Green Burial
is a growing national movement that supports environmentally sound ways of returning the body to the Earth in a natural, simple and dignified way.
WATCH THE VIDEO
Green Burial
What we need to know
Sunday, February 5, 2023, 2-4 PM
Speaker: Lee Webster
National expert on green burial and home funerals
What is Green Burial?
Green Burial is a natural process. It was the traditional method of burial until about 150 years ago. It is a way of caring for the dead with dignity and minimal impact on the environment.
Green Burials use non-toxic and biodegradable caskets or shrouds, and the body is not embalmed. Concrete vaults and grave liners are not used.
The land remains in a natural state that does not require the use of lawn fertilizers, pesticides, or extensive landscaping. Natural grave markers, such as flat river stones or native plantings, are used to mark the grave site. Green Burial conserves resources, reduces carbon emissions, protects workers’ health, and preserves or restores natural habitats.
Our Mission
The Green Burial Association of Maryland (GBAM) promotes environmentally sustainable Green Burial options throughout Maryland.
We support this Mission through public education, promotion of and legislative advocacy for green and hybrid burial grounds, and promoting green practices throughout the funeral industry.
We envision a future in which everyone has access to funeral and burial options that are environmentally sustainable and grounded in evidence-based information.
Our Values
We value the interconnected web of life and death.
We respect and support families in finding their traditions and rituals consistent with green burial.
We honor the Earth and support environmentally sound options for returning the body to the Earth naturally and with dignity.
We support green burial because it promotes conservation, carbon and other toxic gas emissions reduction, worker health protection, land conservation, and family-centered burial experiences.