When making funeral plans in the UK, families generally choose between giving their loved one a cremation or burying them in the ground. However, it might not be long before they are considering an ‘aquamation’, which are said to be more environmentally friendly.
As more and more people become aware of the global warming crisis and climate change, it may not be long before ‘water cremations’, which breaks down the deceased person’s body using water and chemicals in resomators, are approved in the UK, iNews.co.uk reported.
Scotland’s largest independent funeral director William Purves told the publication many people would prefer this option, as it is considerably better for the environment.
Tim Purves, director of the company, said: “Resomators are cheaper to build than cremators, and the running process is cheaper as there is no need for gas. It’s likely that a resomation will end up being comparable [in cost] if not slightly less than cremation.”
Special chambers are used to dissolve the body’s tissues and fats over three to four hours, using five times less energy than cremations.
The Scottish government is looking to make ‘aquamations’ legal and has only put its plans to open a resomator on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A spokesperson from the government said: “We are proud to lead the way in the UK by having a legislative framework that is fit for purpose and can respond to new, innovative technologies.”
Archbishop Desmond Tutu famously received an ‘aquamation’ after he died in South Africa on Boxing Day last year. The anti-apartheid hero requested the eco-friendly funeral as he wanted his farewell to be a simple affair, The Guardian revealed.
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