-1.jpg?width=1600&name=Banner%20(7)-1.jpg)
.jpg?width=1600&name=RGC%20Gallery%20(3).jpg)
.jpg?width=2000&name=Copy%20of%20MMP%20Website%20Header%20Image%20Template%20(2).jpg)
.jpg?width=1600&name=WMP%20Wonderfully%20Made%20Memorial%20(1).jpg)
.jpg?width=2000&name=Copy%20of%20MMP%20Website%20Header%20Image%20Template%20(1).jpg)
.jpg?width=800&name=Untitled%20design%20(56).jpg)
Burial and memorial options: traditional and alternative
Rest Assured webinar presented by Ruth Boydell and Anita McBride
As part of our Rest Assured series, this webinar focused on a deeply important and often overlooked question: how would your loved one really want their body to be cared for after death? The discussion centred on final disposition—what happens to the body after death—and the growing movement toward sustainable end-of-life practices.
Presenters Ruth and Anita offered grounded, practical guidance for individuals and families navigating these choices. Together, they explored a range of body disposition options, encouraging thoughtful consideration of environmental impact, personal values, and cultural or spiritual beliefs.
The webinar covered:
-
A historical overview of body disposition traditions
-
Current mainstream practices, such as cremation and traditional burial
-
Emerging and more sustainable alternatives, including:
-
Green (natural) burial
-
Above-ground interment
-
Renewable interment practices
-
Body donation to science
-
Participants also gained insight into how attitudes toward final disposition are shifting around the world, with a global update on trends, innovations, and legal developments in this evolving space.
The session concluded with an open Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions, share reflections, and deepen their understanding of how to make informed, respectful choices for themselves and their loved ones.
Final disposition options
The webinar explored the many final disposition options available for the care of the body after death. Common choices such as burial, sea burial, aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis), and body donation to science were discussed in depth.
The presentation also introduced a range of less conventional and emerging alternatives, including sky or celestial burials, upright burials, and emerging concepts like living forest memorials and future-focused cemetery designs.
Additionally, the session covered terramation (human composting) and explored a variety of creative ways to use ashes in memorial practices. These included space burials, bio urns that grow into trees, glass keepsakes, DNA-infused jewellery, memorial artwork, and even tattoos incorporating cremation ashes.
The need for sustainable end-of-life practices
Another important topic we explored was the environmental impact of funeral planning, and why sustainability matters more than ever. With the number of deaths in Australia expected to rise from 142,000 in 2012 to 300,000 by 2050, the demand for burial space and resources will grow significantly.
In cities like Sydney, where available burial space in NSW is projected to be exhausted by 2050, these pressures are even more pronounced. This context emphasises the urgent need for sustainable end-of-life practices to reduce environmental impact and meet future demand.
Environmentally friendly funeral choices
The webinar explored practical ways to reduce the environmental impact of funerals. It covered the use of biodegradable coffins made from natural materials, as well as biodegradable urns that are gentle on the environment. Alternatives such as shrouds, recycled coffins, and avoiding embalming fluids were also discussed.
The presentation also discussed natural burials that forgo chemicals and traditional headstones in favour of biodegradable materials. Additionally, it highlighted other eco-friendly choices, such as donating to charity instead of giving flowers, selecting native blooms, using locally sourced or recycled supplies, opting for digital communications, choosing locally sourced food with minimal packaging, and offering green-themed thank-you gifts.
Importance of forward planning
A great emphasis was placed on the value of planning funerals in advance. As organising a funeral is a rare and often unfamiliar decision, it usually takes place under time pressure during a highly emotional and stressful period.
Forward planning helps ease this burden, allowing for clearer decision-making and ensuring that personal wishes and values are respected.
