When people hear the phrase burial shroud, the first reaction is often a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. Is it simply a sheet? Is it only for certain religions? Is it something you “can” do in the U.S., or is it a niche idea that only works in special cemeteries?
In real life, shroud burial is usually much simpler than families expect. A shroud is a fabric wrap used to enclose and carry the body for burial, often chosen because it feels honest, human, and aligned with nature. Many families who are drawn to eco friendly burial options find a shroud emotionally resonant because it removes layers of industrial complexity and centers the goodbye on care, presence, and a gentle return to the earth. The Green Burial Council describes the burial “container” broadly as what covers the body when placed in the ground—often a casket or a shroud—and notes that it should be 100% biodegradable for green burial settings.
That said, the “simple” part does not mean “no planning.” A shroud burial works best when the cemetery’s rules are clear, the materials meet the site’s standards, and the family understands whether a burial shroud carrier (a supporting board, tray, or stretcher) is needed for transport and lowering. If you want a grounded overview that walks through shrouds, carriers, and how families choose between them, Funeral.com’s guide What Is a Burial Shroud? Natural Burial Shrouds, Carriers, and How to Choose is a steady place to start.
How Shroud Burial Works
At its core, a shroud burial is a practical process wrapped in tenderness. The body is cared for, wrapped in fabric, and transported to the burial site. The details vary based on whether the family is working with a funeral home, a green burial cemetery, or a home funeral guide, but the flow is generally recognizable.
First comes timing and preservation. Many families assume embalming is required, especially if they’ve only experienced traditional funerals. In the U.S., embalming is not routinely required by state law, and some states allow refrigeration as an alternative if disposition is delayed. The Federal Trade Commission explains in its consumer guidance that “No state law requires routine embalming for every death,” and notes that refrigeration is often an acceptable alternative. See The FTC Funeral Rule for the plain-language overview.
Next comes washing, dressing, and wrapping. In some religious traditions, shrouding follows specific customs. In other settings, the shroud is simply a natural-fiber wrap designed to hold the body securely. Some families choose a shroud with built-in straps or handles. Others choose a simple cloth and rely on a carrier for stability. The goal is not to “do it perfectly.” The goal is to do it safely and respectfully, in a way that matches the cemetery’s requirements and the family’s comfort level.
Then comes transport and lowering. This is where a shroud can look different depending on the cemetery. Some natural burial grounds allow a shroud alone. Others require a rigid support for carrying and lowering, even if the body is wrapped in fabric. Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, for example, requires the body not be embalmed and to be prepared for burial in a biodegradable shroud or container, noting that a shroud can be as simple as a cotton sheet and that vaults are not allowed. See their requirements for funeral directors at Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery.
Finally comes the graveside moment. Families sometimes worry that a shroud burial will feel “less ceremonial.” In practice, it often feels more intimate. A shroud can make the burial feel like a shared act of care—especially when families participate in readings, prayers, songs, or quiet lowering rituals that reflect the person’s values and the landscape itself.
Burial Shroud Materials: What Matters and Why
If you are searching for burial shroud materials, you are already asking the right question. In green or natural settings, the material is not just aesthetic. It is the difference between “allowed” and “not allowed,” and it can also be the difference between fast decomposition and a long-lasting synthetic barrier in the soil.
The Green Burial Council’s standards and definitions consistently point toward nontoxic, readily biodegradable materials for green burial products. In its FAQ, the GBC notes that a casket, urn, or shroud is suitable for green burial if it is made of materials and substances that are “nontoxic and readily biodegradable,” and it references certification standards and certified providers. See the Green Burial Council FAQ. The GBC also explains that its certified products are made from plant-derived, natural, animal, or unfired earthen materials, and that finishes, adhesives, and dyes on certified products are designed not to release toxic byproducts in the ground. See What is Green Burial?.
In practical consumer language, most “green” shrouds are made from natural fibers such as cotton, linen, hemp, or wool. The Green Burial Project’s resource page on shrouds lists natural materials used for green shrouds, including cotton, linen, hemp, wool, and other natural fibers. See Green Burial Project: Find Burial Shrouds.
What families typically avoid is just as important: synthetic fabrics, plastic liners, foam padding, and finishes or treatments that may not break down cleanly. This is where your cemetery’s rules matter more than a generic “eco” label. A shroud can be natural fiber and still be rejected if the cemetery prohibits certain dyes, requires certified products, or mandates a carrier for lowering.
