The future of funerals: what trends for the next 20 years?
Introduction
The funeral sector is on the brink of a revolution. For centuries, funeral practices have evolved little. But the next twenty years promise major upheavals that will radically transform the way we honour our deceased.
Several forces are converging to reshape the funeral landscape. Ecological awareness is driving towards sustainable alternatives. Digitalisation offers new possibilities for commemoration. The quest for personalisation responds to the need for more authentic ceremonies. Demographic and cultural transformations impose new realities.
These developments are not mere passing trends. They reflect profound changes in our relationship with death, grief and memory. Funeral rites have always evolved with the societies that practise them. Today, this evolution is accelerating.
This article explores the major trends that will shape the future of funerals. From forest cemeteries to digital memorials powered by artificial intelligence, from hybrid ceremonies to widespread pricing transparency, discover how we will honour our deceased in two decades.
📌 Summary (TL;DR)
The funeral sector will undergo major transformations by 2045. The ecological revolution imposes sustainable alternatives such as aquamation and forest cemeteries. Digitalisation generalises hybrid ceremonies and intelligent digital memorials. Hyper-personalisation and pricing transparency become the norm. These developments reflect a profound change in our relationship with death, towards more humane, respectful and authentic practices.
📚 Table of contents
- The evolution of our relationship with death in our societies
- The ecological revolution of funerals
- The total digitalisation of the funeral sector
- The hyper-personalisation of ceremonies
- Societal and demographic transformations
- Preparation and advance planning
- The societal impact: towards a more humane death?
The evolution of our relationship with death in our societies
Our relationship with death is undergoing profound transformation. The taboo is gradually fading, replaced by more open dialogue and a quest for transparency. Social networks have changed the game: grief becomes visible, shared, collective.
This cultural evolution prepares the ground for even more radical changes in funeral practices. Death emerges from the shadows, and with it, new ways of accompanying it emerge. The evolution of funeral rites testifies to this societal mutation.
The ecological revolution of funerals
The climate emergency is redefining all sectors, including funerals. By 2044, sustainable funerals will become the norm rather than the exception. Families demand environmentally respectful alternatives, without compromising on dignity.
This green revolution touches all aspects: from body preparation to resting places, including the materials used. The future of funerals will necessarily be ecological.
Aquamation and alternatives to traditional cremation
Aquamation, or water cremation, is gaining ground. This process uses alkaline water to dissolve the body, reducing the carbon footprint by 90% compared to traditional cremation.
Human composting, already legal in certain American states, transforms the body into fertile soil. These innovations, still marginal today, could represent 30 to 40% of choices within twenty years. Social acceptance is progressing rapidly in the face of environmental arguments.
Biodegradable coffins and living urns
Materials are evolving radically. Cardboard, mycelium, bamboo, wicker: biodegradable coffins are progressively replacing treated wood and metals. Some decompose in just a few months.
Living urns, which contain seeds and allow a tree to grow from the ashes, are experiencing growing success. By 2044, these solutions could become the majority. Discover more about ecological burial.
Forest cemeteries and natural resting spaces
Traditional cemeteries are transforming into commemorative forests. No more aligned gravestones, but trees, paths, memorial gardens. These spaces become places of life as much as memory.
Several pilot projects already exist in Northern Europe. Within two decades, these forest cemeteries could represent a significant share of new funeral spaces, reconciling nature and contemplation.
The total digitalisation of the funeral sector
Digital technology will redefine every stage of the funeral journey. From organising funerals to preserving memory, digital transformation is accelerating. What seemed futuristic ten years ago is progressively becoming the norm.
This evolution does not mean dehumanisation. On the contrary, it aims to facilitate procedures, broaden access and enrich commemoration possibilities. The funeral sector is entering the digital age.
Hybrid and virtual ceremonies
Live-streamed ceremonies are already common. Tomorrow, virtual reality will enable immersive remote participation. Loved ones from around the world will be able to attend funerals as if they were there.
This global accessibility transforms the very notion of presence. Geographical barriers fall, allowing everyone to pay tribute regardless of distance. Hybrid ceremonies will become the norm by 2044.
Digital memorials and artificial intelligence
Commemorative pages are evolving towards enriched interactive spaces. Artificial intelligence could create chatbots reproducing the deceased's manner of speaking, or digital avatars to "dialogue" with the departed.
These innovations raise important ethical questions. Wolky already offers respectful and accessible memorial pages. The future will see these services considerably enriched. Explore funeral technological innovations.
Blockchain and digital management of memorial heritage
Blockchain will guarantee the authenticity of digital death certificates and the lasting preservation of memories. This technology ensures traceability and security for the deceased's wishes and commemorative data.
Digital wills, funeral instructions recorded in an unfalsifiable manner, automated management of memorial heritage: so many concrete applications that will emerge in the coming years. Transparency and security become standards.
