Green Burial Introduction
Green Burials
Green Burial, or Natural Burial is coming into popularity as more and more people are now taking the stewardship of our environment serious. Green Burials are becoming more popular.
What is Green Burial?
Green 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.
Vessels for the body
Caskets, shrouds and urns are all vessel that hold the body. Any that are chosen for Green Burial must be free from all toxic chemicals or glues, paints or varnishes, metal or any other material not 100% bio-degradable. They also have to be approved by the Green Burial Council and Swan Point Cemetery for internment in their Ellipse Section.
Swan Point Cemetery
585 Blackstone Blvd., Providence, Rhode Island
Rhode Island's only Green Burial Cemetery
Ellipse Section
Spaces available for natural burial are located in the “historic core” of the cemetery known as the Ellipse. Surrounded by mature trees and shrubs the land will be kept free of monuments preserving its natural setting. A granite ledger is available for communal inscriptions of names.
Every grave space allows for one full body burial, or two sets of cremated remains. Cremated remains must be placed in a biodegradable urn then buried. Both full body and cremation interments will take place without the use of any type of outer container therefore will be considered permanent and irretrievable
BURIAL CONTAINERS
Swan Point requires the use of simple caskets made of wood or wicker for all natural burials. Wooden caskets must be free of toxic materials; they should be held together with wooden dowels and non-toxic glues. Caskets made of wicker, bamboo and other natural materials must be free of toxic paints and varnishes. The dimensions of a handmade casket should be similar to the size of a standard casket. If an oversized casket is required, please notify Swan Point to ensure that the grave can be expanded to the casket’s dimensions. The structural integrity of the casket must provide for appropriate handling of the body throughout the burial process. Shrouded bodies are permitted, but must be enclosed in a biodegradable casket.