Since the launch of legislation allowing hydrolysis to take place in Scotland, we’ve fielded queries about the process as families search for a better understanding of this new third funeral option.
Cremation and Hydrolysis Compared
Water hydrolysis and flame cremation actually follow a common path to accelerate the natural process of decomposition.
Bodies are placed into chambers suitable for high temperatures of water or fire for a period of around 3-4 hours. Both produce bones which are compacted to create powder or ashes. These are returned to families for scattering, interring or storing.
The Science of Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis uses water to which a mild alkaline solution is added, the ratio being roughly 95% water to 5% solution. In a specially designed chamber, the water is heated to 150 degrees centigrade. The chamber is pressurised, which prevents the liquids from reaching the boiling point over the 3–4-hour period.
On draining the water, a small amount of acid is added to ensure it is pH neutral. There are no human DNA remains, and this water is safe to join the waste from commercial and residential premises in water treatment centres.
Safe, uncontaminated and a process that produces far fewer emissions than cremation and takes up fewer natural resources than burial. These are just some of the reasons it’s considered a greener funeral alternative.
Costs
With a facility yet to be operational, we can only anticipate what the cost for hydrolysis would be. Our guess is it will be competitive to cremation, considering regional price variations. The cost to build a new, first facility in Scotland will be significant, as will the timeframe to become operational, given the need for licences and permissions.
Consultation
The Burial and Cremations Act of 2016 paved the way for alternative funeral options. For hydrolysis, the Working Group advising the Scottish Government included representatives from SEPA, Scottish Water and the wider funeral sector. It also included Kindly Earth, who have direct experience of the technical benefits offered by hydrolysis.
For centuries, burial was the most common practice throughout the UK and around 140 years ago, cremation became the second alternative, which was met with significant scepticism. The move away from burial was driven by rising populations and the scarcity of land. These pressures continue today, and we can add growing sentiment to personalise our final journeys as well as increasing environmental awareness as influencers.
Whatever your choice, we’re already helping families make decisions today for a future time of need. Free, professional advice on getting a final farewell, just right.