Shroud vs Casket: How Families Choose Without Feeling Pulled in Two Directions
Families often frame the decision as shroud vs casket, but it is rarely a purely practical decision. It is often a values decision layered onto a logistics decision.
A casket (even a biodegradable one) can offer easier handling for transport, and it may be preferred if the family wants a traditional visitation or if the funeral home’s processes are built around casketed movement. A shroud can feel more natural and less industrial, and it can be a deeply meaningful fit for families who want simplicity, minimal materials, and a strong sense of “returning to the earth.”
The place where families get surprised is the cemetery. Traditional cemeteries may require an outer burial container such as a vault or liner for maintenance reasons, even when a family wants a minimal-impact burial. The FTC notes that outer burial containers are not required by state law, but many cemeteries require them to prevent graves from caving in. See The FTC Funeral Rule. In contrast, green burial grounds commonly prohibit vaults and focus on biodegradable containers. The National Funeral Directors Association describes green burial as interment directly in the earth without a concrete vault or metal casket, using biodegradable materials such as wooden caskets or shrouds, with the goal of natural decomposition and return to soil.
If you want a calm comparison of these container options—wicker, plain wood, shrouds, and the way cemetery rules shape what is realistic—Funeral.com’s guide Eco-Friendly Caskets and Shrouds: Greener Choices for Earth Burial connects the emotional “why” to the practical “what is permitted.”
What a Burial Shroud Carrier Is and When You Need One
A burial shroud carrier is a rigid support used to move and lower a shrouded body. Some families imagine a complicated device. In practice, it can be extremely simple: a flat wooden board, a woven tray, or a biodegradable stretcher that supports safe carrying and dignified lowering. Some carriers are rented or provided by the burial ground. Some are purchased as part of a set. Some are arranged with cemetery guidance when simplicity is expected.
Why does this matter? Because many cemeteries want assurance that the body can be moved safely and lowered without undue strain on staff or family. A shroud with built-in handles may be sufficient in one setting and not in another. The cemetery’s rules and the person’s body size are part of the equation, and it is completely reasonable to ask a burial ground, “Do you require a carrier, and if so, what kind?” Prairie Creek, for example, notes that shrouds must be biodegradable fabric and emphasizes that shrouding methods vary, but that the shroud must cover the entire body and be secure. See Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery.
If you are planning a family-led vigil or a home funeral, shrouding can also be part of gentle body care at home, with a funeral director handling only the legal forms and transport when you are ready. Funeral.com’s guide Home Funerals and Family-Led Care explains how home-based care can work in practice, including the role of shrouding and cooling plans.
Green Burial Requirements: What Is Common and What Varies
Families often hear “green burial” and assume it is one uniform standard. In reality, green burial requirements vary by cemetery type and certification, and the best way to avoid frustration is to think in terms of “the basic green principles” plus “this cemetery’s specific rules.”
At the principle level, the Green Burial Council’s definition of green burial emphasizes practices such as foregoing toxic embalming, doing away with vaults, and choosing biodegradable containers including caskets, shrouds, and urns. See Green Burial Defined. The Funeral Consumers Alliance describes green burial similarly, emphasizing no embalming chemicals, placement in a biodegradable coffin or shroud, and interment without a concrete burial vault to allow natural decomposition. See FCA: Green Burial & Other Environmentally Friendly Choices. NFDA echoes the same foundational elements in its overview of green burial. See NFDA: Green Burial.
At the cemetery-policy level, variation is normal. Some cemeteries are hybrid cemeteries (a green section within a conventional cemetery). Some are natural burial grounds. Some are conservation burial grounds with additional land stewardship requirements. The Green Burial Council describes these categories and notes that cemeteries must still follow state laws and the site’s operational constraints. See What is Green Burial?. For families who want the “what do we ask, and what does it mean” version of this, Funeral.com’s guide Green Burial and Natural Burial Grounds: Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Traditional Funerals breaks down green cemetery requirements in practical terms.
One of the most important practical clarifications is embalming. Families often fear they are “not allowed” to skip embalming. As the FTC explains, no state law requires routine embalming for every death, though some states require embalming or refrigeration if disposition is not handled within a certain time. See The FTC Funeral Rule. In green burial settings, embalming is typically avoided, with refrigeration or dry ice used when timing requires it. NFDA’s green burial overview notes that natural burial grounds seek to bury without impediment, including no embalming and no vaults. See NFDA: Green Burial.
The Questions That Prevent Most Surprises
When families run into problems with shroud burial, it is rarely because the idea itself was flawed. It is usually because a cemetery requirement was discovered too late. A short set of questions, asked early, can prevent most last-minute stress.
| What to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Do you allow a natural burial shroud as the only container? | Some cemeteries allow shroud-only burial; others require a carrier or biodegradable container for lowering. |
| If a carrier is required, what kind of burial shroud carrier is acceptable? | “Carrier” can mean a simple board, tray, or certified product; the acceptable type varies by site. |
| Do you prohibit vaults or require an outer burial container? | Green burial grounds often prohibit vaults, while conventional cemeteries may require them. The FTC notes vaults are not required by state law but may be required by cemeteries. |
| Do you require certified products or specific burial shroud materials? | Some green cemeteries accept any biodegradable natural fiber; others prefer or require certification standards. The GBC explains criteria for suitable products and maintains a provider list. |
| What is your timeline requirement for refrigeration or disposition if embalming is not used? | Some states or facilities require refrigeration or timely disposition; the FTC notes rules vary and refrigeration is often an acceptable alternative. |
These questions are not “pushy.” They are respectful. They protect the family’s experience and ensure that the burial day is about meaning, not about negotiating policy under stress.
Where to Shop for Burial Shrouds in the U.S.
If you are searching buy burial shroud, you have a few realistic paths, and the best one depends on how strict your burial ground’s rules are and how much guidance you want during the process.
Many families start with the funeral home or the green burial cemetery itself. This can be the simplest route because the provider is already familiar with the burial ground’s requirements and can help you choose a shroud (and carrier, if needed) that meets the rules. If you want to shop independently but still keep quality and standards in view, the Green Burial Council maintains a directory of certified burial products, including shrouds and shroud providers. See GBC: Burial Products. The GBC also states that many families use locally sourced products from artisans or family, and encourages considering the full lifecycle of what you choose when a certified product is not used. See What is Green Burial?.
For families who want a practical list of shroud makers and educational resources, the Green Burial Project provides a “find burial shrouds” resource page and notes that green shrouds are made from natural materials such as cotton, linen, hemp, and wool, among other natural fibers. See Green Burial Project: Find Burial Shrouds. Even if you do not purchase from a listed provider, the page is useful for understanding what materials and constructions are commonly accepted in natural burial contexts.
There is also a third path that many families find emotionally meaningful: creating a shroud from a family textile, such as a cotton sheet, quilt, or linen cloth, as long as the burial ground permits it. Some green burial cemeteries explicitly recognize that a shroud can be simple, and Prairie Creek’s guidance notes that shrouds can be as simple as bed sheets or a quilt, provided the fabric is biodegradable and the shroud is secure. See Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery. The key is not “DIY for the sake of DIY.” The key is confirming the cemetery’s rules, then choosing what feels personal and appropriate.
What to Expect Emotionally
Families sometimes worry that choosing a shroud will feel stark. In practice, it often feels softer. It can feel like care rather than display. It can feel like privacy rather than performance. It can also feel like clarity: we are doing something simple, we understand why we chose it, and we are not adding unnecessary materials that do not reflect the person’s values.
At the same time, a shroud burial can bring up questions in a family, especially if relatives expected a more traditional service. In those situations, it helps to explain it in plain words: “We’re choosing a biodegradable wrap instead of a conventional casket because this person cared about simplicity and the earth, and the cemetery allows it.” NFDA’s description of green burial includes using biodegradable materials such as wooden caskets or shrouds and avoiding vaults, which can help families understand that this is a recognized option, not an eccentric one. See NFDA: Green Burial.
If Your Family Is Still Comparing Burial and Cremation
Not every family ends up choosing green burial, even when they love the idea. Sometimes distance, cost, or local availability makes cremation a better fit. If you are weighing options, Funeral.com’s guide Green Burial vs Cremation walks through the tradeoffs in a calm, practical way.
And if cremation is the path your family chooses, you can still make environmentally aligned choices afterward. Funeral.com’s collection of Biodegradable & Eco-Friendly Urns for Ashes is designed for families who want a memorial that returns gently to nature in soil or water ceremonies.
The Bottom Line
A green burial shroud is not a complicated concept. It is a biodegradable fabric wrap that supports a natural return to the earth, often paired with simple handling tools when required. The key to a smooth experience is aligning the shroud with the cemetery’s rules and choosing burial shroud materials that are nontoxic and readily biodegradable, as standards like the Green Burial Council’s emphasize. From there, the choice becomes less about “getting it right” and more about choosing what feels honest for your person and realistic for your family.
