Instead, flat rocks, plants or trees may serve as grave markers."

Holding the service soon after the death (within 48 hours) also minimizes the need for preservation.

This reduces the exposure of funeral home workers to formaldehyde, as well as its leaching into the environment.

Flowers in a Forest

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No metal fasteners, such as screws or nails, or metal hardware should be used.

Finally, a green-burial setting is not maintained by a landscaping crew but instead appears as it would naturally.

A traditional grave marker or headstone is generally not allowed.

Survivors may choose to have the deceased’s name and birth/death dates engraved upon it.

One large drawback of green burial is that there are limited options for where it is allowed.

Traditional burial is usually available closer to where the deceased is located.

However, like green burial, embalming is not necessary before cremation.

How Green Is Your Valley?

Fortunately, interest in green or natural burial is growing so the amount of information available is increasing.

when you obtain envisioned what you want, you should share your plan with your family or loved ones.

National Funeral Directors Association.Green funerals and burial.

Green Burial Council.FAQs: Green burial defined.