n the U.S. and Europe, direct cremation is quickly replacing traditional forms of disposition. A major reason for this is cost. Direct cremation is about $6,000 less than traditional cremation – but that’s not the only reason. In fact, researchers in Europe have looked into the rise of direct cremation and the motivations behind it. And what they’re finding is that families consider direct cremation to be a dignified, more personal way to honor a loved one.

A 2022 study conducted and published by the University of Bath in England surveyed families for their “grief experience” following a loved one’s death. The goal was to identify if there were any differences between varying forms of disposition.

After surveying hundreds of families, the researchers concluded that a traditional funeral service did not improve the grief experience. It seems that people in the U.S. and Europe are considering alternatives, and direct cremation is a leading option for these families.



Initially, the researchers assumed that cost was the primary – and maybe only – driving factor behind the rise of direct cremation. But based on responses received during the survey, it’s clear that people preferred direct cremation for reasons beyond budgetary.

Other reasons for direct cremation’s rise in popularity include preserving dignity and personalization. When comparing costs, it’s understandable why some families would assume that higher costs mean the decedent is treated with greater care.

However, direct cremation services offer the same professionalism and attention to care that funeral homes offer.

Here are four ways direct cremation preserves the decedent’s dignity and the family’s disposition wishes.

Direct cremation services must be licensed through the state as “direct disposers.” To attain licensure, direct disposal teams must go through training and demonstrate their knowledge through examination. By the time a direct cremation team completes licensure, they know how to properly recover and handle a body for disposition purposes in a dignified manner.

These skilled professionals are the people responsible for traveling to the place of death and receiving the decedent. That means, from the very beginning, there are trained professionals overseeing the direct cremation process.

A common concern among loved ones is receiving the right ashes from the crematory. However, direct cremation services have measures in place to ensure the right cremains are returned to the family.

Some companies, for instance, maintain a client database that tracks the deceased as they move through the process.

Another reliable safeguard is the use of an identifying metal disc with each decedent. When a body is recovered, the disc is attached to it and kept with the deceased from recovery to crematory. The disc includes identifying information and makes it simple for direct cremation services to keep track of each decedent.

During cremation, the intense heat involved reliably reduces the body to ash, but it leaves the metal disc unharmed. Following cremation, the ashes are recovered and placed in an urn or container. The metal disc is included to ensure it is delivered to the right family.

In this way, direct cremation services guarantee families receive their loved one’s cremains.

Perhaps you’ve sat through funeral services and told yourself that this just isn’t for you. Many people do not find a solemn memorial service comforting and prefer something else. Direct cremation allows people and their loved ones to lead all memorial decisions.

Cremains are inert and safe, so they do not need to be handled with the same urgency as a body. As such, families can take all the time they need to plan out a proper celebration of life. It’s becoming increasingly common, for example, to do this well after the decedent has passed away. Some families choose to wait a few months, while others may choose to have a memorial on the first anniversary of their loved one’s passing.

By giving family and friends time to process their emotions, people can spend their time reminiscing fondly instead of managing their grief publicly. And there are many options for celebrating a life lost. Some popular options include hosting a dinner where the departed’s favorite foods are served, an intimate get together at a treasured spot, or even taking the urn on a road trip to scatter the ashes while family is gathered. Simple memorials like these can mean much more than a standard funeral.

Based on survey responses, the study’s authors concluded that the public nature of traditional funerals is a major stressor. It’s not hard to imagine why. The last thing most people want to do when grieving is playing host.



Add in the fact that many of those funeral guests haven’t been in contact with the deceased for years, even decades. A funeral is difficult enough – meeting a bunch of new people during one is worse, and a stress that many families would rather not deal with.

Direct cremation makes it easy for families to avoid this stress. With direct cremation, there’s no formal funeral, so no public viewing or ceremony. Everything can be kept private, so loved ones can grieve without putting on a face for guests.

With the rising popularity of cremation, additional cremation options have sprung up. Direct cremation is one such choice, and it’s a dignified one. That’s because direct cremation is handled professionally and allows families to memorialize their loved one as they see fit and on their own timeline.

There’s a time for tradition, but with the rising costs and stressful nature of traditional funerals, many are choosing a modern, dignified alternative – direct cremation.