Cremation trends and cremation popularity

The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) 2022 Cremation and Burial Report states the national cremation rate will reach 80% by 2035. It’s already close to that percentage in New Hampshire and Vermont. One reason for the increased interest in cremation is the variety of options for cremated remains.

The popularity of cremation trends in the U.S. and around the globe grows yearly for several reasons, the top one being the cost difference between cremation and traditional burial in a cemetery.

Cremation trends and statistics

• According to the NFDA, the average cost of cremation with a service in 2022 was 12.4% lower than traditional burial. A non-service cremation, aka a direct cremation, costs about $1,100.
• The NFDA 2022 report also states that 41% of consumers opt for direct cremation, with 35% choosing a memorial service and 24% choosing a service with a casket.
• Nevada has the highest percentage of cremations at 81.9% and Mississippi has the lowest percentage at 30.6%.
• Contrary to other reports, the Cremation Association of America’s 2023 report indicates  the popularity of cremation may be plateauing post-pandemic.

Cremation popularity due to costs and multiple benefits

Cost is a major factor when someone decides between a burial and a cremation. In some cases, a casket alone can cost more than an entire cremation package. Families looking to honor their loved one’s last wishes by scattering remains in another region can use the savings from the lower-cost service to make that pilgrimage.

Our direct cremation price includes:

• Transfer of your loved one into our care anywhere within our service area, including from the home, hospital, or hospice
• Sheltering and refrigeration
• Cremation container
• Cremation process
• Medical examiner fee
• Filing the death certificate
• Notifying Social Security

Cremation trends for remains

As cremation becomes the choice of more Americans, we’re asked about ideas for cremated remains—besides a traditional urn or keepsake. There are many options. Cremation trends include remains placed into holiday ornaments, glass paperweights and golf balls, among others. Here are some ideas for you:

Scattering remains

There are no governing bodies in the U.S. or within states that regulate the scattering of cremated remains. If you are going to conduct a cremated remains scattering ceremony on city, town or state land, you should follow the appropriate bylaws. Some people choose to scatter remains from a boat at sea, attended by friends and family. In inland waters, this is regulated by the Clean Water Act and a permit is required from the governing state agency. The remains must be taken three miles offshore into international waters before they can be released.

Biotree

Biotree urns turn cremated remains into trees. The company provides a biodegradable urn for your loved one’s remains. The center houses a tree sapling to grow a tree in memory of a loved one. Care is taken in selecting tree species that will thrive in your environment and create a living tribute for those who now rest at their roots. A certificate is provided with each Biotree urn, which families can redeem to receive their memorial tree sapling.

Memorial Diamonds

For centuries, diamonds have been a symbol of eternal love. Thanks to an evolution in technology, you can now extract carbon from cremated remains to grow a diamond. Eterneva, a grief wellness company based in Austin, Texas, takes the process of creating a diamond one step further, transforming the growth of a memorial diamond into a cathartic journey for grieving loved ones. When you choose to have a diamond made from your cremated remains, your loved ones will receive monthly updates on the process so they can witness your transformation into a special gem.

A name or message can be engraved on the diamond that is visible through a jeweler’s microscope so you’ll be able to ensure the diamond is uniquely yours. Once the diamond is complete, it will be a daily reminder of the love you shared. Plus, when others notice the diamond, it gives your loved ones opportunities to share stories about you. Leaving an heirloom encourages healthy grieving and lets your loved ones know you are right by their side.

Parting Stone

We now offer a solid alternative to traditional cremated remains called Parting Stone. CSNH families that have received parting stones have been very happy with the results.

Parting stones allow you to share solid cremated remains in rock-like form with your loved ones. The stones are unique in size and shape and resemble river rocks. You can hold them and display them in ways not possible with traditional cremated remains. You can also share them with many loved ones as cremated remains produce about 20 to40 stones. 

A unique aspect of parting stones is that cremated remains from different loved ones can be combined together. For example, if Grandpa’s remains have been in an urn for some time, and Grandma just passed, they can mix to create a unique set of stones–a one-of-a-kind keepsake for all the grandchildren.

The stones feel and look very beautiful. To see a family member pick up a stone for the first time is special. The stones are packaged in an elegant and minimalistic way and come with a card from the artist that formed and processed them, so that the family has the opportunity to write the artist a note if they would like to express any emotions or feelings.

Parting stones for pet cremated remains are also available. Our arrangers can speak with you more  about parting stones.

Life Forest

Life Forest is a unique cemetery in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, located next to conservation land with hiking trails and swimming creeks. Our arrangers discuss Life Forest with families that choose cremation but also seek to be part of the environment. At Life Forest, trees replace headstones.

Patricia Rosenberg was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2014, and after a few rounds of chemotherapy, she decided to stop treatment. Patricia loved the outdoors, as does her husband Alan, so when they started planning for her end-of-life, they wanted to be “harmonious with nature.”

At first, Alan and Patricia discussed the idea of burial at sea. The challenges with that type of farewell are the cost, the unpredictable weather and the travel needed to legally put a body into the water. 

“We had a whole conversation about cremation, and he told me about the carbon offsets they do because of the environmental impact of cremation,” Alan said. “Then he told me about Life Forest. You choose a planting that symbolizes your loved one who is going to be there instead of a traditional cemetery where you’re just looking at row upon row of cold stone.”

They chose a serviceberry tree to help feed the birds that visit Life Forest. Alan’s granddaughter died three days before Patricia and is buried in the adjacent spot.

“I have a real passion for what they do. They made a bad situation easier,” Alan said.

Andvinyly

Jason Leach of Scarborough, England, offers “good vibrations” to those seeking a unique use for loved one’s cremated remains. His company, Andvinyly, uses granular remains to create playable vinyl records as cremation keepsakes.

The big difference from a regular album is that cremated remains are sprinkled into the vinyl during production, creating raised areas on the record. Those raised areas are audible when played on a turntable as pops and cracks.

“The fact that I will die one day got me thinking and talking to people about dying. People tend to not talk about it. It’s very much a closed-off subject for a lot of people, Leach said. “That got me thinking, what do I want to leave?”

You can choose a 7-inch or 12-inch record with custom tracks and artwork.

Coral reef

You might prefer a final destination in the ocean. Eternal Reefs offers a combination urn, scattering and burial at sea. The eternal reefs are made of an environmentally safe cement mixture that includes cremated remains and creates artificial reef formations with a pH content that’s close to neutral. This eventually creates new habitats for fish and other sea life. Eternal reefs are available for one to four sets of cremated remains. 

Tattoos

Yes, cremated remains can mix with ink used for skin tattooing. Engrave Ink uses “full-cycle sanitation” to create tattoo ink with your loved one’s cremated remains. Engrave Ink’s website claims they use a filtering process to reduce the remains and super heat them in a medically sterile environment. “Mechanical agitation is then used to combine the extracted carbon pigment with our premium ink. The four-week process is given a unique number and tracked, with each phase accompanied with thorough safety and control activities,” according to the website.

If you have questions about your cremation options, contact us today.