6 Certified Green Burial Cemeteries in Ohio

Green cemeteries are popping up across the country, as more people express interest in passing with as little environmental impact as possible.

In Ohio alone, there are six cemeteries dedicated to green burials, which aid in the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, and preservation of habitats—among other initiatives.

So what exactly constitutes a cemetery as green and where are they located? Continue reading below for more information on the topic.

What is considered a green cemetery?

Conventional cemeteries that allow embalmed bodies and require concrete, plastic, metal, or other materials for caskets, vaults and liners do not fall under the general category of green.

Therefore, certified green cemeteries must demonstrate compliance to preserve and steward land through best practices, set forth by the Green Burial Council (GBC). These include:

• Obtaining a GBC certification for any funeral home that operates on the premises.
• Compiling a list of native plants based on a defined ecological assessment to use as memorial features and to enhance plant diversity on the site.
• Developing a plan for protecting or salvaging rare plants identified in the ecological impact assessment.
• Minimizing the use of chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides, for property management.
• Providing a plan for dealing with unauthorized grave decorating and landscaping in the cemetery’s maintenance and operations manual.

Cemeteries seeking to demonstrate leadership in this environmental movement must prove compliance with best practices to receive accreditation.

Are there different types of green cemeteries?

Ohio is home to conservation, hybrid and natural grounds, cemeteries and preserves—all of which can accommodate green burial.

While there are some shared characteristics, it’s important to understand the differences in green burial cemeteries. These include:

• Conservation Burial Grounds: A natural cemetery established in partnership with a conservation organization. This includes a conservation management plan that upholds best practices and provides protection of the land according to a conservation easement or restriction.
• Hybrid Cemeteries: A conventional cemetery that offers the essential aspects of green burial within a designated section. This type of cemetery does not require vaults, but must allow for any kind of eco-friendly container, such as a shroud or casket.
• Natural Burial Grounds: A cemetery dedicated in full to green burial sustainable practices that conserve energy, minimize waste, and forbid toxic chemicals in the form of containers and markers.

There are also differences in the cemetery standards set forth by GBC for each of these lands.

For instance, natural burial and conservation burial grounds are required to limit the type and size of memorial markers, so they do not impair the surrounding ecological conditions. Hybrid cemeteries, however, are not required to do so.

Where are Ohio green cemeteries located?

Ohio is home to a number of certified green cemeteries. Locations include:

• Canton Cemetery Association Natural Burial Ground (Canton, OH)
• Foxfield Preserve Conservation Burial Ground (Wilmot, OH)
• Glen Forest Natural Burial Cemetery (Yellow Springs, OH)
• Kokosing Nature Preserve and Conservation Burial Ground (Gambier, OH)
• Preble Memory Gardens Cemetery and Conservation Burial Ground (West Alexandria, OH)
• Union Grove Cemetery (Canal Winchester, OH)

>>>Related Resource: See a complete list of certified green burial sites in the U.S.

Arrange Services With Busch—A Certified Green Burial Provider

Busch Funeral and Crematory Services is one of the only GBC-certified funeral homes in Ohio. While there are a variety of products and providers associated with green burial, not all are GBC-approved.

To ensure you’re taking the proper precautions when it comes to green burial, contact Busch to let a member of our caring staff guide you through every step. No matter your request, we will work hard to fulfill your green burial service needs.