Does the thought of a box underground sound like the opposite of what you or your loved one would want as their eternal resting place? Or maybe it just seems too unceremonious of a way to honor a life that was so well-lived. More and more families have been turning to burial alternatives as a way to pay tribute to loved ones in a unique and personalized way. In this article, we are exploring burial alternatives that you might find more fitting for yourself or your loved one. First, we’ll start with methods that return your loved ones’ remains to the earth in a meaningful way. Then, we’ll take a look at some of the opportunities cremation provides to leave a lasting legacy item.
Casket Burial Alternatives
Cremation doesn’t have to be the only alternative to a burial. In fact, burial alternatives have been widely adopted and “green cemeteries” are becoming available across the country. Although you may be able to find a traditional cemetery that allows for a green burial, some of the burial alternatives below do not require a cemetery at all.
Wicker Casket – Traditional funeral caskets can contain materials and varnishes that are harmful to the environment once they begin to seep into the ground. Those looking for a burial alternative that will honor their loved one’s respect and care for the environment can opt for a casket made out of biodegradable materials. Green cemeteries will typically accept simple wood caskets, cardboard caskets, and wicker caskets. We mention wicker caskets specifically because these can be decoratively woven with natural materials that might remind you of your loved one, such as seagrass or cattail.
Mushroom Suit – Made popular by a select number of celebrities is the Infinity Burial Suit. This special outfit is designed to return the body back to the earth as a source of nutrients for mushrooms and other plants. The suit is made from organic cotton and embedded with material sourced from mushrooms, allowing your loved one to live on through new growth. While the Infinity Burial Suit is not available at this time, companies are continuing to innovate the materials and shrouds we can bury our loved ones in.
Space Burial – Was your loved one the ultimate adventurer? Were they an astronomy buff? The company Celestis has been making it possible for your loved ones’ remains to travel into space for over 20 years. The process requires your loved one to be either cremated or give a sample of DNA via a mouth swab before their passing. The ashes or DNA are then sent to space with options such as an eventual return to earth, being placed on the moon, or eternally traveling. (Read more about how it works).
Eternal Reef – Space isn’t the only place your loved one’s remains can travel to. Eternal Reefs helps families memorialize their loved one in a way that gives back in the form of preservation and protection of marine life. Your loved one’s cremated remains are mixed with environmentally-safe concrete that is cast into a memorial reef and placed on the ocean floor as a lasting tribute to the generous spirit being honored.
Forest Burial – If a cemetery environment doesn’t feel like the right place to lay your loved one to rest, companies such as Better Place Forests offer a more natural forest setting. This option allows you to spread your loved one’s ashes at the base of a private memorial tree, a compelling option for those who loved the outdoors, are looking for eco-friendly burial options, or who want to support forest conservation.
Cremation Legacy Pieces
Your loved ones’ remains can be used to create something that reflects the beauty they brought to the world around them. Cremation art ranges from elegant blown glass pieces to customized jewelry. Your loved one’s legacy can also be carried on in the form of education, through body donation. What each of these methods has in common is that the form your loved one takes after death is a personalized way to memorialize who they were in life.
Cremation Art – Etsy provides a variety of memorial jewelry options that will allow you to keep your loved one’s ashes close to your heart. To take it a step further, if your loved one’s spirit shone like a diamond, you may opt to have them made into one. Companies like Eterneva and Everdear use carbon isolation to create a stunning and unique keepsake. Finally, you can put your loved one’s beauty on display with blown glass with the help of companies like The Ash Experiment and Spirit Pieces.
Body Donation – The donation of your loved one’s remains can impact the lives of so many through scientific and medical research. This is an option that is decided by the loved one prior to their death and can be an eternal tribute to their giving spirit. After a period of time following the donation, the body is then cremated and returned to the family. Because there is no cost to do this, body donation is also a form of inexpensive cremation.
In a Personalized Way
As you can see, there are not only traditional burial alternatives but also alternatives to keeping your loved one’s ashes in a traditional urn. How we care for and memorialize our loved ones after death is constantly innovating and evolving. There are more options now than ever to allow you to personalize your loved one’s eternal resting place.