The hyper-personalisation of ceremonies
Standardised funerals belong to the past. The future belongs to completely bespoke tributes, which authentically reflect the deceased's personality and passions. Each ceremony becomes unique.
This trend towards hyper-personalisation responds to a profound need: to honour the individual in their singularity. Families want funerals that tell a story, that of the loved one.
Ceremonies that tell a unique story
Funerals are scripted like narratives. A motorcycle enthusiast could have a ceremony with a biker procession. A music lover, a live concert. A traveller, decorations evoking their favourite destinations.
Immersive technologies (projections, holograms, personalised sound environments) will enrich these stagings. By 2044, each ceremony will be a unique creation, co-constructed with the family to tell the deceased's story.
The growing role of secular celebrants
The decline of traditional religious ceremonies is accelerating. Secular officiants, celebrants trained to create personalised rituals, are gaining ground. Their profession is rapidly professionalising.
These new actors design bespoke rituals, without imposed religious reference. They accompany families in creating authentic and meaningful tributes. Within twenty years, they could officiate the majority of ceremonies.
Societal and demographic transformations
Demographic and societal changes profoundly influence the future of funerals. Population ageing, growing cultural diversity, new family structures: so many factors reshaping the funeral landscape.
These transformations create new needs and new expectations. The sector must adapt rapidly to remain relevant and respectful of all realities.
Population ageing and industrialisation
Demographic ageing leads to a significant increase in the number of deaths. This reality drives towards a certain industrialisation of processes to manage volumes.
The risk: a dehumanisation of funerals. The challenge: optimising efficiency whilst preserving authenticity and empathy. The balance between rationalisation and humanity will be crucial in the coming decades. Digital platforms can facilitate without dehumanising.
Cultural diversity and multicultural funerals
Growing cultural diversity creates hybrid ceremonies, blending several traditions. Mixed couples, multicultural families request tributes that honour several heritages simultaneously.
Funeral infrastructures are adapting: modular rooms, possibility of integrating different rituals, respect for varied prescriptions. The perception of death varies according to cultures, and future funerals must reflect this richness.
Pricing transparency as the new norm
The opacity of funeral prices is coming to an end. Comparison platforms are multiplying, regulation is strengthening. Families demand to know exactly what they are paying, without hidden fees.
Wolky embodies this transparency with a fixed rate of 180 CHF to publish an obituary, compared to 800 to 2,000 CHF in the press. This democratisation of access will become the norm. Publish an obituary with complete simplicity.
Preparation and advance planning
Organising one's own funeral whilst alive is rapidly normalising. This anticipation relieves loved ones and guarantees respect for wishes. The taboo around this approach is fading.
Digital tools facilitate this planning. By 2044, the majority of people will have registered their funeral wishes, making post-mortem decisions simpler and less conflictual for families.
Digital funeral contracts and registered wishes
Dedicated applications already allow planning one's funeral in the smallest details: type of ceremony, music, texts, budget. This information is stored securely and accessible to designated loved ones.
Digital wills now include detailed funeral sections. This anticipation radically transforms the experience of bereaved families, who no longer have to guess what the deceased would have wished. The relief is immense.
Intergenerational dialogue about death
Death is becoming a more ordinary subject of conversation. Digital tools facilitate these exchanges: testimonial videos, sharing of wishes via applications, documented family discussions.
Education about death from a young age is progressing in certain countries. This cultural destigmatisation profoundly changes our collective relationship with mortality. Talking about death is no longer morbid, but responsible and liberating.
The societal impact: towards a more humane death?
These developments converge towards one objective: making death more humane, more accessible, more respectful. Technology is merely a tool in the service of empathy and dignity.
The challenge will be to preserve authenticity despite digitalisation. Platforms like Wolky facilitate procedures without dehumanising the process. Consult our funeral homes directory or publish an obituary in a few minutes. The future of the funeral sector will be more transparent, accessible and respectful. A necessary and optimistic evolution.
The next twenty years will profoundly transform our relationship with death and funerals. Ecology will establish itself as a priority with aquamation, biodegradable coffins and forest cemeteries. Digital will become essential, from hybrid ceremonies to digital memorials enriched by artificial intelligence. Personalisation will reach unprecedented heights, allowing each family to create a tribute that truly tells the deceased's story.
Pricing transparency and advance planning will become the norm, facilitating procedures for bereaved loved ones. These developments converge towards a common objective: more humane funerals, more respectful of the environment and more accessible.
Wolky is already accompanying this transformation by offering a simple and transparent digital platform. Publish an obituary for 180 CHF, create a lasting commemorative page and share your memories with your loved ones. Start your publication in a few minutes and honour your loved one's memory with dignity.
