Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Civil Affairs has released ten new and revised industry standards in the funeral sector, addressing public concerns and promoting green funeral practices [1][2]. Group 1: Industry Standards - The new standards cover various aspects of funeral services, including reception, ash storage, burial, sea burial, cemetery rituals, and online memorial services [1]. - The standards aim to enhance service quality, meet diverse public needs, and promote the development of green funerals [1][2]. Group 2: Transparency and Consumer Rights - The standards require that service items and pricing for body preservation, cremation, ash storage, and sea burial be publicly disclosed, ensuring transparency and consumer rights [2]. - Funeral service providers must issue detailed invoices and receipts to enhance trust in the industry [2]. Group 3: Green Funeral Practices - The Ministry of Civil Affairs reported a significant increase in eco-friendly burials, with 194,700 cases of ecological burial in 2024, a 67% increase from 2019, including 53,500 sea burials, a 26% increase [3]. - Revised sea burial standards emphasize the importance of environmental protection, including the proper disposal of non-biodegradable materials used during the ceremony [3]. Group 4: Online Memorial Services - In 2024, over 120 million people participated in online memorial services across more than 2,000 platforms, marking a 37% increase from the previous year [4]. - New regulations for online memorial services aim to prevent commercialization and ensure respectful practices [5]. Group 5: Rituals and Services - The standards introduce new service categories, such as proxy memorial services and collective memorials, to cater to diverse expressions of grief [6]. - The Ministry of Civil Affairs plans to enhance training and implementation of these standards to improve service levels in the funeral industry [6].

Group 1 - The Ministry of Civil Affairs has released ten new or revised standards for the funeral service industry, including regulations on funeral reception, ash storage, cemetery burial, sea burial of ashes, cemetery worship, and online memorial services [1] - The new standards require transparency in service items, pricing, and fees related to the handling of remains, ensuring that high-priced services or additional items cannot be forced upon consumers [1] - A traceability system for remains and ashes is mandated, ensuring that all stages from receipt to burial are verifiable and that key information is organized and archived for regulatory and public access [2] Group 2 - Standards for various memorial services have been established, promoting green burial practices and advocating for civilized customs [3] - The "Cemetery Worship Service Specification" emphasizes environmentally friendly worship materials and regulates services such as proxy worship and collective memorials, ensuring compliance with social norms [3] - The "Sea Burial Service Specification" requires permits from relevant authorities and prohibits unauthorized scattering of ashes, emphasizing the use of eco-friendly materials and the recovery of non-biodegradable items [3] Group 3 - The "Online Memorial Requirements" stipulate that online platforms must authenticate user identities and respect the dignity and privacy of the deceased, avoiding overly commercialized features [4] - Content shared on these platforms must reflect solemnity and civility, prohibiting any form of mockery, defamation, or dissemination of harmful information [4]

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Civil Affairs has released ten new or revised industry standards in the funeral sector, aimed at regulating services and promoting high-quality development in the industry [1] Group 1: Industry Standards - The new standards include guidelines for funeral reception services, ash storage, cemetery burial, sea burial of ashes, cemetery memorial services, and online memorial services [1] - The standards clarify the basic content of funeral services, pricing regulations, and operational procedures [1] Group 2: Regulatory and Development Goals - The initiative is a response to public concerns, aimed at standardizing market order and providing a clear basis for regulatory authorities to address violations [1] - The standards are expected to further regulate funeral services, promote green burial practices, and ensure respectful treatment of the deceased and their families [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolving landscape of the funeral industry in China, particularly focusing on the rise of green burials as a response to the country's aging population and changing cultural attitudes towards death and memorialization [1][3][23]. Group 1: Industry Overview - China is entering a deep aging society, with the population aged 60 and above expected to reach 310 million by the end of 2024, creating unprecedented opportunities for the funeral industry [3]. - The current market size of the funeral service industry in China has surpassed 200 billion yuan, with an annual growth rate of approximately 5% [3]. - The industry is primarily dominated by local state-owned funeral institutions, while private enterprises are becoming increasingly active in high-end services and innovative models [3][4]. Group 2: Green Burial Development - Green burials are gaining attention as a key path for industry transformation, supported by government policies promoting eco-friendly and space-saving burial methods [5][6]. - The green burial market in China is projected to exceed 50 billion yuan by 2030, indicating significant potential within the silver economy [6]. - Despite the potential, green burials face challenges in cultural acceptance, with only 5% of burials currently being ecological, while traditional burials still account for 63% [9]. Group 3: Cultural and Policy Challenges - The conflict between traditional burial customs and modern environmental awareness presents significant barriers to the promotion of green burials [8]. - Many families, particularly in rural areas, adhere to traditional beliefs, making it difficult for green burial practices to gain traction [9]. - Policy implementation for green burials is inconsistent across regions, leading to disparities in subsidies and the emergence of illegal practices within the industry [12][13][15]. Group 4: Innovative Practices - Successful examples of green burial practices include Shantou's sea burial program, which integrates local culture and emotional connections, resulting in a 200% increase in sea burial reservations in 2024 [18]. - Daxing'anling's "tree burial" model combines ecological and economic benefits, allowing families to nurture trees while memorializing their loved ones [19]. - Zhangzhou's "Life Park" redefines traditional burial spaces into multifunctional parks, enhancing public engagement and acceptance of green burial practices [20]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The promotion of green burials is seen as a necessary evolution of traditional death culture, requiring a multi-faceted approach to reconcile cultural beliefs with modern needs [22][23]. - As technology and societal values evolve, green burials are expected to become the mainstream choice in the future [23].