NATURAL BURIAL IS the direct earth-burial of a body or cremated remains in a biodegradable container that allows the elements to return fully to the soil over time...Cynthia Beal, 2006
The Natural Burial Company distributes biodegradable coffins, urns and natural funeral goods throughout the US and into Canada (click here for the Natural Burial Company's "Good Funeral Store") . Our crafters come from around the world, where the techniques of handwoven coffins and natural burial have not yet been lost. Your requests for and purchase of these products helps keep these handarts arts alive, and challenges funeral professionals to shift to more sustainable funeral and cemetery practices - before you need them!
We sell retail AND through funeral service providers and we can ship almost anywhere. This means that anyone can get a biodegradable coffin, shroud or urn, whether or not they can find a funeral director to provide one. However, ANY funeral director can order a Natural Burial Company product on your behalf. Check and compare prices - they may offer better better ones than we do, once you factor in shipping and the other services you receive from a funeral professional. Our displaying resellers are listed here
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Our wicker coffins and urns are sourced from tried-and-tested suppliers around the world, many of whom grow and/or harvest their own fiber. Thousands of these high-quality coffins have been buried or cremated throughout the UK - their designs are tried and tested, and ideal for natural burial or cremation. Each year, more North American funeral homes stock these natural products, and we look forward to the day when biodegradable coffins and urns are as common as organic foods are today.
We've even designed some of these products ourselves - the Shrouding Board(TM) and the Caskit(TM) are two of our favorites, inspired by the need for dignified shroud burial and natural DIY shipped-flat caskets that can be built or decorated at home. We work to find products for burial and cremation that lower the energy footprint, honor ecological preferences, and are made of non-synthetic and biodegradable materials. View those we offer at retail in our online natural coffin gallery and store or contact us directly for more information for either wholesale, retail, or custom-coffin options..
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To locate a natural funeral service provider we suggest you visit the Natural End Map for a list of funeral directors and cemetery operators who have signed the "Natural End Pledge." They promise to provide "natural funeral basics" like funerals without embalming and biodegradable caskets, and help clients find a nearby cemetery that offers burial without vaults or liners between body and earth. Natural End Pledge Signers often go far beyond the bare minimum, offering you creative celebrations, receptions with organic food, and even retrofitting their funeral homes to refrigerate you with solar power and compost the leftovers from your Last Big Party.
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We also recommend BOOKS AND MEDIA, keep track of ALTERNATIVE FUNERAL NEWS, consult on CEMETERY TRANSITION MANAGEMENT, and share opinions about the natural burial movement wherever we can. Sign up at our FACEBOOK PAGE to stay in touch with articles, tips and updates on the movement worldwide, and add your two cents, too!
