Scotland has become the first part of the UK to introduce water cremation, the Scottish Government has announced.
The process, known as hydrolysis, offers an environmentally friendly alternative to cremation or burial.
From today it is now an option in Scotland after the Scottish Parliament approved regulations introduced by the Scottish Government.
Scotland's public health minister Jenni Minto said: "Hydrolysis offers a new, environmentally friendly alternative to burial or cremation, responding to significant public support for greater choice, and it will be the first new option available for over 120 years."
Sandra Dick takes a look at how it works
In a sealed metal chamber, wrapped in biodegradable shroud, the dearly departed is given a final send off in a bubbling cocktail of water and chemicals.
No fierce flames to send them on their way, and no grieving relatives gathering around an open lair in a windswept cemetery.
Just, say advocates of what is the greatest shake-up of the funeral process in Scotland for more than a century, a more gentle washing away of mortal remains.
If all goes to plan – and those who have been involved in years of discussion within the funeral sector think it will – Scotland’s first water cremations, a process dreamed up by a Scot and already in place in other countries, could be taking place within a matter of months.
In January, the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee approved the introduction of water cremation – a process also known as alkaline hydrolysis – taking it a step closer to Scotland becoming the first UK nation to embrace the method.
The Scottish Parliament approved regulations introduced by the Scottish Government.
Once that hurdle is overcome, local authorities or funeral directors keen to introduce the new method simply need to follow the planning process, gain important effluent discharge consents from Scottish Water, and fit the equipment.
Should all come together as expected, it’s likely the country’s first water cremation will take place this summer, offering Scots an alternative to burial and cremation for the first time in more than a century.
As well as a new way of dealing with remains, it raises the prospect of funeral directors being able to install the necessary equipment within their premises - completely diverting the need for traditional local authority cremation or burial services.
That would also fit into the growing movement for ‘direct cremation’, where there is no typical funeral service, and none of the expensive additions such as a hearse, mourners’ transport and even the services of ministers or celebrants.
The dawning of a new age of water cremation, however, would also introduce what some may feel is the uncomfortable issue of disposing of liquid remains.
Extolled by advocates to be a ‘greener’ option compared to cremation which relies heavily on the use of gas, the sterile liquid remains, which have no tissue or DNA and are composed of natural components such as protein, sugar and salts, would simply be poured straight into the sewage system.
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Rich in nutrients, the liquid could also be used as fertiliser leading to the possibility of remains being used by farmers to nourish crops.
Although that might send a shiver down some spines, reassurances were given at the recent Scottish Parliament committee meeting that corrosive materials would be prevented from entering the water course, and that prions - linked with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other diseases - would be destroyed by the process.
Helen Chandler, general manager of Kindly Earth, which works with water cremation equipment pioneers Resomation Limited to explain the processes involved, says they expect to see movement within the funeral sector soon as soon as the Scottish Parliament vote is held.
“There has been a general awareness that regulations were coming so there is clarity there before they put anything in place.
“There’s no reason why funeral directors can’t have the equipment on their premises, as long as they have the space for it and peripheral tanks, the water services required and the consents.
“And there’s no reason why it couldn’t be set in an existing crematorium.
“It’s over a century since anything new in terms of funeral methods, and this will mean greater choice for the bereaved which can’t be a bad thing.”
The first water cremation in Scotland will be particularly significant: the processes were pioneered by Glasgow-born biochemist Sandy Sullivan, a father of six who studied biochemistry at Strathclyde University.
His background in sterilisation techniques involved working on the decontamination and disposal of cattle infected with mad cow disease, BSE.
He realised the technology could also work with disposal of human remains.
His idea led to the development of the Resomator machine. The company he founded in 2007, Resomator Ltd, has gone on to supply the equipment for use in South Africa, Canada, Mexico and the US.
Few had heard of it, however, until 2021 and the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who chose alkaline hydrolysis over burial or cremation.
During the process, the body is wrapped in a biodegradable shroud – often made from cotton or wool - and placed in the alkaline hydrolysis machine.
The Resomator machine uses water, potassium hydroxide and an alkaline solution which is poured into a pressurised tank along with the remains.
It is then gently heated to 152°C (305°F), but is not boiled.
Over three to four hours, the remains are broken down in a similar fashion as occurs naturally after burial, just in a much shorter time.
What’s left are the body’s chemical components of amino acids, peptides, sugars and salt, along with softened bones which are ground to powder and can be presented in an urn, similar to cremation ashes.
The liquid remains are cooled in a tank until sterile and clear of any remaining material.
It contains no tissue or DNA, says Helen.
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“Scottish Water and SEPA have been involved throughout all the processes, and anyone who wants to operate hydrolysis facility would need the appropriate trade effluent consent to discharge,” she adds.
“There are misconceptions though.
“For example, people often think there are no remains. But families receive powder remains for them to do whatever they feel appropriate - just as they might with cremation ashes.”
The process is said to be kinder to the environment, removing the emissions that are associated with flame-based cremation, and even potentially opening the door to reusable caskets.
Gas-powered fire cremation is said to release around 245kg of CO2 into the atmosphere. Figures from Resomation Ltd, meanwhile, show just 28kg of CO2 is released per water cremation.
Unlike conventional cremations, there are also no potentially harmful mercury emissions.
However, Helen says often people who enquire about the process are seeking a softer funeral method.
“There’s an expectation that people would choose this because it’s perceived to be environmentally better,” she says.
“But we find a lot of people are interested in choosing it because it feels ‘gentler’.
“They compare flames with water and just feel it’s better.
A consultation by the Scottish Government in 2023 found that 84 per cent of respondents backed the change.
Among the discussions held by its Alkaline Hydrolysis Working Group last summer was debate over its potential benefits for rural communities and islands, where burial is often the only option available.
Andrew Purves, COO of William Purves Funeral Directors, said some people have already taken steps to include water cremation in funeral plans.
"Whether people think this is for them or not, it is important to remember this offers an alternative to make a funeral more personal for each individual and allow them to have a funeral that fits with their wishes.
"While some people may not like the idea of hydrolysis for themselves there are others that do and have spoken to their families or left instructions to say that if it is available when they die, this is something they would like.
"Any potential provider will be waiting until hydrolysis is fully legal in Scotland before making the significant investment in facilities."
At Co-op Funeralcare, one of the country's largest funeral providers, a spokesperson said they have no immediate plans to be a direct provider, and added: "We are supportive of the exploration into alternative funerary methods, and look forward to working with others in the sector who choose to provide this option, in order to offer this service for our client
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “Hydrolysis is already safely in use in countries including Ireland, Canada and the USA and this process will be subject to regulatory oversight by a number of relevant authorities such as the Inspector of Hydrolysis.
“Planning and environmental consents, from Scottish Water or SEPA will be needed before a facility can provide hydrolysis. Operators will also need to go through local authority planning. The sterile liquid containing no DNA will be safely discharged to the water treatment network.
“We are not proposing that hydrolysis replace traditional burial or cremation - only that it be available as an additional option.”
Scottish Water says water cremation liquid would be discharged into the sewer network and to waste water treatment works to be treated before being discharged into the environment.
It adds tests have confirmed it poses no concern for sewer systems, waste water treatment works and their related operations, or receiving water quality.
“We have strict waste water treatment processes which are regulated and monitored.
“We have assessed the water cremation process in terms of any potential impact on our assets and the environment and water quality and established that it has no impact.”
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