a “wildflower revolution”—transforming landscapes across the UK and Australia into thriving, sustainable memorial gardens.
6. Alternative Eco Burials: Human Composting, Water Cremation, and 'Wild Card' Memorials
As sustainable end-of-life choices evolve, alternative eco burials are gaining attention alongside traditional green burial in 2025. These innovative approaches offer new ways to honour life while reducing environmental impact, each with unique legal, ecological, and cultural considerations in the UK and Australia.
Human Composting vs Green Burial: Legal Status and Future Prospects
Human composting, or natural organic reduction, transforms the body into nutrient-rich soil through controlled decomposition. While legal in several US states, it remains prohibited in the UK and Australia as of 2025, with campaigners urging legislative change. In contrast, green burial—using biodegradable coffins or shrouds in natural settings—is fully legal and increasingly popular in both countries. Advocates highlight that human composting could further reduce carbon emissions and land use, but regulatory frameworks must adapt before it becomes a mainstream option.
Resomation (Water Cremation): Legal Status and Uptake
Resomation, also known as water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis, uses water and alkali to accelerate natural decomposition. This process produces significantly less CO2 than flame cremation. In Australia, resomation is permitted in some states and is slowly gaining uptake, particularly in eco funeral homes. In the UK, regulatory approval is pending, though several funeral providers are preparing to offer it once permitted. Families seeking a low-impact funeral are watching this space closely as resomation promises a gentle, environmentally responsible alternative.
Tree Pod Burial and Organic Resting Places
Tree pod burial, where remains are placed in a biodegradable pod beneath a young tree, symbolises renewal and legacy. While not yet widely available in the UK or Australia, pilot projects and woodland burial sites are exploring this concept. These organic resting places blend art, ecology, and remembrance, offering a living memorial that supports local biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
Eco Memorial Service Options and 'Wild Card' Endings
Outdoor poetry walks or nature vigils in green cemeteries
Virtual memorials—such as creating a free eco memorial at Evaheld
Memorial gardens, wildflower plantings, or reef ball burials for marine conservation
Imperfect, creative, or unconventional farewells—like biodegradable urns that float or dissolve, or memorial tattoos using ashes—reflect the growing desire for sustainable, personal, and meaningful goodbyes. These options demonstrate the breadth of environmentally responsible memorials now available for families planning a green funeral in 2025.
7. Choosing a Provider: How to Find an Environmentally Friendly Funeral Service in 2025
As interest in green burial options grows, selecting a truly environmentally friendly funeral provider in 2025 requires careful research and thoughtful questions. The eco funeral sector has expanded rapidly, but not all services labelled ‘green’ meet the highest standards of sustainability. Families seeking a natural burial process should look for funeral homes and cemeteries that hold recognised green burial certification, such as the UK’s Natural Death Centre or the Green Burial Council in Australia. These certifications ensure providers adhere to strict environmental criteria, from biodegradable coffin use to sustainable land management.
Transparency is key. Reputable eco funeral homes will clearly display certification logos and provide full details about their green burial price comparison, including costs for biodegradable coffins, natural shroud burial, and woodland burial plots. Ask about the provenance of natural burial materials—are coffins, urns, and grave markers made from locally sourced, renewable resources? Providers should welcome questions and offer tours of their woodland burial grounds, allowing families to see first-hand the low-impact funeral practices in place.
When planning a sustainable afterlife, it’s vital to balance emotional needs with environmental priorities. Some families may prefer a local green cemetery to minimise travel and carbon emissions, while others might consider city-based alternatives if accessibility is a concern. Comparing the carbon savings of local woodland resting sites versus traditional cemeteries can help inform this choice. Additionally, digital platforms like Evaheld offer green burial memorial services and support, enabling families to create free eco memorials and coordinate low-carbon funeral arrangements online—an increasingly popular option for those seeking sustainable end-of-life choices in 2025.
Vetting green claims is essential. Look for open communication, transparent pricing, and a willingness to answer questions such as: What is the environmental impact of your burial process? Are your coffins and shrouds certified biodegradable? How do you manage land to promote biodiversity? Do you offer carbon offset funeral options? Responsible providers will be happy to share this information and guide families through simple green burial steps.
Ultimately, choosing an environmentally friendly funeral service in 2025 means prioritising certified eco funeral homes, verifying the origins of burial materials, and weighing the benefits of local green cemeteries. With the right provider, families can honour their loved ones with a natural farewell that reflects both compassion and a commitment to the planet.
