Burial or Cremation?
Comparing your options
1. What To Do When Somebody Dies2. Register the Death3. Understand Wills, Funeral Wishes4. Notify Government5. Help with Pay6. Burial or Cremation?7. Funeral Service and Venue8. Personalise the Service9. On the Day10. After the funeral
This is one of the most significant decisions, with different financial, religious, and environmental implications.
| Feature | Cremation | Burial |
|---|---|---|
| Prevalence | Most common choice in the UK (about 75% of funerals). | Less common (about 25% of funerals). |
| Cost | Often the cheaper option. | Usually more expensive due to high burial plot costs. |
| Flexibility | Ashes can be scattered, buried, kept, or made into memorials. | Provides a fixed, permanent place for family visits and remembrance. |
| Religion | Not accepted by some faiths (for example, Islam and Judaism). | Accepted by most religions. |
| Environment | Has a carbon footprint due to energy use. | Traditional burial can have environmental impact, though natural burial is very eco-friendly; however, both do use up quite a bit of land space. |
B. The Rise of Direct Cremation (The Simple, Low-Cost Option)
A significant trend, now accounting for around one in five cremations, is direct cremation.
- What it is: A simple, unattended cremation with no funeral service, mourners, or procession.
- The process: The funeral director collects your loved one, completes the cremation in a simple coffin, and then the ashes are returned to or collected by the family.
- The benefit: This can reduce pressure and cost, while families hold a separate memorial at a later date in a place and manner that feels right for them.
- The downsides: there is no service where the loved one will be present, so some may find this less personal; and could lead to a lack of closure.
C. Natural and Eco-Friendly Burials (The Green Option)
Also known as woodland burial, this option is becoming increasingly popular, focusing on lower environmental impact and a natural return to the earth.
- No embalming: Chemicals used in embalming are prohibited.
- Biodegradable coffin: A simple shroud or coffin made of cardboard, wicker, bamboo, seagrass, or similar natural materials is required.
- Natural setting: The burial takes place in a protected meadow or woodland.
- No headstone: Traditional gravestones are not permitted; plots are commonly identified with a map reference, small plaque, or tree.