​Cemeteries 

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  • Hybrid Cemeteries are conventional cemeteries offering the option for burial without the need for a vault (partial, inverted or otherwise), a vault lid, concrete box, slab or partitioned liner. Hybrid Cemeteries shall not require the embalming of decedents and must allow for any kind of eco-friendly burial containers including shrouds.
  • Natural Cemeteries achieve GBC certification by prohibiting the use of vaults (partial, inverted or otherwise), vault lids, concrete boxes, slabs or partitioned liners, and by prohibiting the burial of decedents embalmed with toxic chemicals, as well as by banning burial containers not made from natural/plant derived materials, plus an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and be designed, operated and maintained to produce a naturalistic appearance, based on use of plants and materials native to the region.
  • Conservation Burial Grounds, in addition to meeting all the requirements for a Natural Burial Grounds, a Conservation Cemetery must involve an established land trust organization that holds a conservation easement or deed restriction guaranteeing long-term stewardship of land designated for conservation. 
All GBC approved caskets, urns and shrouds must be constructed from plant-derived, recycled plant- derived, natural, animal, or unfired earthen materials, including shell, liner, and adornments. Fasteners and handles (other than those made from brass or chrome) are excluded from this requirement. A product may not be approved if such hardware is deemed by the GBC as excessive or inefficiently used.
  • Finishes and adhesives do not release toxic by-products within the ground through expected processes of breakdown/disposal.
  • Finishes and adhesives do not release toxic by-products within the facility where product is manufactured.
  • Finishes and adhesives do not contain plastics, acrylics, or similar synthetic polymeric materials. 
  • Shell is made from material harvested in an environmentally sustainable manner as certified by a third-party trust provider recognized by the GBC or from reclaimed/recycled materials.
  • Product utilizes a liner that is comprised of “organic” material as certified by a third-party trust provider recognized by the GBC.
  • Neither the transportation of any component material to manufacturing location nor the transportation of final product to consumer exceeds 3000 miles.
A GBC approved funeral home must define in their general price list, and make reference to on any published website, their green offerings, which include the sanitation and temporary preservation of a decedent using only non-toxic, biodegradable chemicals, if any at all, or use basic cooling methods, and must include the option of a private visitation without chemical embalming. They must also:
  • Offer the decedent’s family the option of a public viewing without embalming, or use only GBC approved post-mortem fluids.
  • Carry at least three GBC approved or rated burial containers.
  • Accommodate families choosing to conduct home vigils prior to viewing on site without embalming, or use only GBC approved post-mortem fluids.
  • Have at least one staff member with educational eco-friendly funeral service training (minimum six hours) (N/A at this time)
  • Offer sanitation and temporary preservation of a decedent using only noninvasive techniques and materials.​
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The GBC Leaf Rating level is determined by the total number of criteria met:
  • 1 leaf for one of the above areas
  • 2 leaves for two or three of the above areas
  • 3 leaves for meeting all the criteria above

Cemeteries Standards Chart