- Carolina Memorial Sanctuary — Mills River / Asheville area conservation green cemetery.
- Forest Lawn Memorial Park — Candler cemetery with a green burial section.
- Bluestem Conservation Cemetery — Cedar Grove conservation cemetery.
- Green Burial Project: NC burial grounds — Statewide list of North Carolina green burial grounds.
Burial Shroud FAQ: Materials, Use & Green Burial Planning
Burial shroud FAQ
Burial Shroud FAQ: Materials, Use & Green Burial Planning
Practical answers about Shrouded House burial shrouds: materials, green burial use, and questions to confirm with a cemetery, funeral home, crematory, death doula, or home funeral guide.
What is a burial shroud?
A burial shroud is a cloth used to wrap, cover, or present the body before burial or cremation. In green burial, a shroud is often chosen because it uses fewer materials than a conventional casket and can be made from biodegradable natural fibers.
Shrouded House shrouds are intentionally simple. They are made from salvaged natural-fiber textiles, and the actual fabric, color, pattern, and minor imperfections may vary. Each shroud is produced in quantities limited by the materials available.
Product FAQ
Where are Shrouded House shrouds made?
Our burial shrouds are made in Asheville, North Carolina. We work in small batches using salvaged and upcycled natural-fiber fabrics.
What materials are used?
Our shrouds are made from natural-fiber textiles such as cotton, linen, and similar biodegradable fabrics when available. Because we use salvaged fabric, materials vary by batch. We are careful in our selection only using fabrics, threads, and fillings that are 100% biodegradable natural materials and do not have additional chemical treatments.
Are these shrouds suitable for green burial?
They are designed and certified for green burial use. Before purchasing, confirm that the burial ground accepts shrouds made from natural-fiber fabric and ask whether they require a board, tray, carrier, casket, handles, or straps.
Is a burial shroud legal to use?
Burial shrouds are permitted in many places, but laws, cemetery policies, and local requirements vary by state and jurisdiction. The most important step is to confirm the rules where the burial will actually take place.
Do I need a coffin or casket if I use a shroud?
Not always. Some green burial grounds allow shroud-only burial. Others require a biodegradable carrier, board, tray, wicker basket, or simple casket. Some conventional cemeteries may require a casket, vault, or liner even if the body is wrapped in a shroud.
Can the shroud be used for a traditional funeral?
Yes. A shroud may be used as a meaningful covering for viewing, visitation, ceremony, or burial. In a conventional funeral setting, it may be used with a casket or other approved container depending on provider and cemetery requirements.
Can the shroud be used for a home funeral or family vigil?
Yes. Many families choose a shroud for a home funeral, private vigil, or family-led ritual. A funeral director, home funeral guide, or cemetery staff member can help confirm what is needed for transfer, transport, and burial.
Can the shroud be used for cremation?
Possibly. A shroud may be used for ceremony or body care before cremation, but crematories often require a rigid combustible container, tray, or approved cremation container. Confirm requirements directly with the crematory.
How quickly will my order ship?
We try to process and ship orders within 1-2 days. Shipping time can vary by inventory and order volume. If the need is time-sensitive, contact us before ordering so we can confirm what shipping method makes sense.
Can I ask questions before purchasing?
Yes. Please contact us if you are working with a funeral home, cemetery, green burial ground, hospice worker, death doula, or home funeral guide and need to confirm whether our shroud fits your situation.
Using a shroud with a carrier
A shroud can often be used with a simple natural carrier. Common options include an untreated wood board, bamboo board, wicker basket, willow carrier, seagrass carrier, cardboard container, or plain wood casket, depending on what the burial ground permits.
North Carolina green burial resources
NC planning support
- Emberlight — Western North Carolina education and support around conscious dying, home funerals, and green burial.
- NC State Extension: Grave Matters — Overview of private-land cemetery issues in North Carolina.
- NC Office of State Archaeology cemetery FAQ — Information about cemetery protections and grave access.
Broader green burial resources
For families outside North Carolina, start with national directories and state-specific guidance. Rules can vary by state, county, municipality, cemetery, and crematory.
Directories & standards
- Green Burial Council — Education, standards, and provider directories.
- GBC cemetery map — Cemetery directory for green burial providers.
- GBC funeral home directory — Funeral homes listed by location.
Family guidance
- National Home Funeral Alliance — Family-led and community-centered deathcare education.
- NHFA state laws — State-by-state home funeral law resources.
- Funeral Consumers Alliance — Consumer education around funeral rights, pricing, and planning.
Planning ahead or ordering for immediate need?
We make limited-edition burial shrouds from upcycled natural-fiber fabrics in Asheville, North Carolina, and ship throughout the United States. Contact us if you need help confirming whether a shroud will work with your cemetery, funeral home, or green burial provider.
This page is educational and is not legal, medical, funeral-directing, cemetery, crematory, or body-handling advice. Laws, provider availability, cemetery rules, handling requirements, and certification status can change. Confirm all requirements directly with the cemetery, funeral provider, crematory, county health department, zoning office, or other appropriate authority before making final arrangements.