Abstract
Recent events such as the Covid19-pandemic and controversy around Muslim cemeteries have
revealed the important and increasingly complicated task of the funeral sector in Belgium. The
funeral sector is a relatively small yet important societal sector where every
member of society at one point or another passes through. Major societal changes (like climatechange
induced catastrophes, growing cultural diversity, secularisation) affect the decisions and
services that funeral undertakers have to take and provide, and reveal the shortcomings in
education, in deontological codes, and in legal frameworks. The diversification of funeral preferences
combined with heightened awareness of the vulnerability of the sector during public health
catastrophes leads to a sense of urgency in the funeral sector (in Belgium). This proposal identifies
four sources of challenges:
sociological changes, environmental concerns, public health crises and juridical gaps. With a
comprehensive, interactive and multi-disciplinary approach the proposal aims to contribute to the
professionalisation of the funeral sector through a more accurate juridical framework, policy
protocols for future pandemics, the design of an ethical committee for
the sector, the juridical and sociological accommodation of funeral needs of minorities (with a special
focus on the Muslim community which is an important minority in Belgium), a collective ethical
reflection on the environmental impact of our funeral choices, an action plan to making the funeral
industry conform with climate neutral European regulation and a
transferral of gained insights through education modules (tailored at the
funeral industry) and a podcast (on the ethics of funeral practices in a superdiverse sustainable
society) and a broadcast (on changing funeral preferences and societal problems) on national
newssite +radio (for the wide audience).
Researcher(s)
Research team(s)
Project type(s)