What Is a green burial?

A "green" burial is designed to reduce environmental impacts and ensure a legacy of protecting the land where those who passed are laid to rest. The focus is on sustainability and simplicity, and offer an individual the chance to continue a lifetime of caring for the environment as part of their last wishes. A body is prepared for Green Burial without embalming and buried in a biodegradable shroud, simple container or casket made from natural fibre, wicker or sustainably harvested wood.
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Five principles of a green buriaL

1. No embalming - Green burials are completed without the use of embalming chemical agents. Decomposition is thought of as nature’s way of returning a body back to the earth. Families who choose green burial find peace of mind knowing their loved one’s remains are interred with minimal environmental impacts.
2. Direct to earth burial - Remains are wrapped in a natural, biodegradable shroud and buried directly into the earth. A fully degradable casket or container that ideally is locally sourced, may be used. No outside grave liners or protective vaults are permitted.
3. Ecological restoration and conservation. The natural ecology is preserved by planting native plants and shrubs that integrate the interment area into the ecosystem. Visitors are encouraged to stay on carefully designed walking pathways and use memorial benches when visiting loved ones.
4. Communal memorialization - Following the ideals of simplicity and environmental protection, individual memorials and decorations are not permitted on the site. At Prairie Sky Cemetery they have established a beautiful granite memorial with plaques for families to inscribe names, dates and short epitaphs. This leaves the Prairie Sky green burial section as a living memorial for loved ones interred there.
5. Optimized land use- At the Prairie Sky Cemetery in Calgary, The City designed the green burial interment area to maximize the number of grave spaces, including minimal landscaping and infrastructure. Bodies are interred in the next available plot, rather than using pre-selected or reserved plots. This allows minimal disruption to the land and surrounding environment, aiding in its return to a natural state.

The City of Lethbridge was the first municipality in Alberta to offer a green burial option. Grasslands at Royal View Memorial Cemetery was completed in December 2019. Green Burial Brochure. ​​For more information contact the cemeteries department at 403-320-3008 or cemetery@lethbridge.ca.

The City of Calgary introduced green burials at their Prairie Sky Cemetery in 2021. ​For additional information or to book an appointment call 403-221-3660 or email CalgaryCemeteries@calgary.ca.

Aurora Gardens at Northern Lights Cemetery is Edmonton Municipal Cemeteries’ first green burial area. Green Burial Information. You can also call 780-442-0974 or email the municipality at cemetery@edmonton.ca.