Water Cremation: water cremation becomes legal in Scotland
Scotland has become the first country in the UK where water cremation is now legal, offering families a third option alongside burial and traditional cremation. The move follows regulations introduced by the Scottish Government and approved by the Scottish Parliament, and the first procedures in Scotland are expected to take place this summer once all necessary consents are in place.
This story contains details of water cremation which some readers may find upsetting.
Scottish approval, previous ban and timeline for first procedures
The regulations enabling the practice were introduced by the Scottish Government and approved by the Scottish Parliament, making Scotland the first part of the UK to introduce the method after it had been effectively banned in the UK until now. the change will give an option for people interested in alternatives to burial or cremation for the first time in more than a century, and that it responds to significant public support for greater choice. The first procedures in Scotland are expected to take place this summer once all necessary consents are in place.
Water Cremation: the alkaline hydrolysis process explained
The process is officially called alkaline hydrolysis. Bodies are wrapped in a shroud of biodegradable material such as silk or wool before being placed in a pressurised chamber with hot water and chemicals, which speeds up decomposition. The procedure involves weighing the body, then heating it to 150C (300F) in a mixture of potassium hydroxide and water for up to 90 minutes; that dissolves the body tissue, leaving only the bones.
The bones are then rinsed at 120C, dried and pulverised into a coarse powder using a machine called a cremulator. The powdered remains can be returned to next of kin in an urn, in a way similar to ashes following cremation.
Environmental claims, timings and carbon figures
The method is commonly described as a "green cremation. " It has been estimated that a typical traditional cremation has a footprint equivalent to about 320kg of carbon dioxide, and alkaline hydrolysis is found to result in the emission of seven times less CO2. Other benefits put forward include no use of fossil fuels, a reduction in carbon dioxide and faster decomposition times; by comparison with burial — which can take up to 25 years for the body to decompose — water-based cremation can take just two to three hours.
Where the method is already used and notable cases
Water cremations already happen in countries including the Republic of Ireland and the United States, and the technique is also in use in Canada and South Africa. It is available across 30 US states. The first European water cremation facility, described as a resomation centre, opened in early 2023 in Navan, Co Meath, Ireland. The process was chosen as the cremation method of anti-apartheid campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Reactions, regulation and assurances from ministers and industry
The company supporting the introduction of the practice in Scotland described the change as the biggest change to cremation law since it was introduced in 1902, and other commentary has framed it as the biggest change to funerals in more than a century. Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said it was an "environmentally friendly alternative" to more traditional burials or cremations. She added: "The choices people make about their remains prior to death are deeply personal, shaped by individual values, beliefs and the wishes of their families. "
On regulation, she said: "The process will be subject to the same assurances and regulatory requirements as existing methods, giving bereaved families confidence that their loved ones are treated with care, dignity and respect. " The method has also been dubbed "boil-in-the-bag" funerals by some.
