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1 GreenBurialCemeterySurvey GreenBurialCouncil January2015 SelectedSurveyData InJanuaryof2015,theEducationCommitteeoftheGreenBurialCouncilsolicitedresponsesfrom 70greenburialcemeteriesinandoutoftheGBCnetwork,receivinga53responserate.Theraw resultsofthatstudyareshownbelow. Thedatacollectedwasusedtodeveloppresentationstocemeteriansandfuneralindustry professionals,andtoinformfutureendeavorsbythegbcinitsmissiontoeducatethepublicabout greenburial,developwaystosupportcertifiedproviders,andcontinueresearchintogreen cemeterybestpractices. Itshouldbenotedinevaluatingthedatathatofthecemeteriesrepresented78.1ofthe respondentswerehybrid,attermthatreferstoconventionalcemeteriesthatallow,atminimum, spaceforvaultlessburial.methodsoftransportingloadedcasketsandopeningandclosinggraves inmanycasesappeartofollowstandardcemeteryprotocolsandmethods. OfthetotalnumberofknowngreencemeteriesintheUSatthetimeofthesurvey,64arehybrid,45 arenatural,andsixareconservation.ofthosecertifiedbythegbc,25werehybrid,18werenatural andsixwereconservation.43ofthoserespondingtothesurveyweregbccertified. Foracompletedefinitionanddescriptionofthethreestandardizedcategoriesofcertificationand tolearnmoreaboutthevalueofindependentcertification,gotogreenburialcouncil.org. Overview 1) Totalacresofcemeteryland a) 0S b) 11to c) 21to d) morethan ) Totalacresforgreenburial a) 0S b) 11to c) 21to d) morethan Copyright* 1

2 Total Acres for Green Burial to to 40 more than 40 3) Whattypesofintermenttakeplaceinyourcemetery(checkallthatapply) a) Conventionalburial 78.1 b) Urnburial 81.3 c) Scattering 50.0 d) Columbarium 53.1 e) Mausoleum 43.8 f) GreenBurialCouncilcertifiedburial 68.8 g) GreenburialnotcurrentlycertifiedbytheGreenBurialCouncil ) Averagenumberofconventionalburials/year a) Average#ifconventionalburials/year 2424 b) Averagenumberofgreenburials/year 151 c) Totalnumberofgreenburialshaveoccurred sinceyoubeganofferingit? 671 d) Totalnumberofgreenburialsin e) Totalnumberofburialsin2104both ) PreSneedBurialArrangements a) Total#ofallexistingpreSneedburialarrangements 13,569 b) Totalnumberforexistingpreneedgreenburialarrangements 554 c) Totalnumberofallpreneedarrangementsin d) Totalnumberofpreneedgreenarrangementsin ) DoyouprovidedigitalgravemarkingbyGIS? a) Yes 13.3 b) No ) Whatmethodsofmemorializationareusedinyourgreencemetery?(rankbymost1toleast 6popular) a) ConventionalHeadstoneorFootstone 6 b) Woodorunpolishedstonemarker 4 c) Memorialwall 1 d) Plantingofnativetreeorshrub 3 e) Bench 2 f) Other 5 Copyright* *2015*Green*Burial*Council;*For*permission*to*excerpt,*please*contact*info@greenburialcouncil.org* 2

3 Most Popular Types Of Memorialization Memorial wall Bench Planting of native tree or Other Wood, unpolished stone Conventional Head, 8) Graveopeningmethods(rankbymost1toleast3usedmethod) a) Familydigsbyhand 3 b) Cemeterydigsbyhand 2 c) Backhoe 1 Backhoe Cemetery digs by hand Family digs by hand Preferred Grave Opening Methods Used 9) Doyouhaveanonsitechapelorcoveredshelterforservices? a) Yes 71.9 b) No ) Whatmethoddoyouemployfortransportingthebodytothegravesite? a) FuneralCoach 64.5 b) Othermotorizedcarriage 22.6 c) Horsedrawncarriage 12.9 d) PeopleSpoweredcarriage 38.7 e) Carrybypallbearers 58.1 f) Other(specify) 0 Copyright* *2015*Green*Burial*Council;*For*permission*to*excerpt,*please*contact*info@greenburialcouncil.org* 3

