What are natural burial caskets made out of?

Natural burial caskets are usually made from materials like willow, seagrass, bamboo, wool felt, cotton, banana leaves, and reclaimed or sustainably harvested wood, such as pine.

How much do natural burial caskets cost?

The cost of green burial shrouds, carriers, or caskets ranges from $550 to $2,300 or more, which is generally less expensive than traditional burial caskets that range from $1,300 to over $4,000.

What is the best type of natural burial casket?

The best green burial casket is one that is sustainably sourced, ethically manufactured, and completely biodegradable. It should be sturdy and well-constructed. The Green Burial Council lists certified green burial casket providers on their website.

What are natural burial caskets made out of?

Natural burial caskets are usually made from materials like willow, seagrass, bamboo, wool felt, cotton, banana leaves, and reclaimed or sustainably harvested wood, such as pine.

How much do natural burial caskets cost?

The cost of green burial shrouds, carriers, or caskets ranges from $550 to $2,300 or more, which is generally less expensive than traditional burial caskets that range from $1,300 to over $4,000.

What is the best type of natural burial casket?

The best green burial casket is one that is sustainably sourced, ethically manufactured, and completely biodegradable. It should be sturdy and well-constructed. The Green Burial Council lists certified green burial casket providers on their website.

Are Natural Burials an Option in Minnesota?

Natural burials are an option in Minnesota. The state has several natural and hybrid burial grounds, and Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial is certified by the Green Burial Council to provide this service. Although there was a two-year moratorium issued in 2023 on creating new green cemeteries for further study, natural burials can still be performed. The moratorium results are expected in 2025, when it is set to expire.

What is Flameless Cremation?

Flameless cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis or water cremation, is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional flame cremation. This process uses a combination of water flow, temperature, and alkalinity to accelerate natural tissue disintegration, resulting in cremated remains that can be buried, kept in an urn, placed at a conservation tree, or scattered.

How Does Flameless Cremation Work?

In flameless cremation, the body is placed in a pressure vessel and submerged in a solution of 95% water and 5% potassium hydroxide and/or sodium hydroxide. The vessel is heated to 200-300 degrees Fahrenheit, which is lower than the temperatures used in traditional flame cremations.

Is Flameless Cremation Environmentally Friendly?

Flameless cremation is significantly more environmentally friendly than traditional methods. It uses lower temperatures, does not burn propane or natural gas, and reduces carbon emissions.

Is Flameless Cremation Safe and Legal?

Flameless cremation is both safe and legal. It ensures environmentally responsible handling of remains, allows for the extraction and recycling of medical implants, and has been legal in Minnesota since its endorsement by the Mayo Clinic for its ecological benefits and efficient handling of medical implants.

How Much Does Flameless Cremation Cost?

The cost of flameless cremation varies by location and funeral home but is generally comparable to or slightly higher than traditional cremation. The specialized equipment and reduced environmental impact often justify the cost for many families.

What is a Natural Burial?

A natural burial is an eco-friendly funeral practice that allows the body to return to the earth in an environmentally conscious manner. It minimizes the use of chemicals, like embalming fluids, and avoids materials like concrete used in traditional burial vaults. By forgoing these practices, natural burial conserves resources, prevents pollution, and reduces carbon footprint.

What is a Natural Burial Option?

Natural burial options include choices for an eco-friendly burial, such as using natural burial caskets, selecting a green burial site, or integrating cremated remains into natural burial grounds.

What is a Natural Burial Cemetery?

A natural burial cemetery, like Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, is specifically designed for natural burials. These cemeteries have minimal environmental impact and often resemble natural landscapes rather than traditional cemeteries.

How Many Burials Do Not Involve Embalming?

This leaves 885,320 burials with possible embalming. According to former Green Burial Council President, Ed Bixby it’s estimated that 8% of people choose green burials. (3) Whether that includes those people buried without embalming in the Jewish and Muslim traditions, he did not specify, but if we’re generous and say it is 8% of people already choosing burial and are in addition to Jewish and Muslim burials, that would subtract another 70,825 from annual embalmings. This would mean, in the United States there are an estimated 814,500 burials with embalming per year.

How Many Gallons Of Embalming Fluid Are Used Per Person?

Roughly three gallons are used. What percentage of that is formaldehyde depends on the practitioner and what someone considers “embalming fluid”. Rarely, practitioners will use undiluted embalming solution, but the vast majority use a diluted solution.

What Is Embalming Fluid Made Of?

