Scotland becomes first UK country to legalise water cremations | Death and dying

Scotland has become the first UK territory to legalize hydrolysis, an environmentally friendly alternative to cremation or burial, reflecting growing demand for more sustainable funeral arrangements.

The process, also known as hydrocremation or hydrocremation, already exists in many parts of the world, and the regulations approved by the Scottish parliament on Monday mark the most significant change to funeral law since cremation was introduced in 1902.

Mimicking the natural decomposition process that occurs after burial, but covering a much shorter period of time, hydrolysis uses a strong alkaline solution to break down the deceased’s body.

The body is immersed in water and 5% alkaline such as potassium chloride for three to four hours in a pressurized metal cylinder and heated to approximately 150°C (300°F).

This dissolves body tissue, leaving only bones; these are then dried and pulverized into white powder. This is placed in an urn, and relatives can choose to keep it, scatter it, or bury it, just as with traditional pyre ashes.

Jenni Minto, the Scottish government’s public health minister, said: “The choices people make about their bodies before death are deeply personal and shaped by individual values, beliefs and the wishes of their families.

“Hydrolysis offers a new, environmentally friendly alternative to burial or incineration and responds to significant public support for more options and will be the first new option available in over 120 years.”

Minto emphasized that the new process will be subject to the same regulatory requirements as existing methods.

Kindly Earth, which has exclusive rights to manufacture hydrolysis equipment in the UK, said it could take up to nine months for the first Scottish facility to become operational as the funeral director would need planning permission as well as permission from the local water authority.

Describing this as a historic moment for the funeral industry in Scotland, the company’s chief executive, Helen Chandler, said: “We know not everyone will choose hydrolysis – that’s the point. This is about giving families more choice. Every family has different values ​​and priorities. Some people, especially those who are pre-planning their own funerals, are looking for options that better suit their preferences.”

Hydrolysis is currently legal in 28 US states, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Archbishop Desmond Tutu chose to be cremated with water for his funeral in 2022.

Kindly Earth says families choose hydrolysis because they think it’s a gentler, less environmentally impactful alternative.

The process produces no direct toxic emissions into the air and also has the potential to reduce the use of disposable coffins as it is not required for hydrolysis.

Elsewhere in the UK, the Law Commission in England and Wales is considering a regulatory framework for new burial methods, including hydrolysis and human dung.

Andrew Purves, chief operating officer of William Purves Funeral Directors, an independent Scottish funeral company that is part of a working group advising the Scottish government, said the families he works with are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of funerals.

“We are all aware of the environmental impact in our lives and we spend a lot of time choosing what we recycle etc, so it is right that people can take this into account for their funerals too.”

Purves notes that when cremation was introduced 100 years ago, public opinion was divided, with some advocates and critics thinking it was disgusting. But cremations now account for almost 80% of funerals in the UK, according to the Cremation Society.

“Something different and new will always be viewed with skepticism by people and they may not even know what it is. But cremation has become quite accepted in the UK and as we have come to accept as a society, I think the same will happen with hydrolysis.”