4 Funeral Coach Methods of Transporting to the Grave Carry by pallbearers Peoplepowered carriage Other motorized carriage Horse drawn carriage 11) DoesyourcemeteryofferanyofthefollowinggreenburialSspecificproducts?(checkallthat apply) a) GreenBurialCouncilcertifiedShrouds 50.0 b) GreenBurialCouncilcertifiedCaskets 37.5 c) GreenBurialCouncilcertifiedBiodegradableurns 37.5 d) Caskets,shrouds,urnsorotherproductsbylocalcraftspeople 62.5 e) NaturalMonuments(madefromunpolishedstoneorwood) 75.0 f) Flowers,greensornativeplants 68.8 g) Other(specify) 0.0 Green Burial-specific Products Natural Monuments (unpolished stone or wood) Flowers, greens or native plants Caskets, shrouds, urns or other products by local craftspeople GBC certified Shrouds GBC certified Caskets GBC certified Biodegradable urns 12) Ifyouhavepublicusespace,pleasetelluswhatitisusedfor(rankfrommostpopular1to least7): a) Meditation 2 b) BirdSwatching 3 c) Picnicking 6 d) Familygatherings 4 e) Walking/hikingontrails 1 f) CrossScountryskiingontrails 7 g) Educationalprograms 5 Copyright* *2015*Green*Burial*Council;*For*permission*to*excerpt,*please*contact*info@greenburialcouncil.org* 4

5 Favorite Activities In Green Burial Space Walking, hiking on Meditation Bird-watching Family gatherings Educational Picnicking X-C skiing on trails 13) Haveyouengagedinrestoringthelandtoitsnativeecosystem,withnaturalwatersheds, nativefloraandfauna? a) Yes 75.9 b) No ) Whathasbeenyourexperiencewiththedemandforgreenburialsinceyourcemetery beganprovidinggreenburial? a) Demandforgreenburialhasincreased 72.4 b) Demandforgreenburialhasbeensteady,butno significantchangeindemand 6.9 c) Demandforgreenburialhasdeclined 20.7 Green Burial is Trending Demand for green burial has increased Demand for green burial has been steady, but no significant change in demand Demand for green burial has declined 15) Whattypeofgreenburialcertificationdoesyourcemeteryhave? a) GBCHybridgreencemetery 27.6 b) GBCNaturalgreencemetery 27.6 c) GBCConservationgreencemetery 17.2 d) Notcertified 27.6 e) Listothercertifications: AudubonCooperativeSanctuary,2inprocess 16) Inyourexperience,familieswhoarechoosinggreenburialpreviouslywouldhaveprimarily chosen: a) Cremationandscattering 27.6 b) Cremationandinurnment 17.2 Copyright* 5

6 c) Conventionalburialwithembalmingandviewing 20.7 d) Directburialinconventionalcemeterylots 34.5 Those Who Choose Green Burial Might Have Chosen: Cremation and scattering Cremation and inurnment Conventional burial with embalming and viewing Direct burial in conventional cemetery lots Finances&Marketing 17) WhatistheratioofgreenburiallotsalesatSneedandpreSneed? a) Lessthan1/4atSneed(3/4ormorepreSneed) 43.5 b) Morethan¼atSneed(lessthan3/4preSneed) 8.7 c) AbouthalfandhalfatSneedandpreSneed 21.7 d) Lessthan3/4atSneed(morethan1/4preSneed) 0.0 e) 3/4ormoreatSneed(¼orlesspreSneed) 26.1 Ratio of Lot Sales At-need to Pre-need in Green Cemeteries Less than 1/4 at-need (3/4 or more pre-need) More than 1/4 at-need (less than 3/4 pre-need) About half and half at-need and pre-need Less than 3/4 at-need (more than 1/4 preneed) 3/4 or more at-need (1/4 or less pre-need) 18) Whatistheaveragepriceofagreenburiallotinyourcemetery? a) Lessthan$1, b) $1,000to$2, c) $2501to$5, d) Morethan$5, Copyright* 6

