Returns the body to the earth directly. There is no embalming or sealed casket, often just a simple shroud or biodegradable container is used. The body decomposes naturally, returning its nutrients to the soil and supporting the ecosystem around it. Many green burial sites function as nature preserves, protecting land while honoring the dead. Rather than a traditional headstone, graves are marked with natural elements—unpolished stone, native plantings, or a tree, and GPS coordinates are commonly provided so families can always locate their loved one. It is legal in all fifty states, making it the most accessible alternative to conventional burial, though requirements vary slightly by state.

Sometimes called natural organic reduction, human composting is a gentle alternative to cremation or burial that mirrors nature's own cycle of renewal. This low environmental impact process accelerates the body's transformation into nutrient rich soil over 60 to 90 days through a controlled process using oxygen, plant material, heat, and moisture to create microbial activity and the decomposition process. The resulting compost can be used to nourish land, forests, or gardens, or returned to the family for personal use. It is a newer option, currently legalized in around 14 states (Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, California, New York, Nevada, Arizona, Maryland, Delaware, Minnesota, Maine, Georgia, New Jersey), with more considering legislation.

Uses water and a gentle alkaline solution rather than fire to dissolve the body's soft tissue, leaving only the bones. It uses a fraction of the energy of cremation and produces no direct emissions. It is now authorized in a growing number of states.

Burial at sea is legal across the United States for anyone with access to ocean waters—meaning any coastal state, including California. It is governed federally by the EPA under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act. All burials must take place at least three nautical miles from shore. Full-body burial requires a minimum water depth of 600 feet, biodegradable materials throughout, and specialized weighting to ensure the body sinks. Cremated remains may be scattered at the same three-nautical-mile minimum, the depth requirement does not apply to scattering. All materials, including any casket, urn, or burial cloth, must be biodegradable. State requirements may vary, so it's worth checking with your local environmental or health agency for any additional permits or notifications required in your area. For international burial at sea, legality and requirements are governed by the laws of the country in whose waters the burial takes place, regulations vary significantly, so consulting with a local authority or funeral professional in that country is strongly recommended. It’s available in the Los Angeles area. 

Eternal Reefs combines cremated remains with specialized concrete to create a dome-shaped reef ball that is lowered into designated ocean waters, where it becomes a living artificial reef supporting marine life. Families can participate in the casting process, pressing handprints into the mixture before it sets, and many choose to be present for the placement. Each reef's GPS coordinates are permanently recorded, giving families a specific place in the ocean to return to. Operating under federal EPA regulation, Eternal Reefs is legal nationwide and one of the few ecological alternatives families can access directly and be present for throughout the process.