The death of a pet leaves behind a devastating emptiness in the lives of the people who love them. Often, aggrieved pet owners are only left with the comfort that “all dogs go to heaven,” or a collection of abandoned chew toys that sit beside an urn.
United Kingdom-based startup Resting Reef wondered: What if our pets could live on in a whole new way?
The company, founded by Aura Murillo Pérez and Louise Skajem, provides a sustainable and meaningful alternative to conventional burial methods, which they call “a new tradition around death that truly honors life.”
Their pitch is to take the ashes of a beloved pet — or soon, human — and to turn them into an artificial reef that improves marine biodiversity.
They use aquamation, an alkaline process for cremation, and combine a pet’s remains with crushed oyster shells and concrete, which is then molded into reef structures in which fish species can thrive.
Once a reef is ready, it’s anchored about 10 meters down into a seabed, where it will improve marine biodiversity, filter water, and prevent coastal erosion.
“Cemeteries should be places that reconnect us with nature and remind us that we’re part of a larger ecosystem,” Murillo Pérez told The Guardian. “It’s time for the death industry to change: we want to shift the industry from focusing on death to life and regenerate growth.”
Meaningful in its desire to reconnect earthly beings with the earth itself, the process also has a real impact on marine environments.
The startup began placing the pilot reefs in Bali, Indonesia last year. In their first project, they placed 24 memorial reefs for pet owners in the United States and U.K.
After tracking its progress, they found that it attracted 84 fish species and achieved fish diversity “14 times greater than nearby degraded areas.”
“In just six months, the reefs are already covered with coralline and turf algae, laying the groundwork for future coral growth,” Resting Reef added in a social media post.
Part of the success comes from the materials mixed with the ashes: Oyster shells.
“Oyster reefs can help regenerate marine growth but 85% have been lost due to human activities,” Murillo Pérez explained. “We are using animal and human ashes to mimic those natural reefs.”
While all human ashes vary, most will primarily be made up of calcium phosphate, which Skajem said is “one of nature’s main fertilizers.”
When used as part of the Resting Reef materials, this calcium phosphate helps various species attach to the surface of the artificial reef and grow.
With this pilot under their belt, the founders say demand has been so great that Resting Reef is now opening up their process to human remains. Right now, they are working to secure licenses to restore degraded seabeds on the southern coast of England.
“Just as we have a cemetery around the corner, in the future we’ll have memorial sites — marine sites — opening around the world,” Murillo Pérez told Fast Company.
It’s part of a growing trend toward “green burials,” with innovations like mushroom coffins and tree burial pods aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of traditional burials. The green burial industry is expected to surpass $1 billion by the end of 2030.
Traditional cremation releases an average of 500 pounds of carbon dioxide per person. In this case, however, Resting Reef’s aquamation process has a far smaller carbon footprint, with its end result going right back into the ocean, which has been shown to store carbon even better than trees.
Resting Reef currently offers two separate designs: A ribbed-textured reef structure ideal for species like oysters, and one full of crevices and tunnels similar to coral reefs for fish species.
Prices start at £350 (or about $475 USD), and can go up to £2,250 (about $3,050 USD), depending on how private and customizable customers would like to get. The company’s website also notes that these are “early-bird” prices.
According to The Guardian, human memorials have an initial cost of £3,900 ($5,300 USD).
For many, it’s hard to put a price on the comfort of knowing a loved one — furry or otherwise — has been sent off in peace and with purpose.
“It makes it easier for me knowing that his ashes will be doing a really good thing,” Lisa C., a horse owner who utilized the service, said in a testimonial.
Resting Reef also offers a private ceremony either before or after the memorial reef is placed underwater, allowing loved ones to process grief, find closure, and connect with loved ones. Their team leads a guided meditation and nature-related rituals and invites participants to share memories, if they feel compelled to do so.
“I’ve learned that grief and renewal are deeply connected — not just emotionally, but in a tangible, environmental way,” an anonymous testimonial states.
“I’ve seen how loss can transform into something life-giving, how traditions and rituals provide comfort and meaning, and how true impact happens when a project is built with heart, respect, and community.”
Header image courtesy of Resting Reef
