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www.thevillagenews.co.za
29 January 2020
When you go, go green A
service offering since we first got into the funeral business over a hundred years ago, and it shall remain one of our most fundamental business values for the future. Against this backdrop, it is important that we find and introduce safe, environmentally-friendly, cost-effective and socially-acceptable alternatives to burials and flame-based cremation.”
s people are becoming more conscious of the environment, and the impact they have on it, so too does the issue of how we send off our loved ones after death in an environmentally friendly manner. “And for that reason, we have seen over the last few months more and more people opting for the brandnew aquamation method as a green alternative to traditional flame-based cremation,” says Theresa Maree of AVBOB Hermanus. This follows the mutual assurance society’s recent introduction of the alkaline hydrolysis process, the first of its kind in Africa, at its Maitland agency in Cape Town. Alkaline hydrolysis, known as aquamation, is a planet-friendly alternative process that involves placing the body in a stainless-steel vessel and then using heat, pressure, and water with a high alkaline level to reduce the body to its basic elements. Our bodies are made up of about 63% water to begin with – and only the inorganic minerals remain.
The country’s first aquamation facility was taken into operation in Maitland in Cape Town in November last year. been the market leader in the funeral industry and, as such, the society realised many years ago that they must provide alternatives to conventional burials and flame-based cremation to the people of South Africa.
The result comprises a benign sterile liquid, which is disposed of through the municipal wastewater system, with the remaining bone minerals processed into a fine powder.
“Over recent years, people have become more aware of the fact that municipal cemeteries are running out of burial space in many of the major metropolitan areas. At the same time,
According to AVBOB CEO Frik Rademan, the company has always
people in general have become more conscious of the negative environmental impact from the burning of fossil fuels. With this in mind, AVBOB, as a responsible corporate citizen, started looking at various ways to mitigate the space problem and reduce our carbon footprint.” The introduction of aquamation to South Africa has been in the making for six years, and involved intensive
research, including visits to facilities in the United States, consultations with stakeholders, and strategic planning. Rademan says the introduction of the new technology also had to take into consideration the rich diversity of cultures, religious practices and social norms of society. “The provision of a dignified send-off for loved ones is something that has been part of our
The benefits offered by aquamation are: • A gentle, supportive process that uses the serene element of water, rather than flame; • A natural biomimicry process with no direct emissions of harmful greenhouse gases or mercury; • A saving of over 90% energy compared to flame cremation; • Very limited burning of fossil fuels; • 20%-30% more ash remains are returned to the family; • Virtually zero impact on water usage; • All the remains are 100% safe to handle and are pathogen- and disease-free. Alkaline hydrolysis is a proven sterilisation process. The powdered ash remains can be kept in an urn or may be buried or scattered in a special place of the family’s choosing. The group said the cost of the Aquamation process is on par with that of flame-based cremation. For more information, contact Theresa Maree on 028 312 1156/7.
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