Products

Green Burial Council Standards/Eco-Rating System for Products

Effective as of January 1, 2011

CATEGORY ONE: Caskets, Urns, Shrouds and Alternative Containers

All GBC 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 and adhesives do not release toxic by-products within the ground through expected processes of breakdown/disposal.

In any case of insufficient or contradictory evidence presented, GBC reserves the right to withhold or make conditional the approval of a product or require additional testing or third party verification at applicant’s expense.

Each GBC approved product is given a rating based upon the following additional criteria that is met:

Finishes and adhesives do not release toxic by-products within the facility where product is manufactured.
Finishes and adhesives do not contain plastics, acrylics, or similar synthetic polymeric materials.
Shell is made from materials harvested in an environmentally sustainable manner as certified by a third-party trust provider recognized by the GBC or from reclaimed/recycled materials.
Product utilizes a liner that is comprised of “organic” material as certified by a third-party trust provider recognized by the GBC.
Neither the transportation of any component material to manufacturing location nor the transportation of final product to consumer exceeds 3000 miles.

1 criterion met earns a “one leaf” rating

2-3 criteria met earns a “two leaf” rating

4-5 criteria met earns a "three leaf" rating

CATEGORY TWO: Post-Mortem Chemicals

Products cannot contain chemical ingredients that are toxic or otherwise classified as hazardous with accompanying mandatory reportable limits of exposure as defined and listed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). An exception is made for generalized nuisance limits for dusts and mists.

Products cannot contain chemical ingredients that through their intrinsic course of action, evolve or release a chemical ingredient as previously defined.

Products must contain only chemical ingredients that are fully disclosed on a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and cannot contain any chemical ingredient described as a "trade secret."

In any case of conflicting evidence or equivocal documentation, the Green Burial Council reserves the right to deny or suspend its certification.