Green Burial Products
To be eligible for evaluation, a product must meet the following criteria: All Green Burial Council 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, adhesives, and dyes do not release toxic by-products within the ground through expected processes of breakdown/disposal.
Green Burial Council Product Certification Standards, Revised 2016
Finishes do not release toxic by-products within the product manufacturing facility.
Finishes do not contain plastics, acrylics, or similar synthetic polymeric materials.
Adhesives do not release toxic by-products within the product manufacturing facility.
Adhesives do not contain plastics, acrylics, or similar synthetic polymeric materials.
Shell is made primarily from reclaimed, recycled, or renewable materials as defined by the GBC.
Shell is made primarily from a material which is biodegradable under burial conditions.
Shell is made primarily from material harvested in an environmentally sustainable manner as certified by a third-party trust provider recognized by the GBC.
Liner is made primarily from reclaimed, recycled, or renewable materials as defined by the GBC.
Liner is made primarily from a material which is biodegradable under burial conditions.
Liner is made primarily from material harvested in an environmentally sustainable manner as certified by a third-party trust provider recognized by the GBC.
Fasteners and handles are made primarily from a material which is biodegradable under burial conditions.
Fasteners and handles are made primarily from a material harvested in an environmentally sustainable manner as certified by a third-party trust provider recognized by the GBC.
Green-house-gas emissions produced by transportation of any component material to manufacturing location have been offset through a recognized program.
Green-house-gas emissions produced by transportation of final product to consumer location have been offset through a recognized program.