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The ICCM Journal | Autumn 2021 | V89 No. 3
water cremation – a credible end of life alternative fit for the future of the environment How focus from within the industry and demand from the public will determine the future success of water cremation The penny seems to have dropped for most of us at least that, as individuals we need to make greener choices in our everyday lives to reduce our carbon footprint. These choices might include how we insulate our homes, switching to renewable energy, avoiding single-use plastic or cycling to work. And whilst some of these decisions may seem relatively small or insignificant, the cumulative effect of everyone making small adjustments will drive us forward on the path to the emission reduction targets by 2030 and net zero by 2050, set for the bereavement sector by the Environmental Stewardship Group (ESG). But how many of us have considered the environmental impact of their end-of-life choices? Could our desire to reduce our own carbon footprint now extend to our death and the disposal of our body? The case for water cremation The number of funerals in the UK is now around 600,000 each year and this figure continues to rise. Land for burials is reducing in some areas and flame cremation is the only current alternative – but the harmful emissions it produces has led to the funeral industry becoming a significant polluter. Around 80% of British people are cremated. The processes and emissions of traditional burial and cremation are acutely damaging to the environment. Over 135 years ago flame cremation offered fundamental change in the way we approached human disposition and some serious convincing was required before it was fully accepted. Resomation or water cremation is the next phase in this evolution offering an innovative yet dignified approach, which uses significantly less energy and emits significantly fewer greenhouse gases than flame cremation. It can significantly help the industry improve its carbon credentials and meet the capacity challenges of a growing population. A recent study proved that water cremation has a significantly smaller (7 times smaller!) carbon footprint than flame cremation; and over 3 times smaller than burial. Furthermore, there is no airborne release of harmful emissions such as nitrous oxide or mercury. The funeral industry must continue to evolve and modernise as people look for more choice. Professor Douglas Davies (Director of Centre for Death and Life Studies, Durham University) frames it perfectly in his quote: “Just as British inventive engineering helped ‘save the land for the living’ in the 20th century UK through flame cremation so, in the 21st century, this innovative water-based process of accommodating human bodies offers new opportunities for an age framed by ecological concerns of land use and air quality.” The drivers for change Our objective at Resomation is to introduce water cremation as a credible alternative for end of life. It is far more than just another process or choice, it is a much-needed progression from traditional fossil fuel-based cremation, fit for the future of our environment. Fulfilling this need is our main objective. We believe there are two key drivers that will determine the future of Resomation. 1. Change from within the industry – councils and funeral directors Consider this fact – By February 2021, 74% of councils had declared a climate emergency. The statistics on cremation
