What is the difference between a green funeral and a natural burial?

The terms are closely related but not identical. A natural burial refers specifically to burial in a natural or woodland burial ground, often in a biodegradable coffin or shroud, without a traditional headstone. A green funeral is a broader term that can encompass natural burial but also includes eco-friendly choices within conventional cremation, such as using a cardboard coffin, avoiding embalming, or offsetting the carbon footprint of the funeral. You can have a green funeral without a natural burial — for example, a direct cremation with a biodegradable coffin and a tree-planting memorial is considered a green funeral.

Is water cremation (resomation) available in the UK?

Water cremation — also called resomation or alkaline hydrolysis — became legal in Scotland in 2024, making it the first part of the UK to permit this method. It is not yet legal in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, though legislation is under consideration. The process uses warm water and alkali to dissolve soft tissue and uses around 90% less energy than flame cremation with no direct carbon emissions. If you are interested in this option, speak to an NAFD-accredited funeral director who can advise on current availability and any developments in legislation in your area.

Can I be buried in my own garden or on private land in the UK?

Yes, burial on private land is legal in England and Wales, though it comes with important responsibilities. You must register the burial with the local land registry, and the Environment Agency may need to be consulted if the site is near a watercourse or groundwater source. There is no requirement for a coffin, though a biodegradable container is recommended. Planning permission is not generally required for a single burial on private land, but you should check with your local authority. Selling the property in future can be complicated by the presence of a burial, and ongoing maintenance is entirely the landowner's responsibility. A funeral director and a solicitor can help you navigate the legal requirements.

Are biodegradable coffins accepted at all UK crematoria and burial grounds?

Most UK crematoria now accept a wide range of biodegradable coffins, including willow, bamboo, cardboard, and untreated wood. However, it is always advisable to confirm with the specific crematorium before making arrangements, as some have restrictions on certain materials or construction methods — for example, some require the coffin to have a solid base. Natural burial grounds typically require a biodegradable coffin or shroud as a condition of burial. Your funeral director will be able to confirm what is accepted at your chosen venue and source an appropriate coffin accordingly.

How much does a natural woodland burial cost in the UK?

The cost of a natural woodland burial in the UK varies considerably depending on location and the type of site. As a rough guide, a plot in a natural burial section of a municipal cemetery might cost from around £500 to £1,200, whilst a plot in a private woodland or meadow burial ground typically ranges from £1,000 to £2,500 or more. These figures are for the plot itself; you will also need to account for the funeral director's fees, the biodegradable coffin or shroud, transportation, and any service costs. Overall, a simple natural burial can be comparable in price — or even less expensive — than a conventional burial, particularly if you choose a straightforward coffin and avoid embalming. Always ask for a full itemised quote.

Can I have a religious or traditional service alongside a green or natural burial?

Absolutely. A green funeral does not require you to abandon religious, cultural, or family traditions that are important to you. Many families hold a full religious service at a church, chapel, or other place of worship before proceeding to a natural burial ground. Others choose a humanist or civil ceremony in the woodland itself. The burial method and the memorial service are separate considerations — you can mix and match elements to create an arrangement that is both environmentally conscious and deeply meaningful in terms of faith and family tradition. An NAFD-accredited funeral director with experience in green funerals will be well placed to help you combine these elements sensitively.

Green Funerals & Natural Burial: Your Eco-Friendly Guide (2024)

From woodland burials and biodegradable coffins to water cremation, discover everything you need to know about planning a green funeral in the UK — and how to find expert local guidance.

More families than ever are choosing to say goodbye in a way that reflects not just a life lived, but a set of values held dear. A green funeral — sometimes called a natural burial or eco-friendly funeral — allows you to honour a loved one whilst treading as lightly as possible on the earth they cherished. Whether you're pre-planning your own arrangements or supporting someone through bereavement, this guide covers everything you need to know.

What Is a Green Funeral?

A green funeral is an umbrella term for any end-of-life arrangement designed to minimise environmental impact. There is no single definition, but green funerals typically share some or all of these characteristics:

Burial in a natural or woodland burial ground, without a traditional headstone
Use of a biodegradable coffin, casket, or shroud instead of a varnished hardwood or metal coffin
No embalming, or embalming with formaldehyde-free, natural fluids
A living memorial, such as a native tree or wildflower meadow, instead of cut flowers
Locally sourced, seasonal flowers and natural materials at the service
Carbon-offset or low-emissions transport to and from the service

It is important to understand that a green funeral is not a single product — it is a spectrum. You can incorporate just one or two eco-friendly choices into an otherwise conventional service, or you can plan an arrangement that is as close to carbon-neutral as currently possible. Your wishes, your budget, and what is available in your area will all shape what is realistic for your family.

