What is a Green Burial?

​

Green burial is natural burial of a body neither cremated nor treated with embalming fluids. Green, or natural, burial returns the body to the soil with only biodegradable materials that decompose readily with the body. These may include a biodegradable coffin, casket, or shroud.

​

Green burial uses no toxic chemicals, preservatives, plastics, cements, or concrete vault or outer container that would prevent the body’s return to the soil. Green burial graves are often dug by hand, but we have used the help of a machine. With respect to legal standards, the grave is shallow enough to allow microbial activity like that of composting.

Green burial conserves natural resources, reduces carbon emissions, protects public health, restores habitat, and avoids environmental damage caused by contemporary methods.

​

Green burial is a recently adopted term reflecting the burial practices of ancient and indigenous cultures, and of North Americans before the introduction of chemical embalming at the time of the Civil War.

​

Providing Green Burials is a practice consistent with our desire to be good stewards

of the earth, waterways, and the environment.

​

For more information, please read about burial options at AMC here: MC Cemetery Association Burial Options

​

If interested in Green Burial at Akron Mennonite, please contact weberjj@ptd.net or amc@akronmench.org​​​

​

​

​