There’s no denying how the funeral industry has been largely known for formality, tradition, and a very slow adoption of new ideas throughout the last several decades.
However, as environmental awareness becomes more widespread across the United States and countless consumers start seeking more sustainable ways to honor loved ones, a gigantic surge in startups has essentially reshaped the entire funeral industry.
We’re talking about green burials, which was once considered a niche concept and is now a new driving force behind an unexpected revolution in end-of-life care. We recently interviewed a green burial service provider in Yellow Springs, Ohio in order to get a deeper glimpse into exactly why green burials have been growing in popularity, so check out the below sections to see how green burials are taking over the funeral industry!
A New Generation Increasingly Wants Sustainable Funerals
Today’s families include many Gen Z and Millennial members, and these younger generations are often more uncomfortable with the ecological footprints associated with traditional burials—which typically involve non-biodegradable caskets, embalming chemicals and carbon-intense cemetery maintenance.
Although cremation is often considered to be a green alternative to conventional funerals, these services still release a substantial amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as well.
And because more people are becoming aware of these types of environmental externalities, an industry door has subsequently been opened for entrepreneurs to provide accessible, eco-friendly memorial options. This entrepreneurial opportunity is undoubtedly one of the biggest reasons why we’re now seeing countless startups take a green burial approach with their business models!
Regenerative Design & Biodegradable Materials Are Growing In Popularity
Another significant innovation that’s emerging from the funeral startup ecosystem is an increasing focus on biodegradable burial products.
Many funeral homes and end-of-life care companies are currently developing shrouds and caskets that are sourced from sustainable materials like bamboo, wood, grasses and natural fibers. There are also many startups that are currently going even further to create living burial pods that essentially turn a decedent’s body into tree or plant nutrients—which in turn transforms gravesites into regenerative ecosystems.
These types of sustainable solutions are drawing a lot of appeal from consumers who want their eventual passing to contribute to the planet’s life source, as opposed to harm it!
Composting & Mycelium Startups Are Pushing Innovative Boundaries
Another headline-grabbing change in the funeral industry has come through many startups currently experimenting with naturally powered biodegradable materials like mycelium.
Mycelium is a fundamental structure found within fungi, and it has quickly become a star within the green burial movement throughout recent years. What companies are doing is developing mycelium caskets that naturally decompose, which subsequently accelerates a decedent’s bodily return to the earth—all while filtering out harmful toxins.
Human composting has also been gaining traction where it’s been legalized throughout the United States. These startups are using moisture, oxygen and microbial activity to transform an individual’s remains into nutrient-rich soil—all within a matter of a few weeks.
Modernized Transparency & Planning Via Digital Tools
It’s also important to note how green burials aren’t simply about funeral materials, because a big part of this movement is the user experience.
This is why a lot of startups are currently creating digital platforms that make the funeral planning process more simplified. These platforms are allowing families to more easily compare prices, choose natural cemetery locations, organize burial pods, and better understand composting services all with just a handful of swipes.
Some green burial platforms are also utilizing geolocation tools that help families map out natural burial sites and ultimately keep track of memorial trees and gravesites.
Conservation & Green Cemetery Partnerships Are Expanding Access
It’s also become clearly apparent how a large number of startups are now purchasing large swaths of land by partnering with private landowners in order to create green burial grounds that also serve as environmental conservation spaces.
These green cemeteries don’t utilize traditional headstones, and instead they’ll have native markers or digital memorials accessed via QR codes.
For conservation organizations, green burial partnerships are going a long way to help generate funds for land preservation efforts. And for grieving families, these grounds provide a peaceful alternative to traditional cemeteries.
The Future Of The Funeral Industry Is Ethical, Scalable & Eco-Friendly
The next generation is undoubtedly being increasingly more defined by sustainability, and this is creating a growing demand in green burial solutions nationwide.
Countless startups in the United States are currently paving a new path forward for the entire funeral industry, which has been resistant to innovation for a very long time. These nature-based technologies, biodegradable products, digital planning tools and conservation partnerships are all working together to prove right now in 2025 that honoring a loved one’s life can easily coincide with honoring the earth.
And even though green burials were once considered to be a niche alternative, they’re quickly becoming the go-to option for forward-thinking families everywhere!