There are generally 16oz of concentrated embalming solution diluted with 112 oz of water to create one gallon of usable embalming fluid. So, each gallon of commonly used embalming fluid is more than 87.5% water. Each manufacturer has a proprietary formula to their 16oz concentrated embalming solution, but according to manufacturer, Dodge’s Safety Data Sheet (10) for their commonly used Metasyn Normal concentrated embalming solution, 1.6-4 oz. (10-25%) is formaldehyde, a regulated carcinogen. Other regulated substances included are up to 0.8 oz each of methanol and propylene glycol, neither of which is a regulated carcinogen.

How Much Embalming Fluid Is Used Per Body?

There is a broad rule of thumb that one gallon of embalming fluid is used per 50 pounds of body weight. But the amount of embalming fluid used also depends on the size of the person. In practice, it generally works out to an average of about 3 gallons of embalming fluid per body, of which up to 12 oz is formaldehyde.

How Many Gallons Of Embalming Fluid Are Buried Each Year In The US?

Each year an estimated 2,443,500 gallons of embalming fluid are buried in the United States. This amount is reached from an estimated 814,500 burials with embalming per year, times three gallons per body. Of those 2,443,500 gallons of embalming fluid used, there are generally up to 4 oz of formaldehyde per gallon, which means roughly 97,740 gallons of formaldehyde are buried with embalmed bodies in the US each year.

Is Green Burial Legal in Minnesota?

Yes, green burial in Minnesota is legal. The state allows for natural burials, where the body is not embalmed and can be buried in a biodegradable coffin or shroud. Minnesota hosts several green cemeteries and allows hybrid cemeteries, which accommodate both traditional and green burials.

Is Green Burial Legal in Arizona?

Snow birds might like to know that Arizona also permits green burials. The state's regulations support eco-friendly burial practices, including the use of biodegradable materials and the option to forgo embalming. This makes Arizona an accommodating place for those wishing to opt for a green burial.

Is Green Burial Illegal in Minnesota Now?

Because of a green burial law that passed in Minnesota in 2022 some people think that green burial is illegal in MN, which is incorrect. As part of the Omnibus bill that passed in 2023 there was a small piece of legislation with a bigger impact, but it did not make green burial illegal in Minnesota. What it did do is create a moratorium on new green burial cemeteries through 2025 when the law is set to expire.

Why Did the Moratorium Happen?

A small group of citizens in Northern Minnesota were upset about a green burial cemetery being established in their community and their concerns turned into legislation requiring the state to fund and study the impact of all-natural burial. It also prohibited any new green cemeteries or conservation burial grounds until July 2025. Being that green burial was the form of disposition for every interred human in history until embalming became popularized during the Civil War, we’re confident that allowing a body to naturally return to the Earth will be found to be safe.

Can I Bury Someone In My Yard?

It depends on local ordinances and how much work you’re willing to do. In Minnesota, if you want to bury a human body on private land, that land has to be identified as cemetery property in perpetuity. This also means that cemetery land would need to a permitted land use in your city’s code and also that specific funding needs to be set aside to maintain that cemetery land in perpetuity.

What is Body Composting?

Body composting, or human composting, is a process that transforms human remains into highly regenerative soil, often used in tree planting, conservation projects, gardens, or woodlands. It's part of a broader movement towards green burial services, including natural burials and other ecological burial practices. Unlike traditional burials, body composting is an environmentally friendly method that avoids the use of embalming fluids, metal caskets, concrete burial vaults, and perpetual land use.

How Does Body Composting Work?

The human composting process, scientifically referred to as natural organic reduction (NOR), involves placing the human body in a vessel with organic materials like wood chips, straw, and alfalfa. Over a span of several weeks, natural microbial activity breaks down the tissue, transforming it into a cubic yard of nutrient dense compost. This method mirrors the natural aerobic (oxygen using) decomposition process but occurs in a controlled environment. Though each NOR provider has their own specific method, Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, chair of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Washington State University, has worked with NOR advocate Katrina Spade pioneering the development and refinement the human composting process. The body, along with the organic materials and air flow, undergoes a natural, heat-producing process that accelerates decomposition while eliminating pathogens and capturing the body’s carbon. The end product is a nutrient-rich soil that can support plant growth, allowing the deceased to be returned to the earth in a meaningful way.

Is Body Composting Legal?

The legality of body composting varies by location. In the United States, it was first legalized in Washington state, setting a precedent for other states to follow. Since then, other states have been considering or have passed legislation to allow this process as a part of green burials.

