Parting Stone (company)
 | |
| Company type | Public benefit |
|---|---|
| Industry | Deathcare |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Founder | Justin Crowe |
| Headquarters | Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. |
Area served | United States Australia |
Key people | Justin Crowe (CEO) |
| Products | Solidified cremated remains |
| Website | partingstone |
Parting Stone is an American deathcare company which processes cremated remains into solidified remains, an alternative to traditional ash resembling a collection of stones.[1][2] It is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.[3][4]
History
[edit]The concept for Parting Stone and solidified remains was developed by founder Justin Crowe following a personal experience with loose cremated remains in 2015.[5][6] In 2018, the concept received an award from the Santa Fe BizMIX startup competition.[7] Crowe subsequently obtained a research grant through the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program to collaborate with material scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory on a remains-solidification method.[7][8] Parting Stone was formally founded as a public benefit corporation in 2019.[9][10][11] In the same year Parting Stone received the ICCFA KIP Award.[12]
In 2020, Parting Stone received an honorable mention in the World Changing Ideas Awards.[13] In 2021, it placed second for the National Funeral Directors Association Innovation Award.[14]
In January 2022, Parting Stone relocated to an 8,000-square-foot facility in Santa Fe.[15][16] By mid-2022, the company had raised approximately $2 million in seed funding from investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners.[17] In August 2022, it received a $150,000 LEDA grant from New Mexico’s economic development fund to support staff expansion.[5]
Later in 2022, Australian funeral-services company InvoCare invested $1 million in Parting Stone.[18][19][20]
On April 7 2023 Crowe appeared on the television program Shark Tank and secured an investment from Lori Greiner and Kevin O'Leary.[21][22][23]
Operations
[edit]Parting Stone's process is conducted at its Santa Fe laboratory.[24] The solidification method involves removing metal artifacts from the ashes, refining the remains into a fine powder, and mixing the powder with a binding agent.[24][25] This material is then shaped and fired in a kiln at high temperature to create a solid, ceramic-like material.[24][25] After cooling and polishing, the solidified remains are returned to the family.[25] The process typically takes eight weeks.[17]
The quantity and appearance of the solidified remains vary. An average set of adult human remains yields 40 to 80 "stones," with sizes ranging from small pebbles to palm-sized pieces.[17][24] The color is typically white or off-white, though natural variations in the material content of the remains can produce hues of blue, green, or yellow.[17] No dyes are used. The finished solids are smooth and do not disintegrate in water. An analysis by Los Alamos National Laboratory indicated that, unlike conventional cremated remains, the solidified remains have a minimal impact on soil and water chemistry when scattered, suggesting that it is a more environmentally friendly option for scattering.[26]
References
[edit]- ^ Winter, David (October 13, 2021). "A Handful of Comfort: Parting Stone transforms loved one's ashes into forever keepsake". WKRC.
- ^ Keown, Alyssa (May 14, 2022). ""Parting Stone" offers families alternative way to honor deceased loved ones". Battle Creek Enquirer.
- ^ Krabbe, Collin (January 21, 2022). "Startup offering an alternative to cremation expands production, workforce at new building in Santa Fe".
- ^ Sleem, Seena (March 21, 2021). "Parting Stone offers unique way to remember loved ones". WTVF.
- ^ a b Goldberg, Julia (August 11, 2022). "Set in Stone". Santa Fe Reporter.
- ^ Vitu, Teya (May 17, 2021). "Parting Stone makes decorative rocks out of cremated remains". Santa Fe New Mexican.
- ^ a b Goldberg, Julia (October 3, 2018). "Death Becomes Him". Santa Fe Reporter.
- ^ Goldberg, Julia (October 30, 2019). "Rising from the Ashes". Santa Fe Reporter.
- ^ Robinson-Avila, Kevin (October 6, 2020). "Parting Stone wins 1st place in Balloon Pitch". Albuquerque Journal.
- ^ "What to do with Ashes". Bloomberg.
- ^ Dodds, Frances (December 1, 2021). "Pretty Rocks Made From Human Ashes? How This Founder Convinced "Incredibly Skeptical" Funeral Homes to Sell His Novel Service".
- ^ "Solidified Remains Technology wins ICCFA KIP Award". February 9, 2020.
- ^ "World Changing Ideas Awards 2020: General Excellence Finalists and Honorable Mentions".
- ^ "2021 Finalists".
- ^ Krabbe, Collin (January 21, 2022). "Startup offering an alternative to cremation expands production, workforce at new building in Santa Fe".
- ^ Vitu, Teya (January 31, 2022). "Parting Stone expands into larger building". Santa Fe New Mexican.
- ^ a b c d Powers, Jenny. "Meet the 30-year-old startup founder turning cremated ashes into decorative 'stones' for more tangible grieving". Business Insider.
- ^ "New Mexico 'memorial stones' company goes international". Albuquerque Journal. November 2, 2022.
- ^ Vitu, Teya (November 2, 2022). "Santa Fe company Parting Stone expands to Australia". Santa Fe New Mexican.
- ^ Maranda, Jacob (November 2, 2022). "Parting Stone announces plans to expand into Australia, $1M investment".
- ^ Vitu, Teya (April 3, 2023). "Santa Fe's Parting Stone to appear on ABC's 'Shark Tank'". Santa Fe New Mexican.
- ^ Gomez, Adrian (April 5, 2023). "Santa Fe-based Parting Stone takes a dip in the 'Shark Tank'". Albuquerque Journal.
- ^ Vitu, Teya (April 17, 2023). "Santa Fe cremation stone company gets $400K from 'Shark Tank'". Santa Fe New Mexican.
- ^ a b c d McDonnell, Sean (March 28, 2022). "From ashes to now small stones; new option for funeral planning". Cleveland.com.
- ^ a b c Brandon, Elissaveta M. (August 16, 2021). "This company turns your loved one's ashes into beautiful pebbles". Fast Company.
- ^ Piazza, Bianca (August 2, 2024). "Death Care Startup Parting Stone Makes Scattering Cremated Remains More Eco-Friendly (Exclusive)". Green Matters.