Kirby’s Tucker Memorial Cemetery received certification from the Green Burial Council.
The three Kirby and family funeral and cremation service locations located around north Arkansas were already accredited with the Green Burial Certification, and having their cemeteries green burial area certified was the final step for the family owned funeral home chain to complete their green options for families.
The Kirby’s Tucker Memorial Cemetery is currently a hybrid, with a one-acre section of the property being specified for green burials. Currently, they can accommodate 2,100, but there are opportunities to expand the space in the future.
Jason Kirby, President of Kirby & Family Funeral and Cremation Services, which operates the cemetery facilities said: “It is important for funeral providers to offer green burial alternatives. Kirby & Family is proud to be the first in our area to provide these options for families. Leaving a legacy that promotes environmental preservation and helps maintain the surrounding habitat is very important to those who are eco-conscious. Green burials are also encouraged by many religious communities. The certification of Kirby’s Tucker Memorial Cemetery allows us to honor the wishes of those who prefer an eco-friendly alternative, as we continue to serve families with traditional burials and cremations.”
Green Burial Council
The Green Burial Council was established to encourage green burial initiatives by creating standards and education around the subject. Today the non-profit is composed of two groups. One section focuses on the certification guidelines and overseeing the third party evaluators. And the second part of the organization creates green educational and outreach opportunities.
The certification they have developed for different types of death care businesses are based on the findings of experts from the fields of sustainable landscape design, restoration ecology, conservation management, law and consumer affairs