28/05/2026
Facts on Embalming ~ a case for Green Burial
Embalming, Conventional Burial, and Green Burial
in Canada.
In Canada, embalming is a regulated preservation procedure carried out mainly by licensed funeral
professionals. It is not legally required in most situations, though it is commonly used when burial is delayed,
for public viewing, or for long-distance transport.
Many people consent to embalming without fully understanding what the procedure involves. Learning the
actual physical process has led increasing numbers of Canadians to reconsider conventional burial practices and
explore green burial as a gentler, less invasive, and less environmentally damaging alternative.
Sensitive information notice:
The following section includes a factual description of embalming procedures. Some readers may find the
content detailed or confronting. It is offered for educational purposes to support informed choice and
understanding of end-of-life care options.
Conventional embalming: what happens to the body
Conventional embalming generally unfolds in four stages:
• washing and preparation
• arterial embalming
• cavity embalming
• cosmetic restoration and dressing
The body is first washed and disinfected. Clothing is removed, the body is positioned, and rigor mortis may be
relieved through massage and forced movement of the limbs.
Closing the eyes and mouth
The eyes are commonly closed using plastic “eye caps” placed beneath the eyelids or with adhesive.
The mouth is usually closed by:
• internal suturing through the jaw and nasal passages,
• small anchoring devices that pin or wire the jaw shut,
• adhesives are used to shape the lips into a pleasing expression.
The intention is to create the appearance of peaceful sleep.
Arterial embalming
An incision is usually made near a major artery and vein, often in the neck near the carotid artery and jugular
vein, though other access points may be used.
A tube is inserted into the artery, and embalming fluid is pumped through the vascular system while blood is
simultaneously drained from the veins.
The fluid commonly contains:
• formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde,
• methanol,
• disinfectants,
• dyes,
• and moisture-preserving chemicals.
As the chemicals circulate, the body may be massaged to improve distribution into the tissues and extremities.
The purpose of arterial embalming is not healing or care of the body, but chemical preservation — slowing
decomposition by saturating tissues with preservatives. An embalmed loved one in a steel lined casket with a
concrete liner in the grave can take hundreds of years to decompose. A green burial takes less that ten years
depending on soil composition.
Cavity embalming
After arterial embalming, a trocar — a long hollow metal instrument with a sharp point — is inserted through a
small incision in the abdomen.
The trocar is pushed deep into the torso to puncture and aspirate internal organs. It is used to:
• remove blood, fluids, and gases,
• suction contents from organs,
• and inject concentrated preservative chemicals into the body cavities.
The organs commonly punctured or aspirated include:
• the stomach,
• intestines,
• lungs,
• bladder,
• and often the liver and heart area.
This process is intended to slow decomposition inside the body cavity, where arterial chemicals may not fully
pe*****te.
After aspiration and chemical injection:
• the trocar entry point is sealed,
• incision sites are screwed or sutured closed
• and leakage points are closed with embalming fluid saturated packing and adhesives
If an autopsy has occurred, the chest and abdomen have already been surgically opened. The organs are
generally returned inside a viscera(heavy duty plastic) bag, and the torso is sewn closed with a long continuous
suture before embalming continues.
Cosmetic restoration
After embalming:
• hair is arranged,
• shaving may be done,
• cosmetics are applied,
• the body is dressed,
• and positioned in the casket.
In some cases, restorative waxes, fillers, adhesives, or reconstruction techniques are used to reshape facial
features or damaged tissue.
The overall purpose of embalming is preservation and presentation — delaying visible decomposition and
creating a viewable appearance for funeral rituals, though many families are now also choosing gentler, non-
invasive approaches such as cooling techniques and green burial.
The impact on funeral workers
Conventional embalming is intimate and technically skilled work, but it also exposes funeral workers to
repeated chemical and biological hazards.
Embalmers routinely encounter:
• formaldehyde vapours,
• chemical disinfectants,
• bloodborne pathogens,
• bodily fluids,
• and the physical demands of invasive body preparation.
Formaldehyde exposure has been associated with:
• respiratory irritation,
• headaches,
• skin and eye irritation,
• and elevated long-term cancer risk like leukaemia in some studies.
Modern funeral homes use ventilation systems, masks, gloves, and protective equipment, yet embalming
remains chemically intensive work. Hazardous chemical vapors build up, airborne pathogens and failure to
properly maintain equipment and airflow endanger workers.
Many embalmers also describe emotional fatigue from repeated exposure to grief, trauma, and invasive bodily
procedures.
Environmental impact of conventional burial
Conventional burial commonly includes:
• embalming chemicals,
• hardwood or metal caskets,
• concrete vaults,
• industrial manufacturing,
• and cemetery maintenance practices that consume fuel, water, and chemicals.
Cremation avoids embalming in many cases, but requires extremely high temperatures and significant fuel
consumption, producing carbon emissions and airborne pollutants. Another article to follow on Cremation VS
Green Burial.
Because of this, many environmental advocates and death-care reformers now view green burial as one of the
least ecologically damaging forms of death care.
Green burial: a gentler alternative
Green burial generally avoids:
• embalming,
• arterial injection,
• cavity aspiration,
• organ puncture,
• metal caskets,
• concrete vaults,
• and synthetic materials.
Instead, the body is usually:
• gently washed and cared for,
• cooled through refrigeration, ice packs, and/or air conditioning,
• wrapped in a biodegradable shroud or natural coffin,
• and buried directly into the earth.
In green burial:
• arteries are not injected with preservatives,
• organs are not punctured,
• body cavities are not chemically treated,
• and preservation relies on cooling and timely burial rather than invasive intervention.
The eyes and mouth may still be gently closed for family viewing, but preparation is generally simple and non-
invasive.
For many people, this feels less medicalized and more relational — allowing the body to return naturally to the
elements without chemical preservation.
Reduced impact on workers
Green burial also changes the experience for funeral workers.
Without embalming chemicals and invasive procedures, workers generally face:
• less toxic exposure,
• fewer industrial materials,
• and less intensive bodily intervention.
Preparation often focuses on:
• washing,
• dressing,
• shrouding,
• cooling,
• and accompaniment.
Some funeral professionals describe green burial as emotionally gentler work — less centered on preservation
and reconstruction, and more centered on care, ritual, and ecological humility.
Ecological and spiritual dimensions
Organizations such as the Green Burial Society of Canada, Green Burial Society of Nova Scotia, and the Green
Burial Council support natural burial practices as a response to the environmental costs of modern death care.
For many people, green burial reflects values such as:
• simplicity,
• ecological responsibility,
• reduced industrialization of death,
• and acceptance of impermanence.
In spiritual traditions including and not limited to, some forms of Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam, the body may
be understood not as something to preserve indefinitely, but as something that naturally returns to earth, and life
itself.
Families sometimes participate directly in:
• washing the body,
• dressing their loved one,
• home vigils,
• or carrying the body to burial.
This can create a more intimate and less institutional experience of mourning.
A growing movement in Canada
Green burial options are increasing across Canada, including in Nova Scotia.
Natural burial grounds and green sections within cemeteries are gradually becoming more available, offering an
approach to death care that minimizes:
If the primary values are:
• minimizing environmental carbon impact
• reducing toxic chemical use
• lowering industrial resource consumption
• reducing invasive body preparation
• decreasing occupational chemical exposure for workers
For many people, green burial is not only an environmental choice, but also an ethical and emotional one — a
way of caring for the dead that seeks gentleness for the body, for grieving families, for funeral workers, and for
the earth itself.
