Green Burial / Cremation Services in Calgary, Alberta

Green Burial is a statement of personal values for those who seek to minimize their impact on the local and global environment. For people who are mindful of the cyclical nature of life, green burial is a spiritually fulfilling alternative to conventional burial or cremation. It is an environmentally sensitive practice: the body is returned to the earth to decompose naturally and contribute to new life. 

McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes is Calgary's exclusive Green Burial Certified Funeral Home

What is a Green Burial Certified Provider? Click here to learn more

  • Respect for families’ wishes
  • Commitment to worker safety
  • Support of green burial initiatives
  • Trust in maintaining verifiable standards 
  • Dedication to protecting the environment
  • Participation in shaping the future of funeral service
  • Commitment to an ethic rooted in transparency, accountability, and ecological responsibility 

Did You Know?

  • Products will biodegrade at varying times depending on the composition of the soil and ground in that given area. Dryer climates will take longer than a wet soil environment.
  • Products with no stain/finish will decompose faster than with a compound or stain finish.
  • When contemplating Green Burial products, it is important to also consider steps taken to transport and move product to different regions – thus reducing additional carbon footprint.
  • Families can request to spend time with their loved one without the use of traditional embalming chemicals
    • ​Green alternative embalming chemicals are available
    • Viewing can be arranged without embalming

Hardwood Caskets

  • All our green wood burial products are made in Canada
  • Our willow and seagrass casket is certified by the Green Burial Society of Canada
  • Poplar is the main wood species milled primarily due to it’s accessibility and proximity, thus minimizing the carbon footprint
  • Our products contain no chemical finish, and when necessary a vegetable-based finish is used. This shortens the time it takes for the unit to decompose.
  • Products are manufactured using wood hinges and wood finger joints to limit the amount of metal placed in the ground. They are 99% combustible
  • Products are manufactured in a 100% renewable energy facility
  • Interiors are made with 100% natural unbleached cotton

Seagrass Caskets

  • Hand crafted primarily from renewable materials like willow and seagrass rope
  • Certified by the Green Burial Society of Canada
  • Seagrass is not harvested from delicate marine environments, rather they are cultivated in rice paddy-like fields capable of yearly re-growth
  • Contains no metal
  • Biodegradable
  • Interiors are made with 100% natural unbleached cloth



Green Burial Resources

Learn more about green burial options becoming more accessible in Alberta by reading an article on Global News.