Environmentally Friendly Cremations is a cremation service that has Water Cremation, by Aquamation available. www.environmentallyfriendlycremations.com.au
Gail Rubin, death educator with Samantha Sieber, Vice President at Bio-Response Solutions.
Unlike ashes from flame cremation, Aquamation ashes are more of a powder and have not been exposed to intense heat in the range of 1600-1800F. Because of this, the ashes have higher carbon content than flame cremation ashes. This is a discussion for glass artists about creating art pieces from Aquamation ashes.
Gentle Water Cremation, a Mangonia Park-based company offers a new way of processing human remains that is an alternative to burial or flame cremation.
An alternative to cremation that dissolves bodies in water is being pushed for in B.C. Alkaline hydrolysis, also known as aquamation, is allowed in 3 other provinces but is still under review in British Columbia.
Have you heard of water cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis? (Be a Tree Cremation, 2023)
Terry Regnier, MAYO Clinic (Vice Asia)
The Future of Death: Inside the Machine That Dissolves Corpses (WIRED Originals) The Resomator stands monolithic in the corner of a room in the bowels of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). It's as sterile as a hospital here, but every patient is already dead. This is the penultimate stage of their time under the care of Dean Fisher, director of the Donated Body Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine. Bodies are wheeled in under crisp sheets for disposal in Fisher's alkaline hydrolysis machine, which turns them into liquid and pure white bone.
Stan Hussey, Theo Nguyen, Aqualyser Solutions, Burnaby, British Columbia, BC
The Resomation Ltd. company was formed by Sandy Sullivan in Scotland in 2007 to promote water cremation as a real alternative to burial and flame cremation.
People are becoming more aware of their impact on the environment, particularly their carbon emissions (CO2), methane and other pollutants. They’re also becoming sensitive of their impact to the environment after death. Disposition human bodies it in a dignified and respectful manner is increasingly important with aging of populations.
Cremation burns and generates greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. Water cremation or resomation, aqua cremation, aquamation or alkaline hydrolysis, breaks down the body tissues with water. It involves placing the body in a heated alkaline solution in a steel pressure tank. It consumes fewer fossil fuels than flame cremation and is estimated to have 75% to 90% lower carbon footprint. All that’s left after the process are white, sterile bones which are ground and given to the family or returned to the earth. Many states and provinces have enacted legislation authorizing the use of water cremation and others are still considering legalizing it.
(Peaceful Waters Aquamation provides a service for water cremation of pets. Dr. Rose’s proves a brief description of the aquamation process.) Also How Does Aquamation Work?
Explained by Prof. Douglas Davies of Durham University, Aberdeen. (TVNZ, New Zealand public broadcast service. July 3, 2023)
Jeff Edwards of Edwards Funeral Service in Columbus, Ohio was a pioneer in the use of alkaline hydrolysis as a green disposition method. He provides an in-depth tour of the "Aquamation" unit that he has used for low-cost, low-energy use dispositions. He used the unit for 12 dispositions early in 2012, then was halted by the state because alkaline hydrolysis is not listed as a final disposition method. Currently only burial and cremation can be used by a funeral home in Ohio on death certificates. As of November 1, 2012, the state of Ohio continues to ban the use of this new disposition method. Edwards is interviewed by Gail Rubin, CT, a pioneering death educator, speaker, author (A Good Goodbye) and coordinator.
Most environmental issues are caused by the living but have you ever considered the environmental impact of death? Alkaline hydrolysis, a greener alternative to burial or flame-based cremation, uses a combination of water and potassium hydroxide to decompose bodies. It doesn’t require burial space, uses 1/12 the energy of traditional cremation and doesn’t produce toxic gases or air pollutants. Motherboard spoke to Terry Regnier at Mayo Clinic to find out more about the process.
Within the last few years, some funeral directors have invested in more eco-friendly alternatives to traditional burials and flame cremations. One of these methods is a process known as Alkaline Hydrolysis, or water cremation.
