Green Burial Services

Many benefits come with green burial:

1. It is environmentally friendly and sustainable: Many would guess that cremation would be the most eco-friendly option, but emissions from cremation are not always the greenest; sometimes mercury, sulfur dioxide, and other harmful substances can be emitted. Cremation also burns fossil fuels and uses a lot of energy to burn the body. With Carson-Speaks Chapel, we use environmentally friendly containers, resources, and processes to deliver the dead to their final resting place without using harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde, or increasing carbon emissions.
2. It is more affordable than other options: Traditional burials or cremation can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars more than a green burial due to the materials involved. Some families even provide their own biodegradable caskets or shrouds to lower the costs further.
3. It is natural: Many green burial users like the option due to its connection with nature. The idea of the dead decomposing naturally can be a comforting thought.

Green burial caskets, shrouds, and urns come in all shapes and forms – the most common types are made from some sort of biodegradable and nontoxic material, such as plain wood, wicker, cardboard, paper, or bamboo.

At Carson-Speaks Chapels, we offer a variety of biodegradable containers for green burials, including wicker bamboo caskets or shrouds. We avoid using metal and concrete caskets and vaults, as they impede natural decomposition and emit non-biodegradable materials into the earth.

Green burials can only take place in areas that allow for this specific burial service, such as natural burial grounds, hybrid cemeteries, or conservation burial grounds. Carson-Speaks Chapels has partnered with two cemeteries in the Kansas City Metro area that allow green burials.

Though cemeteries can differ in how the gravesite is dug, Carson-Speaks Chapels has partnered with two cemeteries that dig the gravesite by hand instead of using heavy machinery. This helps lower the environmental impact. 

Depending on the cemetery, most green burial-friendly cemeteries only allow headstones that don’t interfere with the surrounding area and natural landscape. For example, a natural rock, plant, or non-metal plaque flush with the ground is allowed, while wreaths, flags, chimes, balloons, and other foreign objects are prohibited. Some people completely forego a headstone and instead have their grave location marked via GPS coordinates.

Yes, you can. Burying a loved one in a biodegradable urn (such as wood, paper, or clay) can be an option for those who want cremation followed by a natural burial. 

A home funeral is where the dead person is taken to a home for the funeral service before being taken to a cemetery for burial or a crematory for cremation. Speaks Chapels offers home funerals and can tailor them to fit your needs.

The Green Burial Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing standards for the green burial movement. The council provides certifications to qualifying participants and educates the public on green burials. They also feature a map of certified cemeteries and funeral homes across the United States and Canada.