Green Funerals and Eco-Burials in the UK: A Complete Guide (2026)
Updated March 2026 | 11 min read
Traditional funerals have a significant environmental impact. A single cremation uses enough energy to power a home for a month and releases carbon dioxide, mercury (from dental fillings), and other pollutants into the atmosphere. Traditional burial involves embalming chemicals, non-biodegradable coffins, concrete vaults, and land that is maintained with herbicides. A growing number of people in the UK are seeking greener alternatives. There are now over 270 natural burial grounds across the UK, and the options for environmentally conscious farewells are expanding every year.
What Is a Green Funeral?
A green funeral aims to minimise the environmental impact of death. This can mean different things depending on how far you want to go, from choosing a cardboard coffin for a standard cremation, right through to a full natural burial in a wildflower meadow with no headstone. The core principles are:
- No embalming (or using non-toxic, biodegradable embalming fluids)
- Biodegradable coffins, shrouds, or caskets
- Natural burial grounds instead of traditional cemeteries
- No concrete vaults or liners
- No traditional headstones (a tree or wildflowers instead)
- Reducing transport and energy use
- Offsetting or minimising carbon emissions
Natural Burial Grounds
Natural burial grounds (also called woodland burial sites or green burial grounds) are dedicated sites where burials take place in a way that allows the body to decompose naturally and contribute to the local ecosystem. The UK has over 270 registered natural burial sites, from woodland to meadow settings.
What to expect
Graves are typically hand-dug. No concrete liners or vaults are used. The body is buried in a biodegradable coffin, shroud, or even a wool blanket. Instead of a headstone, a native tree is often planted on or near the grave. Over time, the site becomes woodland or meadow. Some sites allow families to tend the area; others prefer it to be left wild.
Costs
Natural burial plot: £500 to £2,000 (compared to £1,000 to £5,000+ for a traditional cemetery). Grave digging: £200 to £600. The burial itself is often simpler and cheaper than a traditional funeral. Total cost for a natural burial with a funeral director's basic service: £2,000 to £4,500.
Finding a natural burial ground
The Natural Death Centre maintains a directory of natural burial grounds at naturaldeath.org.uk. The Association of Natural Burial Grounds (ANBG) is the accreditation body. Look for ANBG membership when choosing a site, as it indicates the ground meets quality and environmental standards.
Eco-Friendly Coffins and Shrouds
The coffin is one of the most impactful choices you make. A traditional coffin uses hardwood, metal handles, and synthetic linings. Eco alternatives are designed to biodegrade completely.
| Type | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cardboard coffin | £100 - £400 | Cheapest eco option. Can be decorated by family. Suitable for cremation and burial. |
| Willow coffin | £300 - £800 | Handwoven, attractive, fully biodegradable. Popular for natural burials. |
| Bamboo coffin | £300 - £700 | Lightweight, strong, fast-growing material. Biodegradable. |
| Seagrass coffin | £300 - £600 | Woven from sustainably harvested seagrass. Biodegradable. |
| Wool coffin | £400 - £900 | Made from British wool. Carbon negative. The Natural Burial Company is a leading provider. |
| Shroud (no coffin) | £50 - £300 | The most natural option. Cotton, linen, or wool shroud with a board for carrying. Accepted at natural burial grounds. |
| Mushroom coffin (Living Cocoon) | £1,000 - £1,500 | Made from mycelium (mushroom root). Actively enriches the soil. Decomposes in 30-45 days. |
Greener Cremation Options
Standard cremation uses natural gas and reaches temperatures of 800 to 1,000 degrees Celsius. A single cremation produces around 150 to 200 kilograms of CO2. If you prefer cremation, there are ways to reduce the environmental impact:
Electric cremation
Some newer crematoria use electric cremators powered by renewable energy. These produce significantly fewer emissions than gas-powered cremators. Availability is still limited but growing.
Resomation (water cremation / alkaline hydrolysis)
Also known as "aquamation," this process uses water and an alkaline solution instead of fire. It uses around 10% of the energy of flame cremation and produces no direct emissions. The result is the same as cremation: bone fragments that are processed into ashes. Resomation has been legal in the UK since 2017 and is now available at a small but growing number of facilities.
Carbon offsetting
Some funeral providers offer carbon offset programmes that plant trees or invest in environmental projects to compensate for the emissions from cremation. While not a perfect solution, it is better than nothing. Co-op Funeralcare, for example, offsets the carbon from every cremation they arrange.
Home Funerals and DIY Options
It is perfectly legal in the UK to arrange a funeral without a funeral director. You can keep the body at home (in a cool room), wash and dress the person yourself, transport them in your own vehicle, and organise the burial or cremation directly. This gives you complete control over the environmental impact and can be deeply meaningful for the family.
The Natural Death Centre provides extensive guidance on organising a DIY funeral. Key practical points: you need a medical certificate of cause of death, you must register the death, and for cremation you need additional paperwork. For burial on private land, you need to check with your local council planning department and the Environment Agency to ensure the site is not near a water source.
Burial on Private Land
Burial on your own land is legal in England and Wales, though there are practical considerations. You must ensure the burial does not pollute any watercourse (the Environment Agency recommends burial at least 30 metres from any watercourse, spring, or borehole, and at least 10 metres from any dry ditch or field drain). The grave must be deep enough (at least 600mm of soil above the coffin).
You should notify your local council's environmental health department. A home burial must be recorded on the property deeds and disclosed when selling the property. This can affect property value, so it is worth serious consideration before proceeding.
Donating Your Body to Medical Science
Donating your body to a medical school is the ultimate in reducing funeral impact, and it costs the family nothing. The medical school covers all costs including collection, storage, and eventual cremation or burial. The body is used for training doctors and researchers, often for two to three years, after which the cremated remains are returned to the family or scattered in a garden of remembrance.
To donate, you need to register with a medical school during your lifetime. The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) oversees body donation in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Not all bodies are accepted: the school may decline if the person died of certain infections, had major surgery recently, or if the body has deteriorated. It is worth having a backup plan.
Green Funeral Planning Checklist
- 1. Decide between natural burial, green cremation, or body donation
- 2. Research natural burial grounds near you (naturaldeath.org.uk)
- 3. Choose a biodegradable coffin or shroud
- 4. Specify no embalming in your funeral wishes
- 5. Consider whether you want a memorial tree, wildflower planting, or nothing
- 6. Write your wishes down and share with your family and executor
- 7. Include funeral wishes in your will (not legally binding but guides your family)
- 8. Consider a prepaid green funeral plan to lock in your choices