7 Green Burial Plot Pricing Less than $1,000 $1,000 to $2,500 $2501 to $5,000 More than $5,000 19) Whatisthecostforopeningandclosingagreenburiallotinyourcemetery? a) Includedinplotprice 7.1 b) Nochargeiffamilydigsitthemselves 0.0 c) Lessthan$ d) $501to$1, e) $1,001to$1, f) Morethan$1, Green Burial Opening and Closing Cost Averages Included in plot cost No charge if family digs it themselves Less than $500 $501 to $1,000 $1,001 to $1,500 More than $1,500 20) IsyourcemeteryforSprofitornonprofit? a) ForSprofit 20.0 b) Nonprofit 63.3 c) Municipal ) Hasgreenburialbeenprofitableforyourcemetery? a) Yes 76.9 b) No 23.1 Copyright* 7

8 Has green burial been profitable for your cemetery? Yes No 22) Howdoesgreenburialcomparetoothertypesofintermentre:profitability(checkallthat apply)? a) Moreprofitablethanconventionalburial 37.5 b) Aboutthesameprofitabilityasconventionalburial 29.2 c) Lessprofitablethanconventionalburial 16.7 d) Moreprofitablethaninurnment 29.2 e) Aboutthesameprofitabilityasinurnment 8.3 f) Lessprofitablethaninurnment 16.7 Profitability of Green Cemeteries More profitable than conventional burial About the same profitability as conventional burial Less profitable More profitable than than inurnment conventional burial About the Less profitable same than inurnment profitability as inurnment 23) Knowingwhatyouknownowaboutgreenburial,wouldyouopenanewgreencemetery todayifyouhadtheopportunity? a) Yes 81.5 b) No ) Ifyouanswered No tothepreviousquestion,whywouldyouchoosenottoopenanew greencemetery?(checkallthatapply) a) Toomuchworkandmaintenance 0.0 Copyright* 8

9 b) Notsufficientlyprofitable 50.0 c) Idon tbelievethattherewillbeenoughfuturedemand forgreenburialtojustifytheinvestmentoftimeandmoney 25.0 d) Wehaveotherpriorities 25.0 e) Other(specify) stillnewatitn/a;notstartanewone 25) Whatinyourexperiencearethebestwaystomarketyourgreencemetery?(rankallthat applyfrommost1effectivetoleast9) a) Cemeterywebsite 1 b) ListingontheGreenBurialCouncilwebsite 4 c) Paidonlineadvertising 6 d) Paidprintadvertising 7 e) Wordofmouth 2 f) Publicspeaking/presentations 3 g) Educationoffuneraldirectors,hospiceandendSofSlifecareproviders5 h) Booths/tablesatfairs,conferences,conventions 8 i) Other 9 Cemetery website Word of mouth Public speaking/presentations Listing on the Green Burial Council Education of FDs, hospice, care Paid print advertising Paid online advertising Tables at fairs, conferences, Other How People Hear About Green Burial Maintenance Checkallthatapply 26) Trailwork,ecoSsystemrestorationandmaintenanceis a) Handledbycemeterystaff 85.2 b) Handledbysubcontractors 29.6 c) Volunteerworkdonebyfamiliesandgreenburialenthusiasts 40.7 d) Volunteerworkdonebypartneringwithenvironmentalgroups, BoyScoutsorothernonprofitorganizations 37.0 e) Other 11.1 Copyright* *2015*Green*Burial*Council;*For*permission*to*excerpt,*please*contact*info@greenburialcouncil.org* 9

