With more people seeking sustainable and meaningful end-of-life options, eco-conscious estate planning and natural burial are growing in popularity. These approaches integrate principles of sustainability, legacy, and care for future generations into the estate planning process.

Eco-Conscious Planning Options

Personal values can play a significant role in estate planning. Many individuals pursuing eco-conscious estate planning choose to:

• Direct part of their estate to environmental nonprofits, land trusts, or conservation organizations.
• Create a donor-advised fund to support environmental or conservation projects.
• Include instructions about how to divide, distribute, repurpose, and steward their tangible assets, such as heirloom tools.

Landowners with ecologically significant property can generate a charitable deduction by:

• Placing land under a conservation easement, or
• Adding deed restrictions to preserve the land for nature or public access.

Natural Burial: A Sustainable Option

Another eco-conscious choice is a natural burial, often referred to as a “green burial.” This involves burying loved ones without using non-biodegradable material such as embalming fluid, metal or lacquered caskets, or cement vaults. Instead, natural burials use:

• Biodegradable materials such as cotton clothing and natural fibers.
• Simple or sustainably sourced wooden caskets.

Natural burials often take place in:

• Natural burial grounds designed around eco-conscious practices.
• Conservation cemeteries protected by a permanent conservation easement.
• Designated natural-burial sections within traditional cemeteries.
• Private burial grounds, such as family cemeteries (permits and approvals required).

Natural burial is steadily regaining popularity across the U.S. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, almost two-thirds of Americans would consider natural burial, up from half just five years ago.

Estate Planning That Aligns with Personal Values

Sustainability-minded individuals have many options for eco-conscious estate planning and end-of-life planning.