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March 2022 • Green Burial Council News
Encouraging environmentally sustainable death-care options and the preservation of natural areas through green burial.
ICCFA 2022 Annual Convention:
Green Burial Industry Growth & Change
We were honored and excited to attend the 2022 International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA) Annual Convention & Exposition, alongside many of our board members and certified providers. We were almost too busy to take pictures! Seeing each other in person was a highlight, as well as discussing the momentum in the green and natural burial industry with providers and other organizations. Additionally, we spoke with many people about ways in which the industry is becoming more inclusive, and how we could make more measurable progress. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello! We are ready to hit the ground running with ideas from #ICCFA2022.
Cottage Funerary Product Makers'
Craft New Website
A group of artists and craftspeople who specialize in making funeral goods have joined together in launching the Natural Funerary Artisans Collective website. The site features the makers of wooden and woven caskets, urns, carrying boards, shrouds, and burial quilts.
 
"It's been a challenge for small, one-of-a-kind makers of funeral goods to be seen, even in their own local areas," said Lee Webster, one of the organizers of the effort. "By providing an easy to access platform that recognizes and displays their work, we're hoping more people will become aware of why moving to biodegradable, locally sourced and made items is important."
 
In addition to the focus on helping consumers find what they are looking for and supporting their local artists, the site also emphasizes the sustainability goals of the artists and their commitment to social and environmental justice. Anyone making handcrafted funeral goods is encouraged to check out the site and complete an application to be included on the website.
Photos from Funerary Artisans Collective website. Click the image to learn more.
Passages International
Expands Company to NJ
Congratulations to Passages International, a GBC-certified product provider, for their recent expansion! Their new East Coast distribution center in New Jersey will work in tandem with the Albuquerque, NM headquarters.

"Natural burials and other green funeral options continue to rise in popularity across the country. Given the time sensitive nature of the funeral industry and the rapidly increasing interest in non-traditional funerals, Passages is committed to ensuring green cremation urns and caskets are readily available for funeral homes. This addition will most benefit funeral homes east of the Mississippi."

Read the entire press release here.
On the Blog:
Natural Burial & Cremation: Things to Consider
Blog post written by Tamsin Ramone & Alyssa Wormald for the Green Burial Council.

The Green Burial Council was founded to help educate people who are interested in gentle end-of-life options. When researching burial alternatives and cremation, here are some things to consider.

Cremation has a reputation of being eco-friendly, because before natural burial came along, it was the most eco-friendly alternative to conventional burial. While there is evidence that it does cause harm to the environment, it is sometimes the most suitable option when considering personal and family circumstances. Oftentimes cremation is the least expensive burial option. It is also a sentimental way to memorialize a loved one and keep them close to you.

Cremation continues to gain popularity for many reasons. In 2018, the Cremation Society stated that in Australia nearly 70% of people chose cremation for their final send off. With the ecological issues surrounding conventional burials becoming more well known, many people are choosing cremation because they believe it is the more environmentally conscious option. 

Read the rest of the post here.
Certificate of Proficiency in
Green Burial Operation
The Green Burial Council and Redesigning the End are partnering in providing a certificate of proficiency for qualifying students of the Green Burial Masterclass online course in green burial. This 12-part course is the first of its kind in the nation and gives students a high-end technical education in cemetery management specific to green burial. Obtaining the Certificate of Proficiency in Green Burial Cemetery Operation consists of two parts — successfully completing the Green Burial Masterclass and scoring well on the GBC’s Proficiency Exam.

Learn more by watching the video below and by checking out our website.
The GBC proficiency exam was created by the course developers and instructors, Holly Blue Hawkins and Lee Webster, and featuring more than 40 top experts in the green burial world sharing their expertise as guest lecturers. Not only will you advance your knowledge in the field, this distinction will allow you to show your community the commitment you make to the earth, even in death. 
Green Burial in the News
A beautiful video capturing an important moment in history: the first laying out of composted human remains via natural reduction at Colorado Burial Preserve & Cremation Garden. To read more about this event and the process of natural reduction, read this article.
'Green' Burials are slowly gaining ground among environmentalists
Read this article in ScienceNews
 
"Despite 'green' burials becoming increasingly available in North America, some older eco-conscious adults remain unaware of the option when planning for their deaths, a small study hints."
 
One of the biggest hurdles we face as proponents of green burial seems to be the simplest: awareness. This brief article in Science News Magazine explains how a small study in Kansas showed that even those over 60 who self-identify as environmentalists hadn't heard of the practice of green burial.

Story by Rachel Fritts for ScienceNews
 
Donate to the Green Burial Council

We’re excited to share that the Green Burial Council has earned a 2022 Gold Seal of Transparency with Candid (having earned a Silver Seal in 2020 and 2021). Now, you can support our work with trust and confidence by viewing our #NonprofitProfile.

Gifts to the GBC will ensure that we have the financial resources necessary to keep growing the movement in 2022. Please click here to donate to the GBC.
Green Burial Council International is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit operating in the United States and Canada. For tax deduction purposes, our tax ID number is 45-4422635.
What's Happening

For more details about these events please go to the GBC webpage, What’s Happening.

Green Burial: The Greenest Way to "Go"
The Forest Conservation Burial Ground & City of Ashland

March 31, 5:30 - 6:30 pm PST • Online via Zoom or in person
For more information and to register, click here

Green Burial Café
Green Burial Nova Scotia
The last Wednesday of every month • Online via Zoom
For more information, visit the Green Burial Nova Scotia Facebook page

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Green Burial Council, 2720 Cold Springs Road, Placerville, CA  95667
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