Green Burial Council

Standard-setting

With the involvement of environmentalists, scientists, lawyers, and representatives from the funeral service industry, the Council has set forth the World’s first standards and eco-certification program for burial grounds, funeral homes, products, and cremation disposition programs.

The Council maintains all relevant documentation (i.e. conservation easements, deed restrictions, general price lists, material safety data sheets, engineering reports) to demonstrate proof of compliance with GBC standards.

While we currently function as the sole “trust provider,” the Council has recently begun to explore handing off aspects of our oversight responsibilities to appropriate state agencies such as departments of natural resources and attorney general offices. And we have recently begun collaborating with the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) to set forth the first standards for eco-friendly cremation.