Get Started on Green Funeral Planning

In the era of growing sustainability and environmental consciousness, many individuals are considering ways to reduce their carbon footprint even at the time of their death. An increasingly popular choice among residents in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, green burials in Minnesota (MN), have gained significant attention, offering eco-friendly burials that honor both the life lived and the planet. 

Green funeral planning entails comprehensive pre-burial arrangements that focus on utilizing biodegradable materials such as green burial caskets and mitigating the environmental impact typically associated with traditional burial methods. Unlike traditional funeral services, green funerals eliminate the use of embalming fluids, concrete, and hardwoods favoring more natural burial options.

Natural burial planning allows you to plan an eco-friendly funeral in advance or at the time of need, which reduces the impact on the environment, providing an excellent alternative to the common burial options offered by most funeral homes. 

The green burial benefits extend beyond just preserving the environment; they also offer a unique, personalized, and meaningful way to celebrate a life. From green cemeteries to green burial options, such eco-friendly approaches, including water cremation services, aim to alleviate the strain on our planet. Funeral and memorial services have begun to shift focus to emphasize the environmental legacy left behind, therefore, making a funeral plan that considers the environmental impact essential.

Three types of green funeral planning; 

• Preplanning is done in advance (also known as pre-need) this is when the death is anticipated to happen a year or more in the future 
• Imminent planning is when someone is terminally ill and the death is expected within the next year
• At-need planning happens when a death has occurred
  

If someone is currently in an at-need situation and a death has occurred, the best way to start planning a green funeral is with a phone call to Interra at 651-774-9797. No pressure, no obligation, just talk with a licensed green burial specialist and start figuring out how you want to proceed and what services you're interested in.

Do I need to call the funeral home in the week before someone dies? It is not necessary. What our professionals at Interra suggest to families facing the death of a loved one is to make the most of the sacred few days you have left with your person, your time is better spent with them than with us. 

That said, if it will bring you peace of mind to talk through a preliminary plan and know we’ll be ready when the call comes, you can absolutely reach out, but it’s not necessary. Our phone is answered by a live person 24/7 so we will be there when you call.

For any adult, now is the right time to start planning your green funeral. If you have not made your wishes for an eco-friendly funeral known, it’s likely that no one will be there to advocate for one, greatly increasing the chance that your survivors will go to the nearest funeral home which will probably provide traditional service. 

Pre-planning is particularly important when choosing an ecological disposition because green funerals are a specialization within the funeral profession that few funeral homes can and will successfully provide. In February 2023 Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial became the only funeral home in the state of Minnesota certified by the nation Green Burial Council. We know how to plan your natural burial.

At the time of death things happen pretty quickly and decisions for a green service must be made in a short window of time. For a funeral home without thermal preservation (cooler* or dry ice) an unembalmed body must be buried or cremated within 72 hours. You can imagine how much easier it is for survivors when they know exactly what you want right away and have only one phone call to make.

Once you have a plan in place the final step is to fund it. This is by no means required, but it is the surest way to know for certain the resources will be there to fund your final act of ecological responsibility. 

You have the option of starting to pre-plan and fund a green burial online, right now. Just click the “Make Arrangements Online” button at the top of the Interra homepage, and you can go through step by step to make your green burial plan. If you can’t decide on something or have questions during the process, call us at 651-774-9797 and we can talk you through it.

Minnesota green burial laws are very clearly written so that the funds you set aside with Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial are fully protected. The way we protect your money is by placing it in an irrevocable insurance policy, payable upon death, to “any funeral home as interest may appear”. 

What that means is if Mueller Memorial closed up shop, or burned down, or if you move out of state or just pick a different funeral care provider, ALL the funds you set aside can be put toward ANY funeral home you choose. Unlike some other states, Minnesota law has it set up so you can know the funds for your green burial are 100 percent protected.

What type of green disposition do you want? Interra can provide green burial, aquamation, or human composting in Minnesota and western Wisconsin Location.

• Which green disposition options are available in your area?
• Do you want permanent memorialization? Cemetery, garden, tree, conservation preserve? If aquamation, what should be done with your ashes?
• do you already have a cemetery plot and where is it? are you entitled to a veteran’s plot at a national cemetery? 
• Does the input or opinion of your survivors matter? Is there a green burial practice they would disagree with? 
• Do you want any ceremony or religion involved? Would you like to have a hosted celebration, memorial, meal, picnic, reception, or other gathering?
• Is there an organic craft or contribution you would like involved? 
• Would you like flowers, branches, or garlands buried with you? 
• For green burial would you want a biodegradable casket or a carrier?
• Would you like to be buried in biodegradable clothing or just a shroud?
• Do you have your vital statistics information readily available?
• Have you written down your plan and presented a copy to your next of kin? (Include link for preplanning workbook)

Failure to Plan Is a Plan to Fail

The path to planning an eco-friendly funeral and natural burial in MN provides a thoughtful approach to the natural end of every person’s life. Green funeral options, from green burial caskets to the choice of green cemeteries, make it possible to lower our carbon footprint even in death, promoting the cycle of life while respecting the environment. 

The growing popularity of green burials and eco-friendly funeral services in Minnesota is a testament to the shift towards environmentally friendly practices. The beauty of green funeral planning lies not only in its positive impact on the environment but also in its symbolic value: a tribute to life's ephemeral nature and a profound respect for the planet that sustained us. 

By opting for green burial options over traditional burial methods, we can make a lasting contribution to preserving the environment, proving that our commitment to an eco-friendly lifestyle transcends our earthly existence. 

Making a green burial plan in advance creates the opportunity to reduce our environmental impact - through biodegradable materials and avoiding the use of harsh chemicals - underscoring the significant role each one of us plays in safeguarding our planet for future generations.

*(Most family-owned funeral homes in Minnesota do not have a cooler, Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial does, so we can accommodate up to six days before final disposition must be accomplished.)

Common Questions