Green Burial in Canada — Natural Burial Grounds and What's Possible

Last updated October 7, 2026 · 3 min read
Quick answer
Green burial (also called natural burial) means the body is buried without embalming, in a biodegradable casket or shroud, in a designated green burial ground or section. The body returns to the earth naturally. Available in dedicated green burial grounds in Ontario, BC, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and a growing number of provinces. Cost is generally less than traditional burial. Suits Canadians with environmental concerns or preference for simpler, more natural end-of-life practice.

For Canadians with environmental concerns, philosophical preference for simplicity, or appreciation for natural processes, green burial offers an alternative to both traditional burial and cremation. It's the oldest form of human disposition — bodies returning to the earth — wrapped in modern environmental ethics and a growing infrastructure of dedicated burial grounds.

What green burial involves

Five elements distinguish green burial from traditional:

  1. No embalming. Body is refrigerated until burial; no formaldehyde or other preservation chemicals.
  2. Biodegradable container. Simple wood casket (no metal hardware, no synthetic finish), wicker basket, cotton or linen shroud. Materials that decompose into the soil.
  3. No vault or grave liner. Allows direct contact with soil and natural decomposition.
  4. Minimal grave depth. Often shallower than a conventional grave where provincial laws and cemetery bylaws allow; required depths vary by province, municipality, and cemetery.
  5. Burial in a designated green burial ground. Section managed for ecological restoration — native plantings, no chemical treatments, natural appearance.

Canadian green burial grounds (sampling)

  • Royal Oak Burial Park (Victoria, BC) — its green burial area, The Woodlands, opened in October 2008 as Canada's first urban green burial site
  • Cobourg Union Cemetery (Cobourg, ON)
  • Meadowvale Cemetery (Brampton, ON) — green burial section
  • Prairie Sky Cemetery (Calgary, AB) — Green Burial Society of Canada certified
  • Sunrise Park Inter-Faith Cemetery (Hatchet Lake, NS) — Green Burial Society of Canada certified
  • Salt Spring Island Natural Cemetery (Salt Spring Island, BC)
  • Multiple others — directory maintained by the Green Burial Society of Canada

Coverage is uneven — urban areas have options; smaller communities often don't. The Green Burial Society's directory is the best current source.

Cost

Generally less than traditional burial; ask the cemetery for its current price list. Savings come from:

  • No embalming
  • Simple casket or shroud
  • No vault
  • Often slightly cheaper plot

Specific premium green burial grounds in desirable locations can cost more. Comparison shopping still applies.

What it looks like

A green burial ground typically resembles a meadow, woodland, or natural prairie rather than a manicured cemetery. Markers are subtle — small flat stones, native plantings, or no marker. The aesthetic emphasizes the landscape rather than the individual grave. Families visit the area rather than a specific marked plot.

Process

  1. Death occurs; funeral home (one experienced with green burial) is contacted
  2. Body refrigerated; no embalming
  3. Simple service or no service per family wishes
  4. Body transported to green burial ground in biodegradable casket or shroud
  5. Brief committal at graveside
  6. Burial — often hand-dug or with minimal equipment
  7. Family may participate in the burial (placing dirt, planting on the grave)
  8. Marker placement per the ground's rules

When green burial fits

  • Strong environmental values
  • Preference for simplicity over traditional ceremony
  • Comfort with natural decomposition
  • Local green burial ground is accessible
  • Family supports the choice

When it might not fit

  • Family wants traditional ceremony elements
  • No local green burial ground (and traveling is impractical)
  • Religious tradition requires specific burial practices
  • Family expects to visit a marked grave regularly

What we focus on at It's Simple Will

The Funeral Pre-Planner captures disposition preferences including green burial. Documenting the specific green burial ground you prefer (if you have one in mind) gives the family direction.

Citations & sources

  1. [1]Green Burial Society of Canada - Green Burial Society of Canada
  2. [2]Green Burial Society of Canada — The Five Principles (no embalming, direct earth burial, shallower graves within provincial laws and bylaws) - Green Burial Society of Canada
  3. [3]Green Burial Society of Canada — Certified green burial cemeteries directory - Green Burial Society of Canada
  4. [4]Royal Oak Burial Park — Green burial: The Woodlands (opened October 2008, Canada's first urban green burial site) - Royal Oak Burial Park
  5. [5]National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health — Alternative disposition services: green burial, alkaline hydrolysis and human composting (burial depth varies by province, municipality and site) - National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health

Frequently asked questions

What makes a burial 'green'?

Several elements — no embalming (avoiding formaldehyde-based chemicals returning to soil and groundwater), biodegradable container (wicker basket, simple wood casket, cotton or linen shroud — no metal, no synthetic materials), no concrete burial vault (allowing natural decomposition), and burial in a designated section managed for ecological restoration. The whole approach minimizes environmental impact and supports the body returning to the earth naturally.

Where can I have a green burial?

Designated green burial grounds in Canada include — Royal Oak Burial Park (Victoria, BC), Cobourg Union Cemetery (ON), Meadowvale Cemetery (Brampton), Prairie Sky Cemetery (Calgary), Sunrise Park Inter-Faith Cemetery (Hatchet Lake, NS), and several others. Some traditional cemeteries also have green burial sections. The Green Burial Society of Canada maintains a directory.

Does it cost more or less than traditional burial?

Generally less. Cost components — no embalming ($500-$1,000 saved), simple casket or shroud ($200-$1,500 vs $2,000-$5,000+), no vault ($1,000-$3,000 saved), plot cost similar to traditional. Some specific green burial grounds in premium locations cost more.

What about markers?

Green burial grounds typically restrict markers to natural materials — small flat stones, native plantings, or no marker at all. Some grounds use GPS coordinates to identify graves without physical markers. The aesthetic is meadow or woodland rather than manicured cemetery lawn.

Is green burial available across Canada?

Growing but not universal. Major Canadian provinces have at least one green burial ground; smaller communities may not have local options. The Green Burial Society of Canada maintains the most current directory. For some families, traveling to a green burial ground is worthwhile; for others, choosing a traditional cemetery's green section (where available) is more practical.

What religious traditions accept green burial?

Most major traditions accept it. The simplicity of green burial actually aligns with some traditions (Orthodox Jewish burial tradition uses no embalming and a simple wood casket — essentially green burial by another name; some Christian traditions value returning the body to the earth). Confirm with your religious leader.

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