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Within the last few years, more than 50% of Americans have expressed interest in green burial. In response to these changing trends, funeral homes have begun exploring eco-friendly ways to meet the service needs of these families.
While burial planning may not be top of mind for you and your family, it’s never too early to explore your options and express final wishes, especially when it comes to your lasting environmental legacy.
So, if you’re looking for ways to cut down your carbon footprint, here’s everything you need to know about green burial in Ohio, including certified cemeteries, providers and products.
According to the Green Burial Council (GBC):
“Green burial is 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.”
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.
While there are some shared characteristics, it’s important to understand the differences in green burial cemeteries as defined by GBC. These include:
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.
Certified cemeteries must demonstrate compliance to preserve and steward land through green burial best practices. These include:
The GBC also offers certification programs for providers and products.
When it comes to green burial, you’ll want to look into the certified cemeteries in your area. Ohio is home to conservation, hybrid and natural burial grounds, cemeteries and preserves. Locations include:
While many funeral homes claim they support green burial practices, you’ll want to make sure the provider is certified.
A GBC-approved funeral home must define in their general price list, and make reference to on any published platform, their green offerings. They must also:
To ensure the funeral home is up to date with GBC standards, visit Find a Provider to review certified providers in your area.
There are also a variety of products associated with green burial that you can purchase online and offline, including adornments, caskets, containers, liners, urns, shells and shrouds. However, not all products are GBC-approved.
Because of this, GBC requires that products be constructed from plant-derived, natural, animal or unfired earthen materials. Other requirements for products include:
Before making any purchases, visit Find Products to evaluate certified product sellers and manufacturers.
Busch Funeral and Crematory Services is one of the only GBC-certified funeral homes in Ohio. If you or your family is interested in 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.
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