10 Trail Work, Eco-system Restoration and Maintenance Handled by cemetery staff Volunteer work done Volunteer work done by families and by partnering with green burial environmental enthusiasts groups, Boy Scouts or other nonprofit organizations Handled by subcontractors Other (please specify) 27) Weedcontrolmethodsused a) None 11.1 b) Controlledburn 18.5 c) Mowing 51.9 d) ConventionalHerbicides 37.0 e) OrganicHerbicides 29.6 f) Pulling/diggingbyhand 70.4 g) Other goatrental1;spottreatmentforpoisonivyonly Pulling/digging by hand Mowing Weed Control Methods Conventional Herbicides Organic Herbicides Controlled burn 28) Pestcontrolmethodsused a) None 65.4 b) Organicpesticides 11.5 c) Otherorganicmethods,suchasrestorationofnativeecosystemor reintroductionofnaturalpredators 30.8 d) Conventionalpesticides 3.8 e) Other(specify) 0.0 None Copyright* 10

11 None Pest Control Other organic methods, such as restoration of native ecosystem or reintroduction of natural predators Organic pesticides Conventional pesticides 29) PostSburiallotmaintenance a) None 6.9 b) Addsoil 65.5 c) Addorganicmaterialsuchasdeadleaves 31.0 d) Plantnativevegetationortree 34.5 e) Restoresodorgrass 51.7 f) Other Post-burial Lot Maintenance 0.0 Add soil Restore sod or Plant native Add organic Other None grass vegetation or material such tree as dead leaves DemographicsofPopulationServed 30) Whatisyourperceptionoftheincomerelativetoyourareaofthefamiliesthatchoosegreen burial?(rankinorderfromlargest1populationtosmallest4) a) HighSUpper1/3 2 b) MediumSMiddle1/3 1 c) LowSLower1/3 3 Copyright* *2015*Green*Burial*Council;*For*permission*to*excerpt,*please*contact*info@greenburialcouncil.org* 11

12 d) Indigent 4 Medium- Middle 1/3 High-Upper 1/3 Low-Lower 1/3 Very poor/ Indigent Economic Status of Green Burial Families 31) Whatisyourperceptionoftheeducationlevelofthefamiliesthatchoosegreenburial? (rankinorderfromlargest1populationtosmallest4) a) GraduateorProfessionaldegree 2 b) Undergraduatedegree 1 c) HighSchooldiploma 3 d) Lessthanahighschooldiploma 4 Undergraduate or associates degree More than one college degree High School diploma Less than a high school diploma Level of Education 32) Whatisyourperceptionofreligiousbeliefsoffamiliesthatchoosegreenburial?(rankin orderfromlargest1populationtosmallest5) a) Religiouslydevout/Veryconservative 4 b) Religiouslydevout/Moderate 3 c) Religiouslydevout/Liberal 2 d) Spiritualbutnotreligious 1 e) Noneoftheabove 5 Copyright* *2015*Green*Burial*Council;*For*permission*to*excerpt,*please*contact*info@greenburialcouncil.org* 12

13 Religious Beliefs Spiritual but not Religiously devout/ Religiously devout/ Religiously devout/ None of the above 33) Peoplefromwhichreligionsareburiedinyourgreencemetery?(onlyincludethereligions thatarecurrentlyrepresentedinyourgreencemetery) a) Catholic 45.5 b) Protestant 77.3 c) EasternOrthodox 27.3 d) Jewish 50.0 e) Muslim 27.3 f) Buddhist 22.7 g) Hindu 9.1 h) NewAge(e.g.Wiccan) 22.7 i) NonSreligious/unafilliated 72.7 j) Other(specify) Mormon1 34) Whatgenerationsinyourexperiencearemostinterestedingreenburial?(rankinorder fromlargest1populationtosmallest5) a) Mature/Silents(born1927S1945) 2 b) Babyboomers(born1946S1964) 1 c) GenerationX(1965S1980) 3 d) GenerationY/Millenials/The9/11Generation(1981S2000) 4 e) GenerationZ/Boomlets(2001S2014) 5 Copyright* *2015*Green*Burial*Council;*For*permission*to*excerpt,*please*contact*info@greenburialcouncil.org* 13

