The rise of the COVID-19 coupled with an unprepared funerary industry has led to a huge disruption in how we view death care. At the time of this writing, more than 1.37 million people have been diagnosed with COVID in the United States of America with an additional 24,801 individuals tragically passing away. These rising numbers coupled with the funeral industry’s downturn in recent years, including a 7.7% decrease since 2015, illustrate that there is something valid about the disruption the industry is facing.
An innovative death-tech company based out of Austin, TX, has seemingly embraced the moment, turning to technology and innovation to bring next-level solutions to the millennials that make up such a large portion of the funeral industry’s core demographic.
Disrupting Tradition: Death of the Funeral
The first funerary rites that we can trace go back to the dawn of time itself. Human culture has always celebrated or at least honored some form of funeral rite or ritual of passing. Burial grounds for Neanderthals have been found dating back to 60,000 BC! To say that the conventional funeral practice has enjoyed its moment in the sun would be to put it lightly.
With that being said, changes are coming to the funeral industry, and they aren’t solely being ushered in by the team at Eterneva. Starting in 1993 with the first-ever green burial ground in the United Kingdom, there has been a renewed focus on modernizing the practice. The introduction of biodegradable eco pods in 2000 would continue to drive momentum toward change.
Starting in the 1980s, cremation began to enjoy renewed popularity within the United States. This information lines up with declining burial rates from 2010 to the present day. By 2040, the National Funeral Directors Association projects more than 78% of individuals will be cremated.
With historic trends on their side, Eterneva was able to take advantage of new doors opened by millennial families.
Eterneva’s Memorial Diamond
Developing Eterneva was not an overnight effort for CEO and co-founder, Adelle Archer. Archer had been working on developing a synthetic diamond company when her partner and mentor fell ill, diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. A devastating diagnosis, Archer took a step back from her work to readjust her approach.
At the core of Eterneva’s efforts is a desire to better connect individuals with the ones that they love, creating a memento that creates joy and instills love at every glance and touch. This concept would drive Eterneva’s early efforts and eventually their success on a 2019 episode of Shark Tank. Archer would win over Mark Cuban’s investment and the NBA team owner would buy into a 9% stake in the company.
Why Memorial Diamonds
According to Randy Anderson of the National Funeral Directors Association, the shift from burial to cremation and then, ultimately, memorial diamond has been driven by a need for more concerning closure. Modern mourners and millennial families want to maintain a tangible connection to their lost loved ones, be it through an urn, ashes, a memorial Facebook page, or even a memorial ring.
World-Class Innovation
Losing a loved one can be a devastating blow not just at the moment, but for every moment to come after. Finding a way to mourn and memorialize your lost loved one can lead to the consideration of a memorial diamond.
Eterneva utilizes world-class processing to ensure that their diamonds are among the very best in the world. The process is driven by careful and meticulous science that can be followed from the comfort of home through a connective online portal.
Here is a simple look at the Memorial Ring process for families or individuals that would like to pursue it.
- Order a Welcome Kit
- Carbon Purification (Up to 2 Months)
- Lab Controlled Diamond Growth (2 – 3 Months)
- Quality Analysis
- Diamond Cutting and Setting (1 – 3 Months)
Memorial diamonds are available in red, black, and green coloration. Grading and engraving services are available with optional jewelry settings provided for custom pieces and arrangements. A simple $100 deposit will have your Eterneva Welcome Kit shipped to your front door.
Changing of the Guard
Traditional funeral and grieving practices have long focused on the process of dying rather than grieving. In today’s day and age, we can recognize how mourning family members may develop an avoidance attachment as they look for ways to cope and avoid recognizing the loss of their loved ones.
According to Dr. Candi Cann from Baylor University, anchor objects such as those offered by Eterneva can help mourners to maintain bonds with deceased loved ones in a way that is at once healthy and logical. Eterneva’s memorial rings keep the focus on joy-filled memories while accepting the reality of death.