Traditional burial, or cremation?

In 2020, that is not the question.

In the modern day realm of funerals, we think in the near future,  families will prefer neither. 

There are growing concerns around the environmental impact of cremation, and countries around the world running out of land to bury their dead. 

With that, many entrepreneurs have peeked their heads into the funeral industry and saw immense opportunities to create new and exciting ways to honor and dispose of our deceased loved ones.

Although the possibilities are exciting for the planet, we also see a major evolution happening where families begin to feel excited about planning their own departure. 

Let’s take a look at some of these exciting options out there, and what kind of personality they serve:

1. Go out with a bang (literally)

Holy Smoke was born from the minds of two law enforcement officers who wanted cheaper, more ecological and simple ways to dispose of their bodies when they go. The result? Turning cremated remains into live ammunition to be fired as a celebration of life. All you have to do is tell Holy Smoke what kind of hunting or shooting your loved one practiced, and they can help you find the right fit for your needs. One pound of cremains results in 250 shotgun shells, and Holy Smoke’s clients have the option to have their cremains placed in a non-firing ammunition into pendants and keepsakes. 

Who it’s for: The hunter or fiery one in the family.

2. Turn your cremation ashes into a tattoo

Everyone knows tattoos are permanent. So what if you could be permanently memorialized by having your cremation ashes mixed with tattoo ink, only to be transformed into a memorial tattoo on your loved one(s)? Some companies like Engrave Ink and Cremation Ink will do just that. And the process only costs around $200 – $500. 

Who it’s for: The rebel, the bada$% or the tattooed one in your life.

3. Tell the story of your life through your urn

Foreverence is asking families to rethink the whole idea of what a cremation urn is. They invite people to tell the story of their life through completely customized 3d printed urns. Each urn created represents the passions of the deceased person in a way never done before. Whether you want your cremains stored in a sports car urn, rocketship, guitar or an iconic energy dome, Foreverence is ready and willing to create the perfectly customized urn for you.

Who it’s for: The passionate hobbyist in your life, or someone who wants to play an active role of keeping the story of their life alive for future generations.  

4. Turn your remains into toxin-removing mushrooms

Coeio is on a mission to reduce the environmental impact traditional disposition methods have created by using mushrooms that cleanse the body of toxins which have otherwise seeped into the Earth. With their famed TedX featured mushroom burial suit, the whole process costs a mere $1,500, which is around 70% more affordable than most other traditional disposition methods. 

According to their website, the Infinity Burial Suit is:

“…a handcrafted garment that is worn by the deceased. The suit is completely biodegradable and was co­-created with zero waste fashion designer Daniel Silverstein.

The Infinity Burial Suit has a built in bio­mix, made up of mushrooms and other microorganisms that together do three things; aid in decomposition, work to neutralize toxins found in the body and transfer nutrients to plant life.

The end result of being buried in the Infinity Burial Suit, or any of Coeio’s products, is that bodies are transformed into vital nutrients that enrich the earth and foster new life.”

Along with the suit, they also offer a shroud that allows a viewing to take place, eliminating the need for a coffin. 

Who it’s for: The green thumb or eco conscious one in your life.

The possibilities for disposition are only growing

If those four options didn’t excite you, consider being turned into a teddy bear, a record, a tree, or even a diamond. Although we only highlighted four ideas here, there are so many more! And as countless entrepreneurs continue to enter the funeral industry, the possibilities will only grow, leading us an industry to grow with them. 

What exciting methods of disposition do you see appearing in 2020!? Tell us about them in the comments below!

Krystal Penrose

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