What is an eco-friendly funeral in Australia?

More Australian families now want a farewell that is gentler on the environment, and there are real, dignified ways to have one. A greener funeral still gives the person the same care and dignity, just with a lighter footprint.

The main options are a natural burial, a biodegradable coffin or shroud, and, in Victoria, water cremation. Each lowers the impact in its own way, and none has to cost more than a conventional funeral. A natural burial often comes in at about the same price, or a little less.

This guide covers what actually makes a funeral more eco-friendly, how natural burial works, the greener coffin options, water cremation and where it is available, and how the choices compare. Take it at your own pace.

What makes a funeral more eco-friendly?

Three choices do most of the work. Skipping embalming keeps its chemicals out of the soil, a biodegradable coffin or shroud breaks down cleanly, and choosing a lower-energy option reduces emissions. A genuine natural funeral usually brings all three together, rather than relying on any single one.

What is a natural burial?

A natural burial returns the body to the earth as simply as possible. There is no embalming, the coffin or shroud is biodegradable, and the grave sits in a dedicated natural or bushland section rather than a manicured lawn. Instead of a headstone, the area is left to regenerate as native bush, with each grave recorded and often marked by GPS or a shared memorial.

There are 13 dedicated natural burial grounds across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, the ACT and Tasmania as of 2026, according to Compare Funeral Directors. A natural burial typically costs $3,000 to $7,000 all up, in line with a conventional service. Our cremation or burial guide sets the wider options alongside each other.

Which coffins are the greener choice?

The greener coffins are the biodegradable ones: cardboard, untreated pine, bamboo, willow, or a simple wool or calico shroud. They break down cleanly in a natural burial and burn more efficiently than a heavy lacquered timber coffin in a cremation. The table below shows the rough cost of each.

These figures come from the Funerals Direct team's review of published supplier pricing in 2026. For the full picture on coffins, including traditional options, see our coffins and caskets guide.

What is water cremation?

Water cremation, also called aquamation or alkaline hydrolysis, uses heated water and an alkaline solution instead of flame to return the body to ash. It uses about 90% less energy than a flame cremation and releases no emissions into the air, which makes it one of the lower-impact options available.

As of 2026 it is legal in Victoria, where several providers offer it for about $2,800 to $4,500, roughly the same as a direct cremation. New South Wales, South Australia and the ACT have signalled they are open to it, while Queensland and Western Australia have not authorised it yet, so it is worth asking what is available in your state.

Is cremation or burial better for the environment?

Neither is impact-free, and the honest answer is that the estimates are closer than many people assume. A flame cremation uses energy and releases carbon dioxide, while a conventional burial takes land, and over the years its footprint comes mostly from cemetery upkeep and any embalming chemicals. The clearly lower-impact choices are a natural burial without embalming, or water cremation where it is available. Our cremation or burial guide weighs the two in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

When you are ready

• Cremation or burial: how to decide
• Coffins and caskets: types, materials and prices
• What to do with ashes in Australia
• Burial costs explained
• How much does a funeral cost in Australia?
• Find a funeral director near you