Green Burials
Green Burial Services in Coudersport, PA
A Green Burial, or Natural Burial, is a way of disposing of a body in which the body is returned to the earth in its most natural state. This environmentally friendly method sees the body as part of nature's eternal cycle. It lets the body gently become part of new life without using metal caskets, concrete vaults, or harsh embalming chemicals that can hurt the environment.
We are proud to offer Green Burials all over Pennsylvania. Green burial is not a new or experimental idea; in fact, it is the opposite. For thousands of years, cultures all over the world have used this natural way to care for the dead. It wasn't until the late 1800s that modern embalming and burial methods became common. Green burial is a way to honor these old traditions while also being an environmentally friendly burial option that helps protect natural resources and keep our beautiful planet healthy for future generations.
Our Environmental Mission
At Thomas E. Fickinger Funeral Home, our goal is to provide burial options that use a lot less energy and produce a lot less waste than traditional burial methods. These options include Green Burials and Green Funerals.
Every green burial we help with helps us achieve our important goal of protecting and restoring our sacred Earth. Families who choose green burial make a strong statement about caring for the environment and leave a good legacy that lasts beyond their own lives.
What We Offer
We offer a full range of green burial services and products that are in line with your family's environmental values:
- Green Burial Council-Certified Shrouds – Simple, dignified burial shrouds made from natural, biodegradable materials that meet the highest environmental standards
- Green Burial Council-Certified Caskets – Beautiful caskets constructed from sustainable materials without metal components or toxic finishes
- Assistance with Natural Burial Grounds – Complete coordination and setup assistance with approved natural burial cemeteries and conservation burial grounds
- Formaldehyde-Free Embalming – When preservation is necessary, we offer embalming using plant-based, non-toxic alternatives
- Green Funerals – Environmentally conscious funeral services that minimize waste and environmental impact
- Green Cremation Services – Eco-friendly cremation options for families who prefer cremation
There are many different kinds of green burials that can be made to fit the needs and wants of each family. We'll help you plan a service that honors your loved one and is good for the environment at the same time.
Green Burial Options
A natural burial, also called a green burial, is a simple and very natural way to put the body back in the ground where it came from. Compared to traditional burials, natural burials have a much smaller effect on the environment, use much less energy, and use fewer non-renewable resources. People who believe in "going green" often don't want to embalm bodies at all. Instead, they want to make choices that are better for the earth, like using biodegradable caskets or burial shrouds made from organic materials.
If you've chosen natural burial in a designated green cemetery or conservation burial ground, you'll pick a casket made of biodegradable materials or a simple burial shroud. Many green cemeteries have rules that say the casket, urn, or shroud must be made from materials that are completely biodegradable, non-toxic, and harvested in a way that doesn't hurt the environment. Our knowledgeable staff will help you understand the rules of the green cemetery you choose and help you pick burial materials that meet all of them.
Green Burial Caskets
We carefully make our green burial caskets out of renewable Northeastern hardwoods that come from forests that are well-managed. These caskets are good for the environment because they don't have any metal parts, hinges, or hardware. Instead, they use only biodegradable plant-based glues and natural finishes that won't harm the soil. The Green Burial Council, which sets the standards for environmentally friendly burial practices, has approved each casket. They can be used for both natural burial and green cremation.
Green caskets are made to help make the funeral and burial process more environmentally friendly and focused on people. To make real progress for the environment, we need to always think about how our products and practices affect the environment and listen carefully to what our clients want and value so that we can create ceremonies that honor both the dead and the earth.
These beautiful caskets show that you don't have to give up beauty, dignity, or quality to be environmentally responsible. They are a respectful and beautiful way to return your loved one to nature while also making a statement about the environment.
What is Green Burial?
Green burial is a kind way to care for the dead that is good for the environment and has many ecological benefits. This method actively helps with:
- Conservation of Natural Resources – Avoiding the use of hardwoods, metals, concrete, and other finite resources that traditional burial consumes
- Reduction of Carbon Emissions – Significantly lowering the carbon footprint associated with funeral practices by eliminating energy-intensive processes
- Protection of Worker Health – Eliminating exposure to formaldehyde and other toxic embalming chemicals that pose health risks to funeral service professionals
- Restoration and Preservation of Habitat – Many green burial grounds serve as protected conservation land, preserving natural habitats for wildlife and native plants in perpetuity
Green burial is a whole-body approach to caring for the deceased that acknowledges our connection to nature and our duty to protect it. Families who choose green burial make living memorials that help the earth, so their loved one's last act can be one of caring for the environment and renewing it.
Benefits of Choosing Green Burial
Families choose green burial for many meaningful reasons:
- Environmental Legacy – Leave a positive environmental impact rather than contributing to pollution and resource depletion
- Cost Savings – Green burials are often more affordable than traditional burials since they eliminate expensive vaults, metal caskets, and embalming
- Simplicity and Meaning – Return to simpler, more meaningful burial practices that honor natural cycles
- Land Conservation – Many green burial grounds protect land from development, preserving natural spaces forever
- Personal Values – Align final arrangements with deeply held environmental and spiritual values
- Natural Decomposition – Allow the body to naturally return to the earth, nourishing new life
Contact Us About Green Burial Options
Please get in touch with our caring and knowledgeable staff if you want to learn more about green burial options or talk about how we can help you plan an environmentally friendly service.
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