We are now solidly in the cremation era. The cremation rate is above 60% nationwide and expected to keep increasing for years, even in markets where burial is still common.
Now that it’s clear the shift is permanent, the death care industry has turned its attention to what needs to happen from an infrastructure standpoint. Operational logistics are becoming a serious concern in terms of capacity and sustainability. High volume and increasing demand have highlighted some key concerns that will require infrastructure adjustments as cremation continues to outpace burial.
Crematories Already Running at Full Capacity as the Cremation Rate Rises
One of the clearest indicators of how common cremation has become is the activity at crematories. Many are running at full capacity. That means as things are now they can’t perform more cremations. If the cremation rate goes up even by a few percentage points demand will outpace what service providers can provide.
It seems like a problem with an easy solution – put more retorts in operation. The problem is the infrastructure can’t currently support that. Other issues that we explain below make increased operation extremely difficult.
Year Round Demand Rather Than Seasonal
In some areas, such as the midwest and north, there are seasonal factors that influence disposition. Cremation becomes a matter of practicality in the winter months in these areas because burial isn’t as easy when the ground is frozen.
But in recent years seasonality has become less of a factor due to increased demand year round. There’s literally no downtime at any point giving funeral homes little to no reprieve.
Concern Over Equipment Repair and Replacement
With crematories running at full capacity year round, retorts are being used more frequently and really pushed to their limits. At some crematories equipment is in constant use. This has some operators concerned about the need for equipment repair and replacement.
The biggest concern is the downtime. Running at full capacity year round is only possible if the equipment is available for operation, and it’s more difficult than ever to source equipment.
Right now there’s a shortage of cremation retorts that manufacturers are trying to correct. They’ve been simply trying to keep up with demand as more funeral homes add crematories or expand their operation. Currently, manufacturers are increasing production to get more retorts in service. Cremation retorts are also evolving to be more efficient and environmentally-friendly, helping funeral homes meet the demands for faster, greener cremation services.
There is also a shortage of professionals who can repair equipment that’s out of service. With delays in getting cremation retorts repaired and installed, maintenance is going to become extremely important for maintaining operations.
Crematory Operator Shortage
There’s been a lot of talk about staffing shortages within the funeral industry. Even though more women are working in the death care industry, overall more professionals are needed in a variety of roles. No need is greater right now than for crematory operators.
The cremation rate has been outpacing the workforce, and now the effects are really being felt. Retorts can only be used by trained, licensed operators, and licensing is different for each state. Historically, retort operators have lower salaries compared to other funeral industry workers, making it even more difficult to recruit certified specialists.
Funeral homes are responding by increasing wages, but unfortunately this is an issue that may still get worse before it gets better. In the next few years, close to half of funeral directors and crematory owners plan to retire, and when that happens there will be even fewer people available to operate retorts if more people don’t enter the profession.
Greater Reliance on Third-Party Crematories
Around 61% of funeral homes nationwide are relying on third-party crematories in order to meet the demand for cremation services. For some funeral homes it’s an issue of not having their own equipment and facilities. For others, they need the flexibility in order to expand and serve more families without extending wait times.
An increase in the number of third-party crematories is one way that the death care industry infrastructure is adapting to overcome capacity issues. It’s also changing how funeral homes operate. They have to find crematories to partner with and then work in tandem to provide services. But it’s a tradeoff that many funeral homes are willing to make given the high cost of establishing and managing an on-site facility.
Post-Cremation Memorials in Place of Traditional Funeral Services
Funeral homes aren’t relying on pre-disposition funeral services anymore. Formal visitation services and funerals with the body present are becoming less common as families try to minimize cost while making the process more personal.
To honor their loved ones, more families are choosing to have post-cremation memorials, and funeral homes want to be part of the process. But that’s not as easy given that the disposition has already happened and the funeral home is no longer a necessity like it is when the body of the deceased is part of the ceremony.
The solution for some funeral homes is to offer post-cremation memorial services in place of funeral services. The funeral home can plan the memorial service, hold the service at their facility and work with the family to make it personal and meaningful.
Cremation.Green has offered eco-friendly cremation services in Texas for well over a decade. We’ve had a rock solid infrastructure in place for years, helping our funeral home stay at the forefront and ensuring we’re able to provide reliable death care services.
If you have questions about our processes or need additional information about a particular service, please give us a call, text or email at any time for assistance.