For centuries, the funeral industry has remained seemingly unchanged, stoic even. However, traditions are taking a back seat, and we’re uncovering more and more trends emerging from the funeral industry of the 21st century.
We may initially think of a funeral as being at a cemetery, with loved ones surrounding the deceased before they are placed for burial. Expenses are high with this kind of traditional setting, and it’s no wonder there’s been an obvious push for change.
These days, many families are taking a more personalized approach to honoring their loved ones’ memories. Environmentalists are also on the rise, demanding more eco-friendly options.
As listed on DFS Memorials, here are some of the most prominent changes the death care industry is seeing.
#1 The demand for affordable cremation
Cremation has soared in popularity in the last 10 years, and in the last 3 years has moved to becoming the preferred option for the majority of Americans, with the cremation rate reaching 55% last year and set to reach 71% by 2030, according to Cremation Association of North America (CANA).
Although some families choose cremation with a funeral or memorial service, it is the demand for direct cremation as a simple, no-fuss and affordable funeral alternative that is making up the core of the cremation business. More and more providers report that a large majority of the cremation cases they handle are now direct cremation cases.
#2 An interest in eco-friendlier funeral alternatives
There appears to be a growing interest (especially in certain states) for eco-friendlier funeral options. Many consider cremation eco-friendlier than a traditional burial with embalming fluids, concrete and steel being buried into the earth. Some families that still opt for burial are considering natural burial, and even traditional cemeteries are adding hybrid green burial sections to their cemetery to cater to this demand.
#3 A breakaway from convention in rituals
Society is changing, and how we approach life rituals is part of that change. There have been changes in our attitudes to how we approach births for some time now, with a greater interest in natural birthing processes. Some families have moved away from a somber funeral ritual to choose a Life Celebration event instead, breaking the convention of a traditional funeral service.
#4 Personalization
Personalization has become quite the ‘buzz’ concept of culture today. We all look for myriad ways to personalize our lives. We personalize our daily lives and possessions to stamp our identity, so why not choose to host a funeral that exemplifies this quality of personalization? This trend has meant that funeral homes are having to adapt and cater to personalized services.
In all sectors of the funeral and death care industry, the changes are abundant. From funeral homes to cemeteries and even memorialization services, people are coming to expect more. Whether the concerns are financial, personal or spiritual, industry providers around the world are adapting to consumer needs.
Source Name: DFS Memorials