What are the Benefits of Body Composting?

Body composting offers several benefits over conventional burial and cremation methods: Environmental Impact: Traditional burials often involve embalming fluids, and the manufacturing and transportation of caskets and vaults which carry a carbon footprint. Cremation consumes fuel and releases greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, local body composting produces no direct carbon emissions, sequesters the carbon from the body in the soil keeping it from entering the atmosphere, and requires significantly fewer consumable resources. Conservation: The process transforms human remains into soil that can be used to nourish the earth. It's a way of giving back to the environment, contributing to the growth of plants and the conservation of natural spaces. Cost-Effective: The human composting cost can be lower than traditional burials or cremations. While prices vary, local NOR providers are often considered a more affordable green funeral option. Emotional and Spiritual Benefits: For many, the idea of being laid to rest in a natural and meaningful way is comforting, helping to create a positive outcome from the end of their life. The process of human composting aligns with the beliefs of those who seek the continuity of simply returning to the earth. Space Conservation: In areas where burial space is limited or land is scarce, body composting offers a space-efficient alternative whole-body burial. The composted remains can return to the earth without requiring that land be designated, in perpetuity, as cemetery land.

Why Support Body Composting?

Natural organic reduction not only aligns with the principles of environmental stewardship but also offers a deeply personal and meaningful option for being laid to rest. The transformation of human remains into soil is a profound process, symbolizing the cycle of life in a tangible way. As we continue to seek sustainable and meaningful ways to say goodbye to our loved ones, body composting stands out as a beacon of hope, offering a choice that is both respectful to the departed and kind to the planet.

How Does Water Cremation Work?

In water cremation, the body is placed in a vessel filled with a water and alkali solution. The liquid in the vessel is then heated, but at a drastically lower heat than used in flame cremation. The combination of the heat, fluid movement, water, and alkali breaks down the soft tissue, leaving behind the bone material and a sterile liquid.

What is Water Cremation and How Does It Differ from Flame Cremation?

Water cremation reduces a body using water and alkali, whereas flame cremation uses combustible fossil fuels. Flame cremation involves reducing the body at very high temperatures, and water cremation uses roughly five times less heat, but both result in processed bone material or “ashes,” being returned to the family in an urn or receptacle.

Is Water Cremation More Environmentally Friendly than Flame Cremation?

Water cremation is generally considered more environmentally friendly than traditional flame cremation. It uses electricity to heat the solution and doesn’t directly emit fossil fuel exhaust into the atmosphere. Aquamation also captures the carbon from the body in the solution producing a sterile liquid that can safely be returned to the wastewater system.

Is Water Cremation More Expensive than Flame Cremation?

The cost of water cremation can vary depending on location and provider. In some cases, often it is more costly than traditional flame cremation due to the specialized equipment required and the longer processing time. However, at Interra Green Burial we want to encourage families to use this ecological cremation option, so an aquamation without services is less than Mueller Memorial’s flame cremation.

Natural Burial Caskets

Natural Burial Caskets for Green Burials

Interra offers a selection of caskets that are made entirely of sustainable, affordable, biodegradable, natural materials. The Interra selection includes caskets made of all-wood, seagrass or bamboo. All of these options have no metal or unnatural chemical adhesives.

Discovering Green Burial Caskets: An Eco-Friendly Departure

In recent years, a growing number of people have begun to question the environmental impact of traditional burial practices. In response to this growing concern and through broader environmental and sustainability concerns of our own we created our signature service, Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial, offering our neighbors in the Twin Cities comprehensive green burial choices.

Among these green burial options, natural burial caskets, or green burial caskets, stand out as an environmentally friendly choice that honors the wishes of your person, while also offering a respectful, beautiful memorial service.

Green Burial Caskets

Green burial caskets are a unique type of coffin or casket designed with sustainability in mind. A green burial casket is an eco-friendly alternative service to conventional burial or cremation options. These caskets are crafted from materials that are biodegradable, sustainably produced, and free from harmful chemicals, varnishes, or metals.

Traditionally, a casket refers to a rectangular box, while a coffin has six sides following the contours from head to shoulders to feet. However, in the context of green burial caskets, the terms 'coffin' and 'casket' are often used interchangeably. Whether you opt for a biodegradable coffin or a biodegradable casket, the goal is the same: to provide a natural burial that respects both the deceased and the environment.