Natural Burial Grounds in the UK

The UK has more natural burial grounds than any other country in the world — a remarkable testament to growing public appetite for greener choices. The Natural Death Centre currently lists more than 300 natural burial sites across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

How Natural Burial Grounds Differ from Traditional Cemeteries

In a natural burial ground, graves are typically dug to a shallower depth (often around 1 metre rather than the traditional 1.5 metres) to allow the body to decompose more quickly and nourish the soil. Headstones are usually prohibited; instead, a GPS reference, a small flat stone, or a native tree marks the plot. Over time, the land returns to wildflower meadow, ancient woodland, or pasture — a living, breathing memorial that evolves with the seasons.

Some burial grounds are dedicated entirely to green burials; others are sections within existing municipal cemeteries. Settings range from ancient woodland in Surrey to working farms in Yorkshire and coastal nature reserves in Wales.

What to Look for When Choosing a Site

Accreditation: Look for sites associated with the Association of Natural Burial Grounds (ANBG), which sets standards for environmental management and customer care.
Accessibility: Consider how easy it will be for family members to visit in future years — particularly older relatives.
Long-term management: Ask who owns the land and what guarantees exist that it will be maintained as a burial ground in perpetuity.
What is permitted: Some sites allow only certain coffin types, restrict flowers, or have rules about memorial additions. Clarify this before booking.
Cost: Plot costs vary enormously — from around £500 in some municipal green sections to over £2,000 in popular private woodland settings. Ask for an itemised price list.

An experienced NAFD-accredited funeral director will know the natural burial grounds in your area, can advise on which might suit your family best, and will handle all the necessary paperwork on your behalf.

Biodegradable Coffins, Caskets, and Shrouds

The coffin is often the single most discussed element of a green funeral. Fortunately, the range of beautiful, sustainable options has grown enormously over the past decade.

Coffin and Casket Options

Willow coffins: Handwoven from sustainably grown willow, these are one of the most popular choices. They are strong, fully biodegradable, and have a warm, natural aesthetic.
Bamboo coffins: Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on earth, making it a highly renewable resource. Bamboo coffins are lightweight and decompose readily.
Seagrass and water hyacinth: Woven from rapidly renewable aquatic plants, these coffins have a distinctive natural look.
Cardboard coffins: Made from recycled or FSC-certified cardboard, these are among the most affordable eco options and can be personalised with drawings, messages, or printed designs. Many families find the personalisation aspect deeply meaningful.
Untreated solid wood: Simple coffins made from untreated, sustainably sourced timber (such as pine or poplar) without lacquers or metal fittings decompose far more readily than a conventional polished hardwood casket.
Wool coffins: Made from compressed natural wool, these British-made coffins are fully biodegradable and have excellent insulating properties during transportation.

Burial Shrouds

A shroud is perhaps the most natural option of all — a wrapped cloth burial without any rigid container. Natural shrouds are typically made from organic cotton, linen, silk, or wool. They are permitted at most natural burial grounds and in some municipal cemeteries. This is the burial tradition practised by many cultures around the world for thousands of years. Some families choose to make or personalise a shroud themselves, creating a deeply intimate act of care.

Prices for biodegradable coffins range from approximately £100–£150 for a cardboard coffin to £500–£900 for a handwoven willow or bamboo coffin. Your funeral director can source these and advise on what is permitted at your chosen burial ground.

Tree Planting and Living Memorials

One of the most powerful aspects of a green funeral is the memorial it leaves behind. Rather than a static stone monument, a living memorial grows and changes — a constant, visible reminder that life continues.

Options include:

A named tree in a woodland burial ground, often a native species such as oak, rowan, silver birch, or hazel
A memorial tree planted in a family garden, often accompanied by a small memorial urn containing a portion of cremated ashes incorporated into the soil
Wildflower seed bombs or meadow planting at a dedicated memorial site
Charitable tree planting through organisations such as the Woodland Trust or Trees for Life, in memory of a loved one — a meaningful alternative to cut flowers at a service

When incorporating ashes into soil, it is worth noting that cremated remains are alkaline and can affect soil pH. It is generally advisable to mix them with compost or plant them at depth rather than applying them directly to the surface of established planting.

Green Cremation Options

Burial is not the only eco-friendly choice. Cremation — which accounts for roughly 78% of all UK funerals — has traditionally carried a significant carbon footprint, requiring around 285 kWh of energy and releasing approximately 160 kg of CO₂ per cremation. However, the industry is evolving rapidly.

