Resomation

Most people have heard of burial and cremation, but the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s request for a resomation, is less well known.

Resomation, sometimes known as aquamation or bio-cremation is a process whereby a combination of water and a small amount of alkali based solution are used to treat the body. The family then receive the ashes in the same way they would with a standard cremation.

It’s been independently proven to have the lowest overall impact on the environment as the energy needed in the form of electricity and gas is less than one fifth of the energy required for a typical cremation. There are no airborne emissions and any metals that remain are recycled in much the same way as they are with a current cremation.

The Natural Death Centre has said that ‘it appears to be genuinely greener than the current system’.

Although it’s been used in other areas in the world, including America, the UK does not currently offer resomation although plans are under discussion. This is because there is some uncertainty about the water disposal although experts have said they are not harmful to the environment as they go through the water treatment process the same as other liquid wastes.

To find out more about resomation, please click here.