Sustainability After Death? Consider a Green Burial
Our relationship to the earth doesn’t end at death. From spreading ashes to our caskets and bodies biodegrading six feet under, it’s important to consider sustainability.
Eco-friendly burials and other alternative methods to memorials are nothing new. There are several options people have these days to consider the planet when it comes to death preparation. For more traditional methods, you can avoid toxic embalming, use biodegradable materials for caskets, or alkaline hydrolysis instead of cremation. Some are also turning to human composting and non-traditional markers like native rocks and trees.
Some places, like Japan, are employing technology to normalize digital memories and burials.
With more possibilities than ever for green funerals, two members of the Green Business Network offer these services and want to encourage people to consider all of the options.
Below, both businesses, Setas Eternal Living and Passages International, share some insights.
Regenerative Burial: A Better Ending for People and the Planet
Photo: Provided
When most people think about funerals, they don’t think about the environmental impact. Traditional burials rely on steel, concrete, and embalming chemicals. Cremation, while common, releases greenhouse gases and toxins into the atmosphere. Both practices leave a lasting carbon footprint at the very moment we should be leaving behind a legacy of care.
Green funerals offer another path, one that honors both people and the planet. At their core, they return the body to the earth in a natural cycle, without toxins or heavy resource use. Families who choose this path often describe it as both healing and hopeful: a way to align their values with their final act.
At Setas Eternal Living, we’ve taken this further by introducing regenerative burial through our product, MyCoffin. Grown from mycelium, hemp, and water, each coffin is fully biodegradable and carbon-negative. Instead of consuming resources, it sequesters over 1,300 pounds of carbon. Each unit not only prevents pollution, it actively helps repair the earth.
Our process mirrors regenerative agriculture. Just as regenerative farmers heal soil by working with natural systems, we grow coffins that give back more than they take. This is the heart of regenerative burial: transforming grief into renewal, and endings into beginnings.
“Every choice we make, even at the end of life, can help heal the earth. ”
The Green Business Network plays a key role in supporting this movement. For us, GBN means more than membership, it means standing in solidarity with other organizations committed to building a future where business serves both people and planet. Sharing a platform alongside fellow leaders like Passages International underscores the strength and urgency of this mission.
Regenerative burial is not just an alternative; it’s a better ending for all.
To learn more, download our study here: setaseternalliving.com/study.
Dr. Max Justice
Author and Creator of MyCoffin
CEO, Setas Eternal Living
Honoring Life, Naturally: A Look at Green Funerals
Photo: Provided
As more people embrace sustainability in their daily lives, it’s no surprise that end-of-life choices are evolving as well. Green or Natural funerals as they are sometimes known are a growing movement focused on minimizing environmental impact while honoring loved ones with intention and care. According to the 2024 National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Consumer Preferences & Awareness Study, 68% of those surveyed showed interest in green funeral services.
Unlike conventional funerals, which often involve embalming chemicals, metal caskets, and concrete vaults, green funerals prioritize simplicity, natural materials, and biodegradability. These services may include burial in a natural or hybrid cemetery, scattering cremated remains in a meaningful location, or interring urns and caskets made from renewable resources.
At Passages International, we’ve been pioneering the green funeral movement since 1999. Our mission is to provide beautiful, sustainable, and healing alternatives that align with the values of today’s environmentally conscious families. From biodegradable urns and caskets to scattering tubes and our digital memorial map called Etern.life, every product we offer is crafted with care, often using renewable or certified Fair Trade materials.
We partner with funeral homes around the world to meet the growing demand for greener choices. Our products are not only better for the environment, they also offer funeral professionals an opportunity to connect with modern families seeking values and experience-based solutions.
“Our work is guided by a deep respect for the planet and the people we serve.”
As proud members of the Green Business Network for many years, we align ourselves with other mission-driven organizations working toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.
As the conversation around eco-conscious living extends to end-of-life choices, we’re honored to provide options that reflect care and respect for both people and the planet. Green funerals are more than a trend, they’re a reflection of a changing culture. At Passages, we’re proud to lead the way by offering alternatives that are healing, heartfelt, and environmentally responsible.
Darren Crouch
President & Co-Founder, Passages International