Founded in 2005 by Joe and Juliette Sehee, the Green Burial Council’s mission is to inspire and advocate for environmentally sustainable, natural deathcare through education and certification. This charge is met by two separate arms of the nonprofit organization: education and certification. Through these two arms, the Green Burial Council (GBC) and its members support the growth of green burials in the United States and internationally. The GBC defines a green burial “as a way of caring for the dead with minimal environmental impact that aids in the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat.” The organization is supported and largely run by mostly volunteers (there are two staff employees).
Through writings, video resources, public engagement, and a 10-week course with partner Mid-America College of Funeral Services, the GBC educates those seeking to learn more about green burial options and provides experts already in the field with ongoing education. Additionally, it creates materials for advocacy which can be used to educate both individuals and communities on the benefits of a green burial. These are available as PDFs and are easily printed and shared. The site has a directory to search for green burial providers, including cemeteries, funeral homes, and products. Another useful tool is the Green Burial Planning Guide, which walks individuals through simple questions to determine needs that can be shared with loved ones, attorneys, funeral homes, and estate planners.
The certification arm of GBC works with independent, third-party experts to provide verification of standards for three types of cemeteries, funeral homes, and product manufacturers and distributors. Green burials occur in multiple types of places, and the GBC certification addresses three different types of land use: natural land, where burial occurs without a concrete vault and chemical embalming, and with a biodegradable container; hybrid land, an area within a conventional cemetery that meets those requirements; and conservation land, where a land trust entity preserves land that is in part used for burial. To date, GBC has certified 32 natural cemeteries, 61 hybrids, and 13 conservations (with more in the process). Additionally, 214 funeral homes are certified to provide services.
Gretchen Spletzer, the administration coordinator of the GBC, “invites anyone interested in sustainable deathcare either for themselves or as a way to serve their community to connect with us, learn more, advocate, and help bring back natural burial.” Its monthly newsletter is another great way to learn more about the organization, read articles, and discover events.