A Gentle Farewell That Gives Back to the Earth
Return is a conceptual funeral service platform addressing Australia’s burial land shortage, projected to reach crisis levels by 2051. It introduces Promession, a sustainable alternative to traditional burials, helping families make environmentally conscious end-of-life choices.
01 | The Context
The funeral industry faces three major pressures:
Burial land is rapidly running out, with cities like Sydney projected to face critical shortages by 2051, leaving families with fewer traditional options.
Traditional funerals have high environmental impact, including emissions, land use pressure and chemical pollution.
People want transparency, sustainability and clearer information at a time when emotions are high.
At the same time, many emerging alternatives are unfamiliar to the public, such as natural burials, human composting and promession. There is curiosity, but also hesitation. People want knowledge and reassurance.
02 | Research
To understand the landscape, I explored:
A) Industry Research
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Sydney’s 2051 burial land crisis
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Environmental impacts of cremation & traditional burials
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Global sustainable practices (Sweden, UK, USA)
B) Digital Ethnography
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confusion about funeral options and fear of hidden cost
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Growing curiosity for sustainable options, but limited clarity.
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desire for warm, compassionate guidance
03 | Strategic Insight
Sustainable funerals can succeed only if:
explained simply
emotionally supported
offered alongside familiar options
This shaped the direction of Return , not just a service, but a gentle guide.
04 | Design Direction
The brand needed to feel respectful, modern and human, so I prioritised gentle contrast, soft gradients and minimal ornamentation. After deciding on the palette, I tested all key combinations to ensure they met WCAG AA standards for readability and inclusivity.
The Return Platform
" Making Sustainable Options Understandable"
Offering Three Choices
To stay realistic to the current Australian context, Return includes:
Promession - the hero sustainable alternative
Natural Burial - simple, low-impact option
Cremation - familiar and accessible for most families
This approach ensures reach, practicality, and adoption.
