Inspired Funeral Home · The Avenues, Salt Lake City
Green burial in Salt Lake City
A Natural, Dignified Return to the Earth
Green burial means no embalming, a biodegradable casket or shroud, and no concrete vault where the cemetery allows it. Utah does not require embalming, so a natural burial is fully legal here. Call (385) 853-5700 and a licensed director will tell you which local cemeteries offer natural sections and what it costs on our price list.
What happens next
From your first call onward
- 01
Call us, any hour
Call (385) 853-5700. A licensed funeral director answers day or night, takes your loved one into our care, and tells you exactly what happens next.
- 02
Choose the cemetery section
We confirm which Salt Lake area cemeteries accept shroud or biodegradable-casket burials and reserve the plot.
- 03
A simple, natural service
Refrigeration instead of embalming, a graveside gathering, and a committal with the casket or shroud lowered by hand if the family wishes.
Is this the right choice?
Who this is for — and who it isn't
A good fit when
- Families who want the lightest environmental footprint
- Families whose faith calls for burial without embalming
- Anyone pre-planning who wants a natural burial written down
Probably not the right fit if
- —Families who want a public viewing days after death; refrigeration limits the timeline
- —Families who want cremation; cremation is a different choice with its own page
The details
Natural and green burial options
Green burial, sometimes called natural burial, is the practice of caring for the dead with as little environmental impact as possible. It forgoes formaldehyde-based embalming, metal caskets, and concrete vaults in favor of biodegradable caskets or natural shrouds, allowing the body to return to the earth naturally. For many families, it is both an environmental choice and a spiritual one — a simple, honest farewell that reflects a life lived close to nature.
Utah families increasingly ask about greener options, and Inspired Funeral Home is glad to provide them. We help you choose from biodegradable caskets made of wicker, bamboo, or untreated wood, as well as natural fiber shrouds. Because green burial skips embalming, timing matters, and our funeral directors will walk you through what to expect and how to plan a service that fits your wishes.
We can coordinate burial in a dedicated green burial garden — a natural setting set aside for this purpose — including at Historic City View Cemetery, which maintains a Green Burial Garden here in Salt Lake City. Whether you want a graveside gathering, a memorial afterward, or a quiet, private committal, we help arrange a service that honors your loved one and the earth alike.
Green burial is often more economical than conventional burial because it eliminates embalming, a metal casket, and a vault. As with all of our services, we provide clear, itemized pricing with no pressure, so you can make the choice that is right for your family and your values.
Gentle on the Earth
No formaldehyde-based embalming, no metal casket, and no concrete vault. Green burial uses biodegradable materials so your loved one returns to the earth naturally.
Biodegradable Caskets & Shrouds
Choose from natural caskets of untreated wood, wicker, or bamboo, or a simple natural-fiber shroud — beautiful, dignified, and fully biodegradable.
A Dedicated Green Burial Garden
We coordinate burial in a natural setting reserved for green burial, including Historic City View Cemetery’s Green Burial Garden in Salt Lake City.
Often More Economical
By eliminating embalming, a metal casket, and a vault, green burial is frequently more affordable than conventional burial — with the same dignity and care.
Meaningful & Personal
Green burial can be paired with any service you wish — a graveside gathering, a memorial celebration, or a quiet private committal that reflects your loved one’s values.
Guidance Every Step
Our funeral directors explain your options, timing, and what to expect, and handle coordination with the cemetery so your family can focus on remembrance.
5.0 stars on Google
8 verified reviews from Salt Lake families, as of September 2026.
Your options
Green burial choices
01
Natural Burial
Burial without embalming, in a biodegradable casket or shroud and without a concrete vault, allowing a natural return to the earth in a green burial garden.
- —Biodegradable casket or natural shroud
- —No formaldehyde-based embalming
- —No concrete vault
- —Burial in a dedicated green burial garden
02
Green Burial with a Memorial
A natural burial paired with a memorial gathering — at graveside, our funeral home, or a meaningful location — so family and friends can come together to remember.
- —Natural, vault-free burial
- —Graveside or memorial service
- —Personalized tributes and readings
- —Support with obituary and planning
03
Green Burial Pre-Planning
Document your wish for a natural burial in advance, so your family understands your values and is spared difficult decisions during grief. We record your preferences and lock in today’s pricing.
- —Wishes clearly documented
- —Transparent, locked-in pricing
- —Peace of mind for your family
- —Coordination with a green burial garden
Questions families ask
Green burial questions
Common questions about natural and green burial in Utah, answered.
Green burial, or natural burial, cares for the dead with minimal environmental impact. It forgoes formaldehyde-based embalming, metal caskets, and concrete vaults, using biodegradable caskets or natural shrouds so the body returns to the earth naturally.
Yes. Green burial is legal in Utah. Embalming is not required by law in most circumstances, and biodegradable caskets or shrouds are permitted. Burial takes place in a cemetery that offers a green or natural burial section. We handle the coordination and any required documentation.
No. Green burial specifically avoids formaldehyde-based embalming. Because the body is not embalmed, we plan timing carefully and can use refrigeration and other natural methods to allow time for viewings or services when desired.
We coordinate green burial in dedicated natural burial settings, including Historic City View Cemetery’s Green Burial Garden in Salt Lake City. We will help you choose a location that fits your family’s wishes and arrange every detail.
Often, yes. Because green burial eliminates embalming, a metal casket, and a concrete vault, it is frequently more economical than conventional burial. As always, we provide transparent, itemized pricing so you know your options up front.
Absolutely. Green burial can be paired with any service you wish — a graveside gathering, a full memorial or celebration of life, or a quiet private committal. We help you create a meaningful farewell that reflects your loved one’s life and values.
Yes. A veteran can choose a natural burial and still receive military funeral honors. We coordinate both the green burial and the honors your veteran earned. Learn more on our veteran funeral services page.
Related
Families also ask about
Where we serve
Green Burial for families across the Salt Lake Valley
One location in the Avenues, transfer within 50 miles included. Families reach us from every part of the county.
Find us
Inspired Funeral Home1001 E 11th Ave Ste C
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
In the Avenues, a few blocks from the Salt Lake City Cemetery and minutes from University of Utah Health and LDS Hospital. Transfer within 50 miles is included.
Any hour, any day
Talk with a funeral director about green burial
Call (385) 853-5700. You will reach a licensed director, not an answering service, and you never have to decide anything on the first call.