14 Generational Influence Babyboomers (born ) Mature/Silents (born ) Generation X ( ) Generation Y/ Millenials/The 9/11 Generation Z/ Boomlets 35) Whatisyourperceptionofthereasonwhypeoplechoosegreenburial?(rankinorderfrom most1toleast5important) a) Greenburialhasbeenthepracticeofhumankindsince timeimmemorial 2 b) Minimizingimpactontheenvironment 1 c) Spiritualorreligiousreasons 4 d) DoSItSyourselfethic 5 e) Cost 3 Top Reasons People Choose Green Burial Minimizing impact on the environment Back to old traditions Cost Spiritual or religious reasons Do-It-Yourself ethic 36) Howwouldyoudescribethedegreeofemotionalconnectionfeltbyfamilieswithgreen burialasopposedtoaconventionalburial? a) Moreinvolvedemotionallywithgreenburial 57.7 b) Aboutthesamelevelofemotionalinvolvement 42.3 c) Lessemotionalinvolvementwithgreenburial 0.0 Copyright* *2015*Green*Burial*Council;*For*permission*to*excerpt,*please*contact*info@greenburialcouncil.org* 14

15 Emotional Connection More involved emotionally with green burial About the same level of emotional involvement Less emotional involvement with green burial 37) Howwouldyoudescribethedegreeoffamilyparticipationbythosechoosinggreenburial asopposedtoaconventionalburial? a) Moreparticipationwithgreenburial 66.7 b) Aboutthesamelevelofparticipation 29.6 c) Lessparticipationwithgreenburial 3.7 Family Participation More family participation with green burial About the same level of family participation Less family participation with green burial 38) Howdoyouperceivethedegreeofsatisfactionforfamiliesthatchoosegreenburialversus conventionalburial? a) Familiesthatchoosegreenburialaremore satisfiedwiththeirexperience 72.0 b) Nodifferenceinsatisfactionbetweengreen burialandconventionalburial 28.0 c) Familiesthatchooseconventionalburialare moresatisfiedwiththeirexperience 0.0 Copyright* 15

16 Perceived Degree of Satisfaction Families that choose green burial are more satisfied with their experience No difference in satisfaction between green burial and conventional burial Bonusquestion 39) Whatisthesinglemostimportantthingyouwouldtellastartupgreencemeteryoperator orfuneraldirectoraboutgreenburial? Buildingallianceswithotherproviders Doitright Focusonwhattoday sfamilieswant simpler,environmentallyfriendly Keepitsimpleandlowcost Honortheoldways Moreeducationneeded Donotbeafraid Bepatient Doitbecauseyoubelieveinit Thiswillbeanuphillbattle Don tjustofferburialwithoutavaultorembalmingtosaveoncost. Addenvironmentalbenefitsandyouwillbuildvalueintheentireconceptandattract higherincomeclients Doresearchandplanningbeforereleasinginfotothepublic Focusonprovidingfamiliesmoreopportunityforparticipation Makesureyouaresoldontheideabeforesellingittosomeoneelse Learnfromothergreenburialproviders Educatepeopletothechoicestheydonotknowtheyhave Thepublichasawayofvotingwiththeirwalletandtheirfeet,soifyouaren twillingto changewiththetimes,expecttobeleftbehind Changeyourparadigmtomatchwhatyourfamiliesactuallywant TheGBCisnotonlykeybecauseweneedcertifiablestandards,butbecauseithasthe potentialtobuildbindingnetworks Copyright* 16