Publications Written or Shared by the Green Burial Council

The following original GBC materials were researched and developed with both industry professionals and the public in mind. All are free to download and share to help spread the word about green burial best practices. You will also find many of these articles published in Changing Landscapes: Exploring the growth of ethical, compassionate, and environmentally sustainable green funeral service. For republication requests, please contact the author, Lee Webster, at nhfrea@gmail.com. 

Greenhaven Preserve,​ Eastover, South Carolina

For the Public

On the Way to the Green Burial Cemetery: A Guide for Families
​by Lee Webster
​For many of us, what to do when someone dies is new territory. When they have chosen to be buried in a green cemetery, it may be particularly unfamiliar. This booklet is designed to walk families through prior to the experience so they won’t be surprised by what they are about to see and participate in.

The Science Behind Green and Conventional Burial
​by Lee Webster
​From how bodies decompose to what the ramifications are on soil and water, this article discusses the major science-based concerns many people have regarding green burial.

To Lie Down in Green Pastures: How the Catholic Church is leading the way in green burial
​by Lee Webster
The recent encyclical on nature and the environment by Pope Francis brought Catholic doctrine and the fast-moving trend toward green burial in Catholic cemeteries into alignment. Read why the Church is supporting and, in fact, leading the way by creating hallowed ground designated for unfettered, earth to earth, full body burial for the faithful.

The Environmental Impact and Potential Human Health Effects of Cremation
by Caitlyn Hauke
Natural burial may not be available near you, or other factors make it more feasible to cremate. Still want to do the best you can for the planet? Learn more about cremation and options for disposing of byproducts  in keeping with your environmental ethics. Learn more about other disposition options here.

​For Professionals

A Primer on the Relationships with Conservation Organizations and Drafting of Conservation Easements
by Lee Webster
Written for conservation land trust personnel and potential landowners who wish to create a conservation burial ground that is held under easement by a land trust. Learn the language of conservation and easements to help prepare for the conversation that protects the burial ground in perpetuity.

Opening, Closing, and Maintaining a Green Burial Cemetery
​by Lee Webster
Though each green burial ground will have region‐specific soil, water, plant, animal habitat, and cultural differences and concerns, these basic suggestions may be useful when developing your cemetery’s procedures and protocols.

Start-Up Tips for Green Burial Cemetery Operators
​by Lee Webster
This comprehensive walk through is designed to help would‐be green cemetery operators parse out some of the appropriate and necessary steps to take in opening or converting cemetery space.

Offering Green Burial Options in Your Hybrid Cemetery
​by Lee Webster
If you are a cemetery trustee, member of a cemetery or historical commission, selectman, town clerk, city registrar, town or city planner, public works superintendent, or county official in some capacity that oversees cemeteries, this is the how-to for you. 

Suggested Green Goods and Services for Funeral Professionals
​by Lee Webster
This simple list was created with the help of the Federal Trade Commission, and it is meant to widen the scope of what professionals may choose to offer green burial and home funeral families. It is excerpted from the book Essentials for Practicing Home Funeral Guides in The After-Death Care Educator Handbook..

What Every Funeral Director Needs to Know About Green Funerals: A Handbook for Funeral Directors
by Lee Webster
From preparing the body for green burial to knowing what to expect at the cemetery, this guide informs funeral directors for the green burial experience.

Planning and Advocacy

Your Green Burial Planning Guide
​A succinct, easy to use fill‐in worksheet that helps define goals, indicate preferences and choices, and identify persons designated to complete an individual’s final wishes.

Going Out Green: Four Ways to Ensure an Eco-Friendly Burial
​A detailed explanation of what you can do and what to look for when searching for green burial space.

10 Things You Can Do or Say to Promote Green Burial
​by Lee Webster
Persuasive talking points and facts that support the concept at your fingertips. Sometimes it's not just what you say but how you say it. If you are eager to have a green burial cemetery near you, try these tips for helping others understand what you need.

Glossary of Green Burial Terms
courtesy of the Conservation Burial Alliance
Be a better advocate for green burial by knowing what all those terms mean. Learn stuff you never knew you needed to know!