The Rising Demand For Environmental Burials & Eco-Friendly Cemeteries 

Sustainability has been a big conversation piece throughout recent years as people aim toward finding more eco-friendly ways to go about their daily routines, and today in 2025, sustainability is a major trend when it comes to things like end-of-life planning as well.

Countless families and eco-conscious individuals are currently reconsidering traditional cremation and burial practices, and they’re instead choosing environmental burials that are known for a significantly reduced carbon footprint.

We recently reached out to the environmental burial professionals in Yellow Springs, Ohio at Jackson, Lytle & Lewis to better understand why environmental burials and eco-friendly cemeteries are currently rising in widespread demand, and it’s truly fascinating to see just how far our cultural views have shifted within a matter of about a decade…

So, check out the below sections to learn more about what environmental burials are, why families are choosing these eco-friendly options, and the ongoing challenges and opportunities that families need to keep in mind!

What Exactly Are Environmental Burials?

Environmental burials, often referred to as green burials, are specifically designed to minimize the typical environmental impacts associated with conventional burials and cremations.

Unlike common burials that include metal caskets, embalming chemicals and concrete vaults, environmental burials solely rely on natural practices and biodegradable materials.

This essentially means that the overall goal of an environmental burial is to allow a decedent’s body to naturally return to the earth, while also supporting nearby ecosystems and soil health.

Why Countless Families Are Choosing Environmental Burials In 2025

The rising demand for green cemeteries and environmental burials is being catalyzed by the following factors:

• Widespread Sustainability Concerns: Many families want to invest in green burial practices that subsequently align with their eco-conscious lives. The use of non-biodegradable materials and soil health risks associated with traditional burials rightfully have many people concerned. The same goes for the carbon emissions associated with cremation, and environmental burials help address these concerns.

• Growing Awareness: As a growing number of people start learning about the environmental externalities associated with traditional burial practices, the more eco-friendly alternatives grow in interest. Countless funeral homes and organizations are also helping people make more educated investments, which is subsequently making environmental burials far more accessible than in the past.

• Personal Values: For many families, environmental burials are about one final farewell to the earth that’s rooted in stewardship and responsibility.

The Essential Role Of Green Cemeteries

When families are interested in environmental burials, they subsequently must find a green cemetery for the burial to take place. These eco-friendly cemeteries are often found on nature preserves and other natural lands that embrace sustainability and simplicity.

So, instead of perfectly manicured cemetery lawns, green cemeteries often feature native trees, wildflowers and fully preserved landscapes. Grave markers might include things like wooden plaques, natural stones, or sometimes even GPS coordinates—all of which reduce the overall need for large or concrete headstones.

Not only do green cemeteries provide a beautiful final resting location for decedents, but they also are very important when it comes to land conservation. This is why many green cemeteries are also protected natural burial areas, which allows for healthy ecological development that’ll last for generations to come!

Ongoing Challenges & Opportunities Families Need To Keep In Mind

Although environmental burials are undoubtedly growing in popularity, there are still some challenges that green cemeteries and eco-friendly families still face. Some of these challenges include the following:

• Regulatory Barriers: There are instances in which local municipalities have laws that complicate or restrict environmental burial practices, and this is usually in densely populated, urban areas.

• Limited Availability: Not every community has a green cemetery readily available to support families, even though the widespread growing demand for these end-of-life services are leading to more development across the world.

• Education Gaps: A lot of families are simply unaware of their options when it comes to environmental burials, until they’re researching their end-of-life planning.

But even though there are certain challenges in today’s funeral industry, there are also many opportunities associated with environmental burials as well.

Countless funeral homes are now beginning to adapt their practices toward consumer demands, which is why more green cemeteries are opening each and every year.

Environmental Burials Are The Future Of The Funeral Industry

As sustainability continues to evolve and become more influential for our cultural decisions, environmental burials are subsequently going to become even more mainstream in the coming years ahead.

It’s likely that many hybrid cemeteries will be available in the near future, and it’s safe to say that environmental burials are so much more than just a trend—because they’re truly reshaping how we all think about sustainability and legacy.

And as demand naturally continues to rise, environmental burial practices are certainly poised to revolutionize the entire funeral industry for the better!

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Phillip Olivas

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