Of all the forms that green burial can take, shroud burial is the most elemental. No casket, no container — just a body wrapped in natural cloth and laid directly in the earth. It is the way most of humanity has been buried throughout most of human history. And for people who have spent their lives thinking carefully about their relationship with the natural world, it is often the most resonant choice of all.
In Canada, shroud burial is legal everywhere. But finding a cemetery that will truly accommodate it — not just permit it in theory, but actively facilitate it with the knowledge and infrastructure to do it well — is another matter.
What a Burial Shroud Actually Is
A burial shroud is simply a large piece of natural fabric used to wrap the body for burial. Traditionally made from linen, wool, or unbleached cotton, a shroud is designed to be entirely biodegradable — nothing synthetic, nothing that will persist in the soil. The body is wrapped carefully, and the shroud is secured with natural-fibre ties or tucks in the fabric itself.
Some shrouds are beautifully crafted — woven linen with simple hems, or soft wool in natural earth tones. Others are entirely plain. Some families make their own, using fabric that was meaningful to the person who has died. There is no single correct version.
How the Burial Works
Once the body is wrapped, it is typically placed on a simple wooden board or lowering frame for transport to the grave. At the cemetery, family members often participate directly in the burial — carrying the body, placing it in the earth, and filling the grave themselves if they wish. Most green burial cemeteries actively support this level of family involvement.
The grave itself is typically shallower than a conventional burial — usually around four feet rather than the traditional six — to keep the body in the biologically active zone of the soil where decomposition proceeds most naturally. A simple stone, a native plant, or a GPS marker is used for location; elaborate headstones are generally not in keeping with the character of a natural burial section.
The grave becomes part of the land. That is not a poetic choice. It is a literal description of what happens.
What to Ask a Cemetery
Not every cemetery that permits green burial has equal experience with shroud burial specifically. Some are entirely comfortable; others are less familiar. When you contact a cemetery, ask:
Have you done shroud burials before? Do you have a lowering frame or board that can be used for a shroud burial? Are there any requirements about how the shroud must be secured? Can family members carry and lower the body themselves?
The answers will quickly tell you how experienced and how genuinely accommodating the cemetery is. All of the sites listed in the directory on this site accept shroud burial — it is one of the criteria for inclusion.
Where to Get a Shroud in Canada
Several suppliers ship burial shrouds to Canada. Look for shrouds made from certified natural fibres with no synthetic content. Some funeral homes that specialize in green burial carry shrouds, and some home funeral guides can advise on sourcing and preparation.
Families who want to make their own have found the process to be one of the most meaningful acts of preparation they undertook. Simple patterns are widely available online. The only requirement is that the fabric be entirely natural and free of synthetic materials, dyes, and treatments.
Is It Right for You?
Shroud burial is not for everyone, and it does not need to be. Green burial in a simple wood coffin or biodegradable casket is still a genuine and ecologically sound choice. But for families who find meaning in the directness of it — in the body returning to the earth with nothing between it and the soil — shroud burial offers something that no other option does.
It is worth sitting with that question. The answer, when it comes, tends to be clear.