Beyond Burial and Cremation: A guide to modern funeral and memorial alternatives in the UK 

Introduction

Although burial and cremation remain the most common funeral choices in England and Wales, an increasing number of people are now exploring more personalised, symbolic or environmentally conscious alternatives. These can range from turning ashes into diamonds to cryogenic preservation or emerging technologies such as water cremation and human composting. Some options are legally recognised, while others remain unregulated or unavailable in England and Wales.  

There is also a growing desire for funerals that reflect individual beliefs, creativity or values. This shift raises important questions about what is possible, what is lawful, and how unconventional wishes can be incorporated into end-of-life planning. 

In our first blog, we explained why funeral wishes are not legally binding and how pre-paid plans may help set out personal preferences. In our second blog, we examined who has the legal right to decide what happens to a body. This article builds on those foundations by exploring what happens when someone wants something more unusual than burial or cremation. 

Traditional Options: Burial and Cremation

Before looking at alternative options, it is helpful to understand the two legally recognised methods of body disposal in England and Wales. 

Burial 
Burial can take place in a cemetery, churchyard or natural burial ground. It is regulated through a mixture of statutory provisions and local authority rules. Burial remains an important choice for many due to religious or cultural practices, family traditions or personal preference. 

Cremation
Cremation is significantly more common in the UK than burial. It is governed by detailed legislation, including rules on certification, the operation of crematoria and the handling of ashes. Cremation produces ashes that can be interred, scattered or used in a variety of memorial options. 

Both methods form the legal baseline. Most alternative funeral or memorial practices involve one of these two methods first, particularly cremation, before any unconventional tribute or memorial is arranged. 

Alternative funeral options gaining popularity

A wide range of alternative memorial and disposal options are now available, although not all are legal or regulated in the UK. These can be grouped into three broad categories.

Memorialisation of ashes

These alternatives are usually arranged after cremation and focus on transforming or commemorating ashes in a symbolic or artistic way. 

• Ashes to diamonds: Carbon from ashes is used to create synthetic gemstones. 

• Ashes in glass: Incorporation of ashes into jewellery, paperweights or decorative glass items. 

• Fireworks containing ashes: A celebratory display where ashes are included in pyrotechnic materials. 

• Space memorials: Launching a symbolic portion of ashes into the upper atmosphere or orbit. 

These are legally permitted because they take place after cremation and involve the handling of ashes rather than a body. 

Innovative body disposal methods

These methods involve alternatives to the burial or cremation of the body itself. They are gaining attention internationally but are not all available in England and Wales. 

• Cryogenic preservation: Freezing the body at very low temperatures with a view to possible future revival. Not illegal, but unregulated and not available in England and Wales. 

• Human composting (natural organic reduction): A controlled process that converts the body into soil. Legal in some parts of the United States but not currently allowed in England and Wales. 

• Alkaline hydrolysis (water cremation): Uses water and alkali to break down remains. Considered more environmentally friendly than traditional cremation. Not currently permitted in England and Wales.
  
  

Ecological and symbolic alternatives

• Tree pod burials: Using biodegradable pods that support the planting of a tree, usually after cremation or burial ashes. 

• Sea burials: Permitted under strict conditions and regulated by the Marine Management Organisation. 

• Body donation to science: Donating the body for medical teaching or research. Requires advance registration and acceptance by a medical school.
  
  

Legal status of burial alternatives in England and Wales

In England and Wales, only burial and cremation are formally recognised as lawful methods of body disposal. The law does not currently regulate or support alternative methods such as human composting or alkaline hydrolysis. Cryonics is not prohibited, but there is no regulatory framework governing it, and no provider in this jurisdiction is licensed to carry out full cryogenic preservation.  

In the case of JS, the court was asked to consider the wishes of (JS) a 14-year-old girl who expressed a wish before dying to be cryogenically frozen. JS’ mother supported her decision, but her estranged father initially opposed her wishes.  The court was required to base its decision on what was scientifically possible at that point in time.  

The outcome was a “prospective order under s.116 of the Senior Courts Act 1981, alternatively under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court, to take effect upon JS’s death, appointing the mother as the sole administrator of her estate in place of the mother and father jointly, and specifying that the mother shall thereby have the right to make arrangements for the disposal of the body, and to decide who should be permitted to view it ” 

Many of the memorial alternatives, such as turning ashes into diamonds or sending a portion of ashes into space, are legally permissible because they occur after cremation. They are treated as commemorative services rather than disposal methods. 

As discussed in our second blog on legal rights and body ownership, the person with the right to arrange the funeral will need to navigate these legal limitations when unconventional choices are requested and ensure that any unconventional wishes comply with the law as it currently stands. 

Reform on the horizon: could the law change?

Growing public interest in environmentally friendly and symbolic alternatives has prompted legal discussion. The Law Commission’s ongoing review of burial, cremation and new funerary methods will examine whether and how new technologies like alkaline hydrolysis and human composting could be introduced in England and Wales. 

The review will also explore whether individuals should have greater legal control over what happens to their body, potentially including the enforceability of funeral wishes. 

This suggests that change may be on the horizon, but for now, the legal framework remains focused on burial and cremation, with limited flexibility for newer methods. 

Conclusion

There is no doubt that attitudes to death, funerals and memorialisation are evolving. While burial and cremation remain the only legally recognised options in England and Wales, an increasing number of people are seeking alternatives that reflect their identity, values or environmental concerns. 

Some of these alternatives are legally accessible as part of post-cremation memorials. Others, such as cryogenic preservation or composting, sit in a legal grey area or remain prohibited. For anyone considering an alternative approach, it is essential to understand what is possible now and what might become possible in the near future. If you need any further guidance, contact our expert Wills, trust and estates team.