Alternative Burial & Cremation Options
For generations, families have typically chosen traditional burial or cremation. These options are widely available and align with many cultural and religious customs. Following familiar rituals and traditions when saying goodbye to a loved one can bring comfort and peace to family and friends.
Though these traditional methods are still popular, new alternatives have emerged in recent years. Water cremation, human composting and natural burials offer choices that reflect changing values and less conventional preferences.
Alternative burial options
Alternative burial options—including human composting, coral reef burials, green funerals and natural burials—allow a loved one to be returned to the earth in nontraditional ways that better reflect their beliefs and values.
Human composting
Also known as natural organic reduction, human composting closely follows the natural cycle of life. With this option, a loved one’s body is placed in a special vessel. Organic materials (such as mulch, wood chips and flowers) are placed inside as well. Once sealed, the vessel becomes an environment where naturally occurring microorganisms gently transform the loved one into a nutrient-rich soil. When the process is complete, the family may use the soil to nourish a garden or scatter it in a meaningful location.
Coral reef burials
In a coral reef burial, a loved one's ashes are mixed with pH-neutral concrete, which is then molded and placed on the ocean floor alongside similar structures. These structures collectively mimic a natural reef, providing a habitat where marine flora and fauna can thrive. The Neptune Memorial Reef®, located near Miami, invites friends and family to visit loved ones memorialized there and witness the positive impact on preserving delicate ocean ecosystems.
Green funerals & natural burials
With an eye toward simplicity, green funerals and natural burials aim to reduce environmental impact, conserve natural resources, low carbon emissions, protect worker health and preserve or restore habitats. In collaboration with natural burial cemeteries and conservancies and adhering to standards set by the Green Burial Council, a handful of Dignity Memorial® providers offer these options to families.
An alternative cremation option
According to the Cremation Association of North America, the cremation rate in the United States reached nearly 61% in 2023. Six states had a rate above 80%. Nearly all cremations today are traditional flame cremations, but that could change.
Water cremation
Water cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis or flameless cremation, is a cremation technique that uses water and alkaline chemicals instead of fire. This alternative to traditional cremation produces ashes that a family can scatter in a meaningful location, memorialize in a cemetery, keep close by in an urn or transform into cremation jewelry or keepsakes. Some consider water cremation a gentler form of cremation.
Emerging trends in funeral services
Although traditional end-of-life practices remain popular, an increasing number of people are choosing less conventional ways to honor loved ones or prepare for their own deaths. From living funerals to celebrations of life, these new options allow families to create beautiful, personalized memorials.
Living funerals
Traditional funerals honor those who have passed away, while a living funeral offers friends and family members the chance to express love and gratitude to someone who is still alive, present and able to celebrate. These bittersweet and often very festive gatherings can be profoundly impactful for individuals diagnosed with terminal illnesses and their loved ones, providing a sense of closure and peace.
Celebrations of life
Celebrations of life are personalized gatherings where friends and family honor the unique lives and legacies of their loved ones. These memorial services tend to be more relaxed and less somber than traditional funerals, and they often focus on elements like a loved one’s unique personality, hobbies and interests, and the positive impact they made on those who knew them. They are filled with special touches that help tell life stories.
Cremation memorialization
Following cremation, there are many options for ashes, including scattering them in a meaningful location or placing them in a display urn at home. Families wishing for a more permanent, traditional resting place, may choose cremation memorialization. Cemeteries offer columbaria, niches, cremation burial, benches and more, each of which provides a physical location where loved ones can pay their respects for generations to come.
How to choose the best option for you
With so many end-of-life options to choose from, you may feel empowered, overwhelmed or a bit of both when it comes to deciding which you want. Dignity Memorial providers are experts in helping families through the process of selecting options that align with their religions, traditions, values and personal preferences.
Our website offers a wealth of information. Our counselors are always available to take your call and meet with you in person. Our Personal Planning Guide allows you to write down your wishes in a single document to share with your family.
Making final arrangements now means your loved ones won’t need to wonder what you would have wanted when the time comes or find the money to fund it.