Making Traditional Cremation Greener

Even within a conventional cremation, there are meaningful steps that reduce environmental impact:

Choose a biodegradable coffin (most crematoria accept them)
Remove pacemakers and other medical devices prior to cremation — these must be removed by law, but doing so also prevents the release of harmful gases
Ask your crematorium about their environmental accreditation — many UK crematoria now hold ISO 14001 environmental management certification
Some crematoria operate mercury abatement equipment and heat-recovery systems; ask about these when making arrangements
Consider a direct cremation (without an attended service at the crematorium) to reduce associated transport emissions, combined with a separate memorial service closer to home

Water Cremation (Resomation / Alkaline Hydrolysis)

Water cremation — also known as resomation, aquamation, or alkaline hydrolysis — is a process that uses warm water and alkali to dissolve the body's soft tissue, leaving only the bones, which are then processed into a fine powder similar to cremated remains. It uses approximately 90% less energy than flame cremation and produces no direct carbon emissions or mercury.

In 2024, water cremation became legal in Scotland following the passage of the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act provisions, making Scotland the first part of the UK to legalise this method. At the time of writing, it remains under review in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Legislation in the rest of the UK is expected to follow, and a small number of providers are already preparing to offer the service in Scotland.

If this option is important to you, it is worth speaking to an NAFD funeral director who can provide up-to-date guidance on availability in your area and across Scotland.

The Carbon Footprint of a Funeral

A conventional UK funeral generates an estimated 400–1,000 kg of CO₂ equivalent, depending on factors such as cremation versus burial, coffin type, flowers, travel, and catering. The largest single contributor is typically the cremation process itself, followed by transportation of the deceased and of mourners.

The following practical steps can meaningfully reduce a funeral's environmental impact:

Choose a natural burial or green cremation option — the single biggest impact you can make
Select a biodegradable coffin or shroud
Use locally grown, seasonal flowers — or ask mourners to donate to a tree-planting charity instead
Choose a venue close to where mourners live to reduce travel distances
Share transport — funeral processions naturally encourage this, but communicating it explicitly helps
Opt for seasonal, locally sourced catering at the wake
Decline unnecessary embalming — or request formaldehyde-free alternatives if preservation is needed
Offset remaining emissions through a reputable scheme, such as the Gold Standard carbon offset programmes

Our funeral cost calculator can help you understand the overall costs involved, including eco-friendly options.

How to Plan a Green Funeral: A Step-by-Step Guide

Define your priorities. Which elements matter most — the burial method, the coffin, the memorial? It helps to rank these so that if budget is a constraint, you focus spend on what means most.
Research natural burial grounds in your area. The Natural Death Centre's website lists sites by county. Visit if possible — many sites welcome families for informal viewings.
Contact an NAFD-accredited funeral director with green experience. Not all funeral directors are equally familiar with natural burial options, but many NAFD members actively specialise in or enthusiastically support green arrangements. Search our directory to find one near you.
Discuss coffin and shroud options. Your funeral director can source biodegradable coffins and will advise on what the chosen burial ground or crematorium will accept.
Plan the service. A green funeral service can take any form — religious, humanist, non-denominational, or a quiet gathering in the woodland itself. There are no restrictions.
Document your wishes. If you are pre-planning, write your wishes down clearly and share them with a family member and your solicitor. Consider registering them with a funeral planning scheme.
Consider a pre-paid funeral plan. Locking in today's costs protects your family from future price rises and ensures your green wishes are formally recorded.

Is a Green Funeral More Expensive?

Not necessarily — and in some cases, a natural burial can be more affordable than a conventional funeral. A cardboard coffin costs less than a traditional hardwood casket; a natural burial plot at a municipal green section may cost less than a conventional cemetery plot; skipping embalming and elaborate floral arrangements reduces costs further.

That said, some premium options — such as a handwoven willow coffin, a plot in a popular private woodland, or future water cremation services — do carry additional costs. As with any funeral, it is important to ask for a fully itemised written quote before proceeding. NAFD members are required to provide transparent, itemised pricing as part of their Code of Practice.

Finding an NAFD Funeral Director Who Offers Green Options

Choosing an NAFD-accredited funeral director gives your family an important layer of protection and assurance. All NAFD members adhere to a strict Code of Practice, undergo regular monitoring, and are subject to the independent Funeral Arbitration Scheme if any concerns arise. When it comes to green funerals specifically, an experienced NAFD member will:

Have established relationships with local natural burial grounds
Be able to source a wide range of biodegradable coffins and shrouds
Provide honest, clear guidance on what each option involves and costs
Handle all legal paperwork, permits, and notifications on your behalf
Support you in creating a service that truly reflects your loved one's values

Use our Find a Funeral Director tool to locate NAFD-accredited funeral directors in your area and enquire about their green and natural burial services. Many will be glad to talk through your options without any obligation.