Terramation Popularity: Social Research & Insights
At Evergrove, we’ve conducted over 30 hours of in-depth interviews in Australia across regional and metropolitan New South Wales to understand how individuals navigate, perceive and consider death care. We have provided some direct quotes below.
"I want to be around lots of greenery so my kids can sense me"
"I'd like to be under a tree with a lovely view"
"I want something that is low impact on the environment or somewhere that needs regenerating"
"I want to be somewhere that was significant to me in my life"
"I love it"
"I'll be in the world forever"
"It just makes sense"
"It's so beautiful"
"I'd definitely want this instead"
"This is true permanence"
"I'd want to nourish trees because ash serves no purpose"
"I want to be around lots of greenery so my kids can sense me" "I'd like to be under a tree with a lovely view" "I want something that is low impact on the environment or somewhere that needs regenerating" "I want to be somewhere that was significant to me in my life" "I love it" "I'll be in the world forever" "It just makes sense" "It's so beautiful" "I'd definitely want this instead" "This is true permanence" "I'd want to nourish trees because ash serves no purpose"
"I'd like to be around lots of greenery"
"I want to be somewhere meaningful"
"I like the idea of returning to nature"
"I'll be in the world forever"
"I'd like to be under a tree"
"I'd like to be around lots of greenery" "I want to be somewhere meaningful" "I like the idea of returning to nature" "I'll be in the world forever" "I'd like to be under a tree"
By engaging participants of varied ages, genders, and income levels, we aim to capture a broad spectrum of perspectives. To ensure unbiased responses, we only introduce Evergrove’s services at the end of each interview, allowing participants to share their views uninfluenced.
What we’re discovering is remarkable: across demographics, 95% of participants have enthusiastically indicated they would prefer Evergrove’s approach over existing options like burial or cremation. Without prompt, people are naturally mentioning their connection to trees, gardens, meaningful places, and landscapes of natural beauty when describing their ideal end-of-life scenarios. This trend echoes a global shift toward eco-friendly, nature-positive end-of-life options, as people increasingly seek choices that align with their environmental values and personal connection to nature.
Evergrove is committed to ongoing social research and to actively listening to the evolving needs of our community. This includes not only our customers but also our industry partners, collaborators, and stakeholders. We will continue to seek feedback from every angle, ensuring that our service reflects the needs and values of our community, industry partners, and stakeholders. We are also working toward the formal publication of our findings, making these insights accessible to the public, industry partners, and anyone invested in the future of sustainable death care.
If you are interested in being part of our research, we would love to hear from you. You can use the short 1-minute form here to express your interest in taking part in our research and helping shape the future of farewells.
A Global Trend in Nature Positive Farewells
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In Australia, green burial options are expanding. As awareness of climate impact grows, Australians increasingly favour end-of-life choices that avoid chemical interventions and unnecessary land use. This demand aligns with the broader Australian cultural shift toward sustainable practices (McManus, 2016).
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The United Kingdom has seen a steady increase in natural burial grounds since the 1990s. In fact, the UK is considered a pioneer in this movement, with dedicated sites emphasising sustainability and simplicity, values that appeal to those seeking environmentally responsible alternatives (Davies & Rumble, 2012). A 2021 petition in the UK to legalise terramation gathered over 2,600 signatures, illustrating public interest in sustainable alternatives to conventional burial and cremation (Change.org, 2021). Further supporting this trend, a 2023 survey showed 44% of UK respondents would consider terramation with 23% undecided (YouGov, 2023). Acceptance rates are expected to rise as awareness grows and people better understand Evergrove’s unique vision for terramation and the role it can play in creating meaningful, nature-positive legacies. Wider adoption of respectful and dignified terminology in this space is also likely to foster greater public support and acceptance.
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In Japan, tree burials, or jumokusou, emerged in the 1990s as a response to limited cemetery space and a cultural emphasis on environmental harmony. This practice has grown in popularity and reflects a societal shift toward options that align with nature (Boret, 2014).
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Across Europe, countries like Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands are experiencing significant growth in natural burial sites, driven by public interest and supportive legislation. Sweden, for example, established one of the earliest eco-forests for burials, setting a precedent for environmentally friendly practices. This rise in green end-of-life options across Europe reflects a broader commitment to sustainability and aligns with the region’s goals of ecological responsibility and conservation (McManus, 2024; Davies & Mates, 2016).
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Germany has emerged as a leader in sustainable burial practices, integrating innovative approaches such as terramation into its legal framework. Meine Erde, a pioneering startup, offers terramation as a form of direct burial within cemeteries, meeting environmental standards while reducing maintenance costs for burial grounds. This approach aligns with Germany’s strong environmental values, providing an eco-conscious alternative that complies with cemetery regulations and community needs (Meine Erde, 2024).
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In the United States, the demand for eco-conscious end-of-life options is rapidly increasing, with many Americans showing a strong preference for sustainable practices that honour both the individual and the environment. The U.S. is home to the world’s first terramation facilities, with pioneering states among the first to legalise this innovative practice. A 2022 survey by Choice Mutual revealed that 68% of U.S. respondents expressed interest in environmentally friendly end-of-life options, such as green burials, terramation, and other low-impact alternatives. This aligns with findings from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) 2022 Consumer Awareness and Preferences Report, which showed that over half of consumers are interested in green burial options. The expanding public awareness and acceptance of green burial options illustrate a nationwide desire for death care practices that respect the natural world, providing meaningful, eco-aligned alternatives to traditional burial and cremation (Choice Mutual, 2022; NFDA, 2022).
The rise in environmentally friendly death care options extends across the world.