Green caskets are easily biodegradable, don’t add toxins to the earth as they decompose, and are often produced in a way that's carbon-neutral. Commercially produced caskets, on the other hand, can take an extraordinarily long time to break down in the soil, especially if the casket contains any metal parts, such as handles and hinges. Most commercially produced caskets have chemical treatments, such as paint or veneer, which seep into the soil as the casket breaks down. And the manufacturing and transport of conventional caskets and outer burial containers requires a huge amount of energy and causes significant carbon emissions.