Outdated funeral laws in Poland need modernization due to rising cremations and demand for eco-friendly burial options.
With nearly half of all funerals in Poland now involving cremation, cultural and economic shifts are reshaping burial practices. Director of the Funeral and Cemetery Industry Institute (IBPC), Dariusz Dutkiewicz, attributes the rise in cremation to both changing societal values and the demand for more eco-friendly options.
Poland’s funeral law, largely unchanged since 1932, doesn’t address modern practices like cremation or embalming. Without national cremation certifications, each crematorium issues its own documentation, complicating regulatory consistency. Furthermore, the lack of embalming guidelines leads to environmental concerns due to chemicals seeping into the soil.
Dutkiewicz also highlights challenges in repatriating remains to Poland, an often complicated, costly process. Additionally, the IBPC advocates increasing the funeral allowance from 4,000 PLN to help families with rising burial costs.
Updating funeral laws could bring relief to families and align Poland’s practices with modern standards and expectations.