About GBC Provider Certification

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GBC Provider Certification

The Green Burial Council (GBC) offers certification programs for burial grounds, funeral homes, and products. Our certification recognizes providers committed to sustainable practices in the funeral industry and the preservation of land through environmentally responsible burial.

Benefits of GBC Certification

Becoming a GBC-certified provider means more than compliance to Our Standards, its about demonstrating a commitment to sustainability. Certified providers:

  • Showcase their dedication to:
    • Respecting families’ wishes
    • Promoting worker safety
    • Supporting green burial initiatives
    • Upholding high standards of transparency and accountability
    • Protecting the environment
    • Shaping the future of funeral service with an ethic rooted in ecological responsibility
  • Gain permission to display the GBC logo on their website and marketing materials to showcase a commitment to sustainability
  • Featured in an announcement of their certification in our monthly newsletter (reaching 5,000+ recipients).
  • Are listed on the GBC website directory featuring interactive maps that attract 10,000+ monthly page views, connecting them with eco-conscious consumers

Why GBC Certification Matters

The GBC exists to recognize and support providers making significant strides that support the public’s ethic of environmental sensitivity. We aim to:

  • Combat Greenwashing: The GBC ensures that green burial means something. In a landscape where “green” offerings often include toxic embalming fluids, environmentally questionable burial containers, or restrictive cemetery policies; our certification upholds genuine standards.
  • Maintain Integrity: Unlike organizations that rely on free membership pledges without verifying claims, the GBC works closely with providers to review their actual documents, policies, and practices, ensuring they meet proven, verifiable standards. This distinguishes GBC-certified providers as truly aligned with sustainable and ethical burial practices.
  • Empower Consumers: Our standards-based rating system provides the public with reliable measures to make informed, environmentally-responsible choices.
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Commitment to Education and Collaboration

As a nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) (Education) and a 501(c)(6) (Certification), the GBC builds trust through:

  • Public Outreach: Educating the public about green burial options and addressing their questions during challenging times.
  • Industry Collaboration: Working alongside the funeral industry to inspire realistic, impactful changes that benefit providers, families, and the environment.
  • Advocacy for Change: We work with professionals in various fields to discover and facilitate sharing of best practices between our providers, policymakers, field experts, thought leaders and the public.

The GBC is always there for providers and the public. We talk to our providers about ways to navigate uncharted territory to aid in providing this option to the public at no cost. We work with professionals in various fields to discover and facilitate sharing of best practices between our providers, policymakers, field experts, thought leaders and the public. We also spend a great deal of time providing information directly to the public through our website and outreach, as well as to individuals who come to us over the death of a loved one looking for green solutions to meet their needs and desires.
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With GBC certification, you can expect greater public recognition of the GBC logo, which identifies you as a provider who is in alignment with the GBC’s standards, goals, and mission. The GBC seal is an increasingly powerful marketing tool and a way to connect to consumers who have a preference for using a nonprofit trust provider. At a time when the FTC is saying that consumers need to be skeptical about environmental claims (60% of which they say are empty or misleading), a seal of approval from a credible organization that uses verifiable standards is what distinguishes GBC providers from any others.
 
Most importantly, being a certified provider creates a credible opportunity for you to demonstrate leadership both in the funeral industry and in the environmental movement. With your support and participation in the GBC, you can be part of leading the challenging conversation about how best to serve the public that aims to make green burial economically viable, ecologically robust and psychologically and spiritually meaningful.