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Considering Cremation by Flame and Cremation by Water

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Considering Cremation by Flame and Cremation by Water Considering Cremation by Flame and Cremation by Water Deciding what to do with your body is one of the major decisions you need to make as you tend to your after death care planning. Your two choices are either burial or cremation. Of course, you can also donate your body to scientific and medical research — in these cases your body will (typically) eventually be cremated. In this informational piece, we’re going to talk about flame-based cremation as well as a lesser known, but more environmentally-friendly option, called alkaline hydrolysis, and referred to by many as green cremation or cremation by water. In another write-up, we talk about conventional and natural burial. Cremation rates in the US have been on the rise for some time. The Cremation Association of North America reported that in 2017, 52% of people chose cremation as their method of ‘final disposition’ compared to 28% just fifteen years earlier in 2002.1 Cremation by Flame In the US, almost all cremation is flame-based cremation, taking place in an industrial sized furnace made especially for cremation. (We only know of one small community in Colorado in which it is 2 regulated for local citizens to have a public open-air pyre. ) Typically, the body is placed in a container made of wood or sturdy cardboard, that is then placed in a large incinerator that heats up to between 1400-2000 degrees Fahrenheit. In about 2 hours, all that remains of the body is bone matter. The fragments of bone are then crushed into smaller pieces and fine powder to become what many call ashes, cremated remains or cremains. Generally, there are between 6 and 8 pounds of cremains after a cremation. When the cremation is completed, you can then pick up the cremated remains or have them 3 shipped via US Postal Service. 1 1 Cremation Association of North America. Industry Statistical Information. https://www.cremationassociation.org/page/IndustryStatistics 2 https://www.thriveglobal.com/stories/14584-the-story-of-the-only-public-open-air-funeral-pyre-in-america 3 https://about.usps.com/publications/pub139.pdf A ‘direct cremation’ or basic cremation is what many funeral homes call it when the body is transported directly from the place of death to the crematorium. This is often the most inexpensive method. The advantages of cremation are often seen as simplicity and a low cost. As with any purchase, it is important to be an informed consumer when looking for cremation services. A 2017 survey of direct cremation prices in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area of Minnesota found that the 10 lowest priced direct 4 cremations ranged from $745 to $1495. Cremation also offers greater flexibility for loved ones in our mobile society. Though not favored by all religious traditions, many have come to accept cremation. Other traditions strongly prefer it. Flame-based cremation has some negative environmental impacts to consider. Of primary concern are the fossil fuels burned to cremate, and the by-products released into the air, especially from older facilities. Among the most concerning is mercury, which is blended into the dental fillings for baby boomer aged folks. When exposed to