Green burial (also called natural burial) is a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact that furthers legitimate ecological aims such as the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat.
Hybrid cemeteries are conventional cemeteries offering the option for burial without vaults and with eco-friendly burial containers including shrouds.
Natural Burial Grounds do not use vaults, do not allow embalmed bodies, and require burial containers that are made from natural/plant based materials. They use native plants and materials compatible with the area ecosystem.
Green Burial Grounds around Greater Philadelphia
Natural
Steelmantown Cemetery, Steelmantown, NJ
Hybrid
Southwest Burial Ground, (green sections in cemetery), Upper Darby, PA
Green Meadow Burial Ground, (green section in Fountain Hill Cemetery) Fountain Hill, PA
West Laurel Hill Cemetery (Nature’s Sanctuary is a green section of the cemetery), Bala Cynwyd, PA
Eco-Eternity Forest, (ashes only) Cresco, PA
Central Pennsylvania
Natural
Lampeter Green Burial Grounds, Lancaster, PA (717) 898-6211
Cambridge Green Burial Preserve, Cambridge, PA (717) 898-6211
Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery, Lancaster, PA (717) 393-2661
Hybrid
Paxtang Cemetery (Wood’s Edge is their green section), Harrisburg, PA
Western Pennsylvania
Natural
Penn Forest National Burial Park, Verona, PA
Hybrid
Oakwood Cemetery (Highland Meadows is a green section of the cemetery), Sharon, PA
Other Resources on Green Burial
Green Burial, Funeral Consumers Alliance
Seven Ponds: Embracing the End-Of-Life Experience
Green Burial Council
Grave Matters: A Journey Through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial, Mark Harris