The Green Burial Movement and the Funeral Industry

The green burial movement has been gaining traction worldwide, driven by individuals seeking more sustainable and meaningful end-of-life practices. To meet this growing demand, funeral directors and funeral homes are evolving and adopting practices that reduce their environmental footprint.

One such practice is the use of green caskets. In contrast to traditional burial, which often uses chemically treated wooden caskets or metal caskets as well as heavy concrete grave liners or vaults, green burial caskets are made from natural materials such as bamboo, willow, or seagrass. Some people even opt for burial shrouds, a fabric wrap used instead of a casket.

Regulation and Standardization

To assist funeral homes, families, and individuals in making informed decisions, the Green Burial Council (GBC), a nonprofit organization, has established certification standards for green burial practices. Their standards ensure that products, such as green burial caskets, are truly biodegradable, sustainably produced, and not harmful to the environment.

The GBC’s standards for certifying green burial caskets requires manufacturers to; offset the carbon impact of transporting the casket; ensure that adhesives and finishes do not create a toxic environment in their manufacturing facilities; produce caskets free from plastics, acrylics, or any similar forms of synthetic polymers; build caskets, fasteners and handles predominantly made from reclaimed, recycled, or renewable resources that are all biodegradable,

In February 2023 Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial became the only funeral home in Minnesota certified by the GBC, and the shrouds, carriers, and caskets we offer are Green Burial Council certified.

Choosing a Green Casket

When it comes to choosing a green burial casket, there are many options available. You might select a woven seagrass casket for its unique look and eco-friendly production. Perhaps a wood-looking casket made from abundantly available bamboo appeals for its simplicity and natural beauty. Or, you might consider a burial shroud and woven willow carrier for its very minimal impact on the earth.

When making your choice, remember to consider the specific requirements of your chosen green cemetery. Some cemeteries have specific guidelines regarding the types of caskets or shrouds they accept. Be sure to discuss these requirements with your Interra funeral director to make an informed decision specific to your cemetery.

The Benefits of Green Burial Caskets

Choosing a green burial casket offers several benefits. Firstly, it significantly reduces the environmental impact of a burial. Traditional burials often involve chemically treated caskets and vaults, which can impact soil and groundwater. Green caskets, being biodegradable, return to the earth naturally over time.

Secondly, green burial caskets provide a meaningful way to honor your loved ones or express your own end-of-life wishes. They reflect a commitment to preserving the planet for future generations.

Natural Burial MN

Green burial caskets are an important part of the broader green burial movement. Interra strives to make these environmentally friendly alternatives readily available to anyone in the Minneapolis St. Paul area so we can hope for a future where every memorial service respects both the departed and the world they leave behind. By choosing a green burial casket, you not only honor the life of a loved one but also show a commitment to preserving and cherishing our shared environment.

For those seeking a natural, eco-friendly departure, green burial caskets represent a choice that aligns with the values of sustainability and respect for the environment. As part of an evolving funeral industry, these biodegradable caskets offer a step towards a future where our final farewell can contribute to the health and beauty of our planet.

Common Questions

What are natural burial caskets made out of?

Natural burial caskets are usually made out of willow, seagrass, or bamboo, but can also be made of wool felt, cotton, banana leaves, and reclaimed or sustainably harvested wood, like pine.
How much do natural burial caskets cost?

A green burial shroud, carrier, or casket can cost from $550 to $2,300 or more. Traditional burial caskets generally range from $1,300 to well over $4,000.
What is the best type of natural burial caskets?

The best green burial casket is one that is certified to be sustainably sourced, ethically manufactured, and one hundred percent biodegradable. It should be well constructed from sturdy materials. The Green Burial Council has a list of high quality certified green burial casket providers on their website

Call Us 651-774-9797

About Us

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St. Paul:

835 Johnson Pkwy Ste B
St. Paul, MN 55016, USA

Phone: 651-774-9797

Fax: 651-778-9677

White Bear Lake:

4738 Bald Eagle Ave Ste B, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, USA

Phone: 651-429-4944

Fax: 651-429-7748

Mueller Memorial:

muellermemorial.com

651-774-9797

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Natural Burial Caskets

Natural Burial Caskets for Green Burials

Discovering Green Burial Caskets: An Eco-Friendly Departure

Green Burial Caskets

The Green Burial Movement and the Funeral Industry

Regulation and Standardization

Choosing a Green Casket

The Benefits of Green Burial Caskets

Natural Burial MN

Common Questions

What are natural burial caskets made out of?

How much do natural burial caskets cost?

What is the best type of natural burial caskets?