By Matt Mackinder
Clarkston News Editor

As the “green” movement has gained steam in recent years, finding ways to protect the environment has become commonplace in many businesses.
This is also true for burials, where natural/green burials are being offered through many funeral homes and cemeteries.
Locally, The Preserve at All Saints in Waterford offers green burials, as does the Lewis E. Wint and Son Funeral Home in Clarkston.
A natural/green burial encourages a natural process of decomposition, and in the most true-to-form green cemeteries, that setting is as close as possible to the land’s original habitat. Native plants only are chosen and are planted and tended to in a way that supports the original ecosystem, instead of manicured lawns and flower beds of traditional cemeteries.
The Preserve at All Saints is a unique burial ground in that it is a preservation ground, designed to be conforming to the natural habitat. In fact, it doesn’t look like a cemetery at all. Instead, it resembles a nature preserve, abounding with species of songbirds and plants, wild grasses, and in the case of The Preserve, lies along serene Lake Maceday.
“The green movement overall has grown over these last 15 years or so and those who are committed to a green lifestyle are looking for funeral directors and cemeteries that provide this choice,” said Russell Burns, director of The Preserve at All Saints. “The overall cost of the funeral is less expensive since a quarried stone, cement burial vaults, and expensive non-biodegradable caskets are eliminated. The deceased can be interred in a biodegradable shroud or casket. The cost of the individual gravesite is slightly more since the size of a green burial grave is much larger than a conventional grave.”
Tim Currier, a licensed funeral director at Wint, said Wint has been a longtime certified member of the Green Burial Council.
“Our funeral home has offered many ‘Shades of Green: Options for the Environmentally Aware’ since the inception of The Preserve at All Saints Cemetery,” said Currier. “We offer many environmentally friendly choices ranging from a simple cremation or burial utilizing a shroud or a bamboo eco coffin up to a ‘traditional green funeral’ utilizing an unfinished hardwood casket. Typically, a green burial would take place within 48 hours, therefore we store or have access to everything necessary to accomplish this goal. The best way to assure that your natural/green burial wishes are followed would be to pre-plan and get your final wishes on file. We offer this service without any cost or obligation.”
And while the traditional funeral service can still be respected, eco-friendly preparation techniques for viewing can be chosen with an eco-friendly casket. The casket does not have any metal or materials that break down and release back into nature. Costs for funeral services are somewhat similar to traditional funerals but without a need for a burial vault or elaborate metal casket.
According to statistics provided by the Green Burial Council, traditional burial produces 250 pounds of carbon, whereas green burial sequesters 25 pounds of carbon. To put this in context, this difference is equivalent to the carbon produced by an average American’s driving over a three-month period.
For those consumers who are dedicated to reducing their impact on the environment in life, natural/green Burial is not only in line with their values, but also provides a way to create a lasting legacy of honoring the Earth when they pass.
How many consumers are actually interested in natural/green burial?
The National Funeral Directors Association’s 2022 Consumer Awareness and Preferences Study showed that more than 60 percent of respondents are interested in green funeral options, up almost 10 percent since 2019. Findings from a 2015 Funeral and Memorialization Information Council study said 64 percent of people 40 and older would consider green burial, up from 43 percent just five years earlier.
In Clarkston, resident Amanda Ray has used a green burial twice, for her brother in 2020 and her 14-year-old daughter Addyson just this past February. Both were through The Preserve.
She said the process was very positive.
“I hate to say price first, but that was the reason in 2020,” Ray said. “I then realized what a beautiful experience it is without all of the formality of the traditional burial. It is much more personal and the space itself is healing to the people left behind.
“Green burial is more natural in many ways. Not only is it kinder to our earth, but it’s also kinder to our souls. The staff at The Preserve make the unthinkable doable and help you through every emotion, and there are many.”
Burns added that natural/green burials are becoming more commonplace.
“The most obvious benefit is that your body returns to the earth, which reduces your carbon footprint, resulting in a healthier environment for all,” said Burns. “Conventional burial as we know it with cement burial vaults, embalming, metal caskets, etcetera, gained momentum during the Civil War. Prior to this, the majority of all burials were green as we identify it today. We’ve just come full circle. Those that lead a green lifestyle are all about reducing their carbon footprint and helping the environment regain its strength that became weekend during the industrial age. Green burial benefits us all by providing nutrients to the earth, which in turn benefits microbes in the soil, then plants, insects, animals, air and water. All of which makes up our environment.
“We promote The Preserve as a ‘choice.’ Burial of cremated remains make up about 36 percent of the current interments in The Preserve presently. We encourage any with an interest in green burial to study up on the topic and visit us for a tour and to answer questions. The Preserve is a one-of-a kind cemetery, and the only one that provides this type of environment in southeastern Michigan.”
Burns also spoke about if green burials will soon take over.
“So much has changed over the last 40 years in the death care industry,” said Burns. “Few could have predicted that cremation would grow so rapidly throughout the United States. Green burial wasn’t even a recognized term among funeral professionals, but will the popularity of green burials grow at the same rate of cremation? We feel that the answer is maybe. Our belief is that the popularity of green will rise over time, particularly as younger Baby Boomers and their children age. Some families will likely expect to see green burial as a readily available choice, especially, given the desire among U.S. consumers today to have more choices available to them for funeral services and cemetery burials.
“The internet has affected every industry in so many ways, including giving everyone the ability to research topics of their choosing online. As a result those Baby Boomers, along with Gen-Xers, Millennials, and other future generations, will be more informed consumers. And the more informed they are, the more choices they will want.”
The Preserve is located at 4401 Nelsey Road in Waterford. Visit mtelliott.com/the-preserve/ or call 248-623-9633 for more information.
Wint Funeral Home is located at 5929 South Main Street in Clarkston and can be reached by calling 248-625-5231 or by visiting wintfuneralhome.com.
Coming up, The Preserve is hosting a free seminar on natural/green burial at the Clarkston Union Bar and Kitchen, 54 South Main Street in Clarkston, on May 3 at 6 p.m. For more information or to register, call 248-608-7031 or visit mtelliott.com/greener-choice. Light refreshments will be served.

PHOTO: The Preserve at All Saints in Waterford offers green burials. Photo: Mt. Elliott Cemeteries/The Preserve at All Saints