As environmental concerns continue to shape consumer choices, people are now seeking more sustainable options even for funeral practices. Aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis or water cremation, has gained attention as a greener alternative to traditional cremation and burial. But how eco-friendly is aquamation? In this article, we’ll explore the environmental impact of aquamation, comparing it to traditional burial, cremation, and green burial.
What is Aquamation?
Aquamation is a process that uses water, an alkaline solution (usually potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide), and heat to break down a body. This process mimics natural decomposition, but it happens much faster—usually within 4 to 16 hours. During aquamation, the body’s soft tissues are reduced to a liquid solution, while the bones are left behind. The bones are then processed into a fine, white powder that can be returned to the family, similar to ashes from traditional cremation.
One of the major reasons aquamation is considered eco-friendly is because it avoids some of the key environmental drawbacks of both burial and cremation, as we’ll see in the sections below.
How Aquamation Compares to Traditional Burial
Environmental Impact of Burial
Traditional burial, although a long-standing cultural norm, has several environmental downsides. These include:
- Embalming Chemicals: Most traditional burials involve embalming the body with chemicals like formaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen. Over time, these chemicals can leach into the soil and groundwater, potentially causing contamination.
- Land Use: Cemeteries take up large amounts of land that can never be repurposed for other uses. As cemetery plots fill up, urban areas may struggle with land shortages for burial grounds.
- Resource-Intensive Materials: The materials used in traditional burials—like wood, metal caskets, concrete vaults, and grave liners—consume significant natural resources. Over time, these materials break down, but they do not decompose quickly or harmlessly.
- Cemetery Maintenance: Maintaining cemeteries requires resources such as water for landscaping, mowing, and other upkeep practices. The ecological impact of maintaining cemeteries for centuries adds to the overall environmental footprint.
Aquamation’s Eco-Friendly Advantages
In contrast, aquamation offers several environmental benefits:
- No Embalming Chemicals: Aquamation does not require embalming, eliminating the use of harmful chemicals that can seep into the environment.
- No Land Use: Since aquamation does not involve burial, there is no need for cemetery space, meaning it avoids the issue of land conservation.
- Less Resource Use: The process does not require the production of coffins, vaults, or gravestones, reducing the consumption of natural resources.
How Aquamation Compares to Traditional Cremation
Environmental Impact of Cremation
While cremation is seen as more eco-friendly than burial, it is not without its drawbacks:
- High Energy Consumption: Cremation requires extremely high temperatures—around 1,400 to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit—which means burning a large amount of natural gas. This contributes to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Air Pollutants: The combustion process releases carbon dioxide, and if the body contains dental fillings, there can also be mercury emissions. These pollutants contribute to air quality degradation and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Solid Waste: While the cremated remains (ashes) themselves are not harmful, they are a form of waste that needs to be scattered or stored.
Aquamation’s Eco-Friendly Advantages
- Lower Energy Use: Aquamation uses water and a lower temperature compared to cremation, resulting in far less energy consumption. It uses about 1/8th of the energy required for cremation.
- No Air Emissions: Since no combustion occurs, aquamation does not emit carbon dioxide or other harmful pollutants like mercury.
- Safe Byproducts: Aquamation produces a sterile liquid byproduct that can be safely disposed of through standard wastewater treatment. The bones, which are processed into a powder, can be returned to the family.
How Aquamation Compares to Green Burial
What is Green Burial?
Green burial is a natural alternative to traditional burial, where the body is not embalmed, and biodegradable materials (such as simple wooden caskets or burial shrouds) are used. The goal is to allow the body to decompose naturally and return to the earth, minimizing environmental impact.
Environmental Impact of Green Burial
Green burial avoids many of the environmental pitfalls of traditional burial:
- No Toxic Chemicals: Green burial does not use embalming fluids, which prevents toxic chemicals from entering the soil.
- Natural Decomposition: The body is buried in a way that encourages natural decomposition, enriching the soil and promoting ecological health.
- Minimal Resource Use: Only biodegradable materials are used, reducing the use of natural resources.
- Land Use: Green burial does require land, but many green burial grounds double as nature preserves or conservation areas, helping to protect ecosystems.
Aquamation vs. Green Burial
- Land Use: Aquamation has an advantage over green burial in that it doesn’t require any land, which is beneficial in urban areas or regions with limited cemetery space. Green burial, while eco-friendly, still requires dedicated land.
- Water and Energy Use: While aquamation requires some water and energy, green burial does not, making green burial the most resource-light option.
- Decomposition: In green burial, the body enriches the soil, contributing positively to the local ecosystem. Aquamation, on the other hand, sterilizes its byproducts, which are then processed and safely returned to the water system through treatment plants.
Both options are far more eco-friendly than traditional burial and cremation, but aquamation may be a better fit for people in urban settings or those looking to avoid any land use altogether.
Liquid Byproducts in Aquamation
A key byproduct of aquamation is the sterile liquid effluent. After the process is complete, the soft tissues of the body have been reduced to a water-based solution rich in organic compounds such as salts, sugars, and amino acids. This solution is typically treated in wastewater facilities just like other biodegradable waste. Since the effluent is sterile and contains no harmful pathogens or chemicals, it poses little to no risk to the environment. Some proponents of aquamation are even exploring ways to repurpose this liquid for agricultural or industrial uses, though this is not yet widespread.
Unlike the emissions from cremation or the chemicals from embalmed bodies in traditional burial, this liquid byproduct is much safer for the environment and does not contribute to air or soil pollution.
Is Aquamation the Most Eco-Friendly Option?
Aquamation stands out as a highly eco-friendly option when compared to both traditional burial and cremation. It consumes less energy, emits no harmful pollutants, and eliminates the need for land use, making it an attractive option for people who are looking for a greener alternative.
When compared to green burial, aquamation and green burial are both highly sustainable, though each has unique advantages. Aquamation is ideal for those in urban areas or places where land conservation is important, while green burial offers a more direct return to the earth and promotes soil health.
Ultimately, the choice between aquamation, green burial, or other methods depends on personal values, local availability, and the environmental priorities of the individual or family.
