A green funeral is simply a funeral arranged to minimise its impact on the environment. In practice, that means using biodegradable coffins or shrouds, avoiding embalming chemicals, choosing natural or woodland burial grounds where nature can reclaim the grave, and keeping vehicles, materials and memorials to a thoughtful minimum. Some families also apply greener choices to cremation — for example, selecting simple, recyclable coffins and reducing travel — to lower the overall footprint where burial isn’t preferred or available.
This guide explains what makes a funeral “green”, the main UK options (including natural burials and lower-impact approaches such as unattended direct cremation), and how each one works day to day. You’ll find typical price ranges, what affects costs, where to find natural burial sites and eco‑friendly providers, and clear advice on coffins, shrouds, urns, body care and legal requirements. We’ll compare environmental impacts, share ways to personalise a simple, sustainable farewell, and outline the steps to arrange one with confidence. Let’s start with the essentials.
What makes a funeral “green”?
A funeral is considered “green” when every element is chosen to minimise environmental impact while preserving dignity. In the UK, that typically means allowing nature to reclaim the resting place, avoiding chemicals and non‑biodegradable materials, and keeping the ceremony simple and low‑waste. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Biodegradable coffin or shroud: Options include willow (wicker), bamboo, seagrass, wool or cardboard.
- No embalming: Avoids formaldehyde and other chemicals.
- Natural burial grounds: Meadows or woodland settings, usually with no stone headstone; some allow a tree or simple wooden marker.
- Natural tributes: Unwrapped, compostable flowers and biodegradable keepsakes.
- Lower‑impact cremation choices: Simple, recyclable coffin and minimal transport if burial isn’t preferred.
Types of green funerals in the UK
A green funeral in the UK can be as simple or as natural as you want, from full woodland burial to making lower‑impact choices around a cremation. The common thread is biodegradable materials, no embalming, and gentle, nature‑friendly settings or tributes that avoid permanent stone memorials.
- Natural or woodland burial: Interment in meadows or woodland, biodegradable coffin or shroud, minimal or no marker.
- Greener cremation (including direct cremation): Simple, recyclable coffin, minimal transport; ashes returned, scattered, or interred in dedicated natural areas where permitted.
- Traditional service with eco choices: Biodegradable coffin, natural flowers, low‑waste tributes, and no chemical embalming.
Green burial (natural or woodland burial): how it works
A green burial—also called natural or woodland burial—keeps everything simple and biodegradable. The grave is opened in a meadow or woodland, there is no embalming, and a biodegradable coffin or shroud is used (willow, seagrass, wool or cardboard). You may hold a religious or non‑religious ceremony wherever you wish; plots are usually on unconsecrated ground but can be individually consecrated. At the graveside the coffin is lowered, natural tributes are placed, and the grave is backfilled. Most sites don’t permit stone headstones; some allow a tree or modest wooden marker, or rely on a site map for visits. In many soils, the body returns to the earth within about two years.
Direct cremation as a greener, low-cost option
Direct cremation is an unattended cremation without a ceremony at the crematorium. By removing the service, families avoid multiple vehicles, large floral tributes and printed orders of service, and can hold a personal memorial later in a place and style that suits them. With a simple, recyclable coffin and minimal transport, the overall footprint can be lower than a full funeral while keeping costs down.
- Fewer journeys: No mourners travelling to a crematorium means reduced transport.
- No embalming or viewing: Typically unnecessary, avoiding chemicals and extra materials.
- Simple, eco coffin: Paired with a basic ashes container; ashes can be scattered in a garden of remembrance or at natural sites that allow it.
Coffins, shrouds and urns: sustainable choices
What you choose to place or return a loved one to nature in has a big impact on how “green” the funeral is. Natural burial grounds typically require fully biodegradable options and keep materials simple, avoiding chemicals and non‑natural finishes. Aim for items that safely break down and return nutrients to the soil.
- Biodegradable coffins: Willow (wicker), bamboo, seagrass, wool or cardboard, with natural linings and no synthetic finishes.
- Shrouds: Simple wool, cotton or linen shrouds (often with a plain board) for the most minimal approach.
- Urns: Cardboard, wood or other natural fibre urns for burial; choose plain, unvarnished finishes where possible.
- Check site rules: Many natural grounds specify acceptable materials and may refuse coffins with metal or plastic fittings.
Embalming, body care and legal requirements
In a green funeral, chemical embalming is avoided; for natural burials it usually isn’t permitted. Care is simple and dignified: washing and preparation only, with the person placed in a biodegradable coffin or natural‑fibre shroud. Most natural burial grounds are unconsecrated, though you may ask a faith leader to consecrate the individual plot, and the ceremony can be held at a venue of your choice or by the graveside. You’ll still complete the usual funeral paperwork, and some options involve specific steps (for example, removing certain medical devices for cremation).
Availability: where to find natural burial sites and eco options
Green options are widely available. There are over 200 natural burial sites across the UK, often kept as wildflower meadows or woodland. Because rules differ (markers, tree planting, coffin materials), visit and confirm what’s allowed first. A local funeral director can point you to the nearest ground; some sites also offer areas for interring or scattering ashes. Greener cremation choices, including unattended direct cremation with a simple, recyclable coffin and gardens of remembrance for ashes, are offered nationwide, with collection across mainland England, Scotland and Wales.
Costs: typical price ranges and what affects them
Green funeral costs in the UK vary by choice of burial or cremation and the simplicity of the arrangements. Natural or woodland burials usually involve a plot fee plus interment and any permitted memorial or maintenance charges. Greener cremation — especially unattended direct cremation — is typically lower cost than a full service because there’s no ceremony at the crematorium, fewer vehicles and simpler materials. Most providers set a clear base price and then add only for specific circumstances or optional extras.
- Burial plot and interment fees: Set by each natural burial ground.
- Coffin, shroud and urn: Biodegradable materials vary in price.
- Transport and timing: Distance, out‑of‑hours or urgent home collection can add cost.
- Care requirements: No embalming (saving fees); medical device removal for cremation may be chargeable.
- Ashes choices: Scattering in a garden of remembrance may be included; personal delivery and designer urns cost more.
- Optional elements: Officiant, venue hire, flowers and printed orders of service (if you choose to have a ceremony) increase spend.
Environmental impact: how options compare
The lowest‑impact funerals keep chemicals, materials and travel to a minimum. Natural or woodland burials avoid embalming, use biodegradable coffins or shrouds, and return the grave to meadow or woodland managed for nature; in many soils, the body nourishes the ground within about two years. If burial isn’t preferred, choosing an unattended direct cremation with a simple, recyclable coffin and no ceremony travel can meaningfully reduce transport and materials compared with a full, attended service.
- Natural/woodland burial: No embalming; biodegradable coffin/shroud; no stone headstone; wildlife‑friendly setting.
- Direct cremation (greener cremation): Unattended; fewer journeys; simple coffin; ashes scattered in a garden of remembrance or personally returned.
- Conventional cremation with service: More travel, flowers and printed items; impact depends on the choices made.
- Traditional burial with headstone: Often includes embalming and permanent stone memorialisation; fewer biodegradable elements.
Personalising a green funeral with minimal footprint
Personalising a green funeral is about meaningful, low‑impact choices. At a woodland grave, at home, or after a direct cremation, simple nature‑friendly touches can be deeply personal. Focus on what mattered to them, keep travel light, and let nature lead the tone.
- Natural tributes: Unwrapped seasonal flowers and dried petals; biodegradable items only.
- Gentle memorials: Choose a wooden plaque if allowed, or dedicate a tree in a site’s copse where planting on the grave isn’t permitted.
How to arrange a green funeral step by step
Planning a green funeral is mostly about simple, natural choices made early on. Keep the focus on biodegradable materials, no embalming, and low‑impact travel, then build a dignified farewell around those principles.
- Set priorities and budget: Decide what “green” means for you and what you can spend.
- Choose the route: Natural/woodland burial or a greener cremation (including unattended direct cremation).
- Check availability and rules: Visit sites, confirm markers, coffin materials and tree‑planting policies; for cremation, confirm ashes options.
- Select a provider: Ask for biodegradable coffins/shrouds and no embalming as standard.
- Complete paperwork: Follow usual legal steps; note medical device removal for cremation. Plots can be individually consecrated if desired.
- Pick coffin/shroud/urn: Choose fully biodegradable, site‑approved materials.
- Plan the ceremony or memorial: Graveside or later celebration; natural flowers, minimal vehicles, no plastic.
- Arrange aftercare: Record grave location/map; agree ashes scattering or personal return.
Benefits and drawbacks to consider
Choosing a green funeral means weighing values, budget and practicalities. Natural burial and lower‑impact cremation both keep things simple and dignified, but site rules, access and memorial choices differ. Here are the main upsides and trade‑offs families tell us matter most.
- Lower impact: No embalming; biodegradable coffin or shroud.
- Simpler, often cheaper: Fewer vehicles; direct cremation cuts costs.
- Limited memorials: No stone headstones; tree planting often restricted.
- Access considerations: Rural sites; visits rely on maps or modest markers.
- Rules and fees vary: Approved materials only; plot/interment costs differ by site.
Emerging options and future availability in the UK
Interest in eco funerals is accelerating in the UK. With over 200 natural burial sites already open, access is broad and many providers now offer biodegradable coffins and simpler, low‑impact services such as unattended direct cremation. New technologies (for example, human composting in parts of the US and water cremation) are being explored but aren’t widely available here yet. Check local rules and availability; for now, natural burial and greener cremation remain the practical routes.
Key takeaways and next steps
A green funeral keeps impact low by using biodegradable materials, avoiding embalming, and limiting travel and memorials. In the UK, your practical choices are natural/woodland burial or a lower‑impact cremation such as unattended direct cremation. Costs vary by route and rules; direct cremation is usually cheapest, and natural burial is widely available via dedicated sites.
- Pick biodegradable coffin/shroud; avoid embalming unless absolutely required.
- Confirm rules and fees; check markers, materials and ashes options.
Prefer a simple, lower‑impact unattended cremation? Contact Go Direct Cremations: Arrange a direct cremation.