# Radio Burial Beacons Hippensteel Funeral Services and Crematory Creates RFID Grave Markers By Michael Hines | Published 2012-02-08 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rfid-grave-markers References: [springwise](http://www.springwise.com/life_hacks/rfid-tags-enable-grave-tacking-eco-burials/) & [hippensteelfuneralservice](http://www.hippensteelfuneralservice.com/naturalburial.php) The Hippensteel Funeral Service and Crematory has just launched RFID grave markers to help loved ones find their deceased. The cemetery is based in Lafayette, Indiana, and specializes in [eco-friendly burials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loop-biotech) on what it refers to as 'The Preserve.' The graves on The Preserve are marked, but not with headstones or plaques. Shrubs and other types of natural markers are used instead. This can be confusing, which is why the RFID grave markers were brought out. The markers are about the size of a hockey puck and are tracked using a [handheld locator](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/icetag). Families can locate the deceased under up to five feet of Earth. The gadgets are provided to families at no extra cost and are also given to staff to help maintain grave sites. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.3/10 - Popularity: 10% | Activity: 20% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Life](https://www.trendhunter.com/life) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **RFID Grave Markers:** RFID grave markers are a new trend in the burial industry to help locate graves, which opens opportunities for companies to innovate and provide other services such as virtual memorial platforms. - **Eco-friendly Burials:** Eco-friendly burials are a rising trend that presents opportunities for businesses to provide sustainable and innovative funeral services. - **Handheld Locators:** Handheld locators for grave markers are becoming a popular trend, creating opportunities for businesses to create advanced GPS locators for both gravesites and cemeteries. ### Who This Affects Most - **Funeral Services:** The introduction of RFID grave markers and eco-friendly burials present opportunities for funeral service providers to deliver differentiated and innovative services. - **Technology:** RFID grave markers and handheld locators represent potential areas for tech companies to develop advanced GPS and tracking systems for cemeteries and other industries. - **Sustainability:** The trend towards eco-friendly burials opens opportunities for businesses to create sustainable products and services for the funeral industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [3D-Printed Ecological Funeral Reefs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/resting-reefs.md) - [Post-Mortem Wireless Detectors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/in-memoriam.md) - [Eco-Friendly Pet Tree Burial Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecofriendly-pet-tree-burial-kit.md) - [QR-Code Pet Tracking Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ring-pet-tag.md) - [Post-Mortem Pet Projectors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cirius-beam-projector.md) - [AI-Powered Virtual Memorials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/virtual-memorials.md) - [Vital Statistic Trackers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zebras-rfid-tags.md) - [Philosopher-Neighbouring Burial Plots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/karl-marxs-tomb.md) - [Biodegradable Burial Caskets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loop-biotech.md)