Just the title of this post alone is proof positive that things are changing with funeral services. Not long ago eco-friendliness was not a consideration at all, and the term death care was rarely used. Now the discussion is changing and funeral services that are better for the environment are a top focus.
And we’re not just talking about the expansion of water cremation and natural organic reduction. While those eco-friendly services are becoming more readily available and changing the conception of disposition, there are many other ways death care is becoming more green at all levels. Even those who prefer traditional burial have ways to make the process more green now.
We fully support every step that is taken to green up the funeral industry. Even small steps are bringing us in the right direction. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the latest trends in eco-friendly death care to get a better gauge of where things are headed.
The Biggest Overall Trend: Green Burial Service is Exploding in Growth
One of the biggest stories in the funeral service industry in 2025 is how rapidly the green burial sector is growing. We’ve discussed in the past how consumer demand for green death care options is growing and the industry will need to adapt to meet that demand. Well, the funeral industry certainly got the message and is now responding.
According to the latest data, green burials alone are expected to be a $2 billion industry by the end of the year. This is very rapid growth, especially considering the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is expected to be 8% between 2025 and 2033. Clearly, green burial is a part of death care that will become more prominent in the coming years.
Biodegradable Caskets and Urns
Today, we’re much more mindful about what we are putting in the ground, including burial of all kinds. Whether it is a natural burial or burying an urn, there are now biodegradable options that are replacing the ornate caskets and urns that use a lot of resources and don’t break down even after decades.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most recent products that make burial much more eco-friendly:
- Mushroom Coffins – This is one of the most innovative new options for burial. A mushroom casket has fungi inside that help to neutralize toxins while speeding up the decomposition of the body.
- Mushroom Burial Suits – There are also mushroom burial suits that can be used. It’s the same concept as the mushroom coffin except the body is in a “suit” that is more like a bag.
- Recycled Paper Coffins – This option is doubly beneficial. It uses recycled paper that breaks down in the ground.
- Plant Fiber Coffins – A sustainable coffin made of plant fibers can break down in as little as 45 days.
- Simple Shrouds – Some are forgoing the casket all together and instead using a simple cotton or linen shroud to cover the body for a natural burial. This might be a new trend in the U.S., but the use of burial shrouds has been a common practice for centuries in many countries and cultures.
Of course, it’s also becoming more common for people to be buried in very simple pine caskets that will break down over time. Bamboo caskets are another option for anyone who wants a more traditional casket with a much lower environmental impact.
The Development of New Technologies to Make Death Care Services More Green
Another trend that indicates the funeral industry is moving in the eco-friendly direction and will continue to do so is the investment in new technologies. Developing a new technology takes a lot of resources in terms of time and money. So the fact that new products and systems for disposition are being developed as well as research into how to make existing services more eco-friendly is very encouraging.
One example of this is flame-based cremation. For many years, our funeral home has been conscious about the steps we take and have developed what we call “clean flame cremation”. Right now new types of retorts are being developed that reduce carbon emissions and energy use so there’s lower impact with traditional cremation. From electric retorts that are solar powered to ones that capture pollutants so they aren’t released into the air, technology is helping pave the way for greener disposition.
The Expansion of Conservation Cemeteries
Another sign of major change is the expansion of conservation cemeteries. Like new technologies that are being developed, the creation of conservation cemeteries is a huge undertaking that involves a lot of investment.
It’s a stark shift away from traditional cemeteries that can pollute the ground and take away from natural spaces. Conservation cemeteries are designed to have essentially no impact and actually preserve natural spaces so that future development can’t occur. They protect the land and ensure the green space continues to exist.
Because of this fact, the existence of more conservation cemeteries shows a true commitment to transforming not just the funeral industry. The expansion of conservation cemeteries means our ideas about development and land preservation are also changing.
The Use of Bioplastics
The use of bioplastics is growing all around. It stems from the justified concern about plastics that don’t break down and are piling up in landfills, polluting the water and generating microplastics that are in our bodies.
Death care providers that are dedicated to making their services as green as possible are beginning to make the switch to biodegradable plastic. Use of the new, more eco-friendly products can come into play throughout the disposition process, including urns that can be buried.
Cremation.Green was the first carbon neutral funeral home in the state of Texas. Our funeral home was founded to give Texans eco-friendly death care options. Since our funeral home was established, we’ve been proponents of creating positive change in the industry so that alternative services are more accessible for more people.
If you’d like to know more about our services, please reach out at any time by phone, text or email.