Scotland Explores Eco-Friendly Water Cremations as Alternative Option

2023-09-19 09:00:30

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Water Cremations Could Soon be Offered in Scotland as Eco-Friendly Alternative

Scotland is considering introducing water cremations, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, as a more environmentally friendly option for traditional cremations and burials. This method, already popular in countries like Ireland, Canada, and the USA, involves placing the body in a pressurized cylinder with water and potassium hydroxide for up to six hours. The process leaves behind bones and minerals that can be transformed into ashes for placement in an urn.

The public health minister, Jenni Minto, highlights the benefits, stating, "It's much more environmentally friendly. You use less power in the process and there's no carbon going into the atmosphere. Families will still get ashes." The consultation for this initiative closes on November 17 as part of broader plans to regulate the funeral sector in Scotland.

The Rise of Water Cremations

While water cremations have been used for years in the form of aquamation, initially for pets, the practice is now gaining popularity for human remains. Samantha Sieber, the vice president of research at Bio-Response solutions in the USA, where most of the water cremation machines are made, notes the growing demand. She explains, "We started off selling a few machines a year, and now it's selling one a week or so. It's definitely taking off."

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Consumers are opting for water cremation due to personal reasons. Ms Sieber shares stories of individuals choosing this method because it aligns with their loved one's connection to water or their commitment to leading an eco-conscious lifestyle. She also mentions that the water cremation process faced resistance from the Catholic Church in some states in the US. However, after Archbishop Desmond Tutu's funeral in South Africa employed water cremation in 2021, the method gained more acceptance and popularity.

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A Positive Step Forward

Despite potential religious objections, Ms Sieber is excited about Scotland's initiative and states, "I'm very excited to see Scotland going to the public on this. And its the right place to start, these laws should serve families and if families want this, it should be available." The proposed regulation reflects Scotland's commitment to offering alternative options for families and promoting environmentally friendly practices in the funeral sector.

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