So, you’ve decided on a green burial!

What does that look like for you?

The GBSC advocates for “the un-embalmed body [to be] wrapped in a shroud made of natural, biodegradable fibers and then buried directly in the grave. Alternatively, the shrouded remains can be placed into a casket or alternative form of container, where the casket or similar container is also made of sustainable and fully biodegradable materials”. This could mean anything from wrapping the body in a simple cloth shroud to a more traditional looking casket made from wood or other natural materials.

In this piece, let’s look at shrouds.

In a green burial, the overarching principle is that the body is broken down and returned to the earth leaving a smaller impact on the local environment.

The simplest way is to wrap the body in a fabric shroud and then place it in the ground. Natural materials are the key here, look for options made from cotton, wool, hemp, silk or bamboo fibre among others. For the design and function, there are a few things to consider. The fabric needs to be large enough to wrap the body, about the size of a king-size flat sheet and usually kept in a tidy package with fabric ties once the body is wrapped. The next thing to think about is handling. There needs to be a way to move the person from one point to another both practically and respectfully. Some have handles sewn on, some have a pocket to insert a backing board to provide some rigidity. Others will need to be placed on a tray of some sort, usually with handles for carrying.