Green Burial in Tennessee: What It Is and Where to Find It | Spann Funeral Home
Green Burial in Tennessee: What It Is, Why It's Growing,
and Where to Find It
Several years ago, I began fielding an occasional question from families that I had not heard much before: 'Is there a way to be buried without all the chemicals? Without the concrete vault? In a way that is more natural?'
That occasional question has become a regular one. And it deserves a serious, informed answer.
At Spann Funeral Home, we are one of only two Green Burial Council-certified funeral homes in the state of Tennessee. That certification is not a marketing label it represents a rigorous set of standards, independently verified, that ensures our green burial practices are genuinely what we say they are. In an industry where environmental claims are easy to make and difficult to verify, GBC certification matters.
This article explains what green burial actually is, how it compares to traditional burial and cremation, who tends to choose it, and what Tennessee families should know about accessing this option.
Green burial is not a new idea. It is, in many ways, the oldest idea — a return to the way humans have been cared for after death for most of human history.
What Green Burial Actually Is
Green burial ,also called natural burial, is the interment of a body in a way that allows for natural decomposition without the use of embalming chemicals, non-biodegradable materials, or concrete burial vaults. The goal is to return the body to the earth in a manner that is as minimally invasive as possible.
In practice, this means:
• No embalming or chemical preservation of the body
• A biodegradable casket or burial shroud made from natural materials wood, wicker, cotton, or wool
• No concrete burial vault or grave liner
• Burial at a depth that encourages natural decomposition
• Where available, burial in a designated natural or conservation burial ground
The result is a burial that is meaningful, dignified, and genuinely low-impact. The body becomes part of the earth rather than being preserved against it.
What the Green Burial Council Certification Means
The Green Burial Council (GBC) is the leading national authority on green burial practices in the United States, founded in 2005. GBC certification is not self-awarded it requires an application, documentation review, and ongoing compliance monitoring by independent specialists.
To achieve and maintain GBC certification, a funeral home must: offer families the option of a public viewing without chemical embalming; carry a minimum of three GBC-approved biodegradable containers; accommodate home vigils prior to viewing without embalming; and use only non-toxic, biodegradable post-mortem care products if any preservation is needed.
The FTC has noted that approximately 60% of environmental claims made by businesses are empty or misleading. GBC certification exists precisely to distinguish verified green burial providers from those making unverifiable claims.
Spann Funeral Home is one of only two GBC-certified funeral homes in Tennessee. For families in Middle Tennessee interested in green burial, this geographic proximity to a certified provider is significant
How Green Burial Compares to Traditional Burial and Cremation
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPARISON — APPROXIMATE NATIONAL FIGURES
Traditional burial uses significant quantities of embalming chemicals, hardwood or metal caskets, and concrete vaults — all of which create a lasting underground footprint. Flame cremation requires substantial energy and produces CO₂ and particulate emissions, though its total environmental footprint is generally lower than traditional burial. Green burial uses no chemicals, no non-biodegradable materials, and minimal energy. The body becomes part of the natural nutrient cycle of the earth. For families prioritizing environmental impact, green burial is generally the lowest-impact option available.
It is worth noting that green burial and cremation serve different purposes for different families. Some choose cremation for its simplicity and flexibility with remains. Others choose green burial because they find meaning in returning to the earth physically. Both are valid, and neither is environmentally perfect. What matters is that families make this choice with accurate information.
Who Chooses Green Burial?
In our experience at Spann, the families who choose green burial are more varied than the stereotype suggests. Yes, some are environmentally motivated. But others are drawn to green burial for entirely different reasons:
• Faith and tradition — Jewish, Muslim, and Bahá'í burial practices have long favored burial without embalming and within 24 hours of death; green burial aligns naturally with these traditions
• Simplicity — some families are drawn to the dignity and lack of excess of a simple, natural burial
• Visceral connection to the land — particularly in rural Tennessee, where a relationship with the land is part of cultural identity, the idea of returning to it is genuinely meaningful
• Cost — green burial can be less expensive than traditional burial because it eliminates embalming costs, expensive caskets, and concrete vaults
What a Green Burial Service Looks Like
A green burial service at Spann Funeral Home can be as simple or as ceremonially rich as the family desires. There is no requirement for a graveside-only service or a rushed goodbye.
Families may have a home vigil where the body rests at home in the care of family prior to burial, a practice that was common in Tennessee until the mid-20th century. They may have a formal funeral service in our chapel. They may gather at graveside with music, readings, and all the traditional elements of a meaningful goodbye.
What changes is the physical: the casket is natural and biodegradable, embalming is not used, and the burial itself is done without a vault. Everything else the gathering, the ceremony, the goodbye remains fully available.
Pre-Planning a Green Burial
If you are interested in green burial for yourself or a loved one, pre-planning is particularly valuable. It ensures that your wishes are clearly documented, that the right materials and arrangements are in place, and that your family does not face unfamiliar decisions in a difficult moment.
Call us for a complimentary green burial consultation. We will walk you through every aspect of what is available, what it costs, and how to make your wishes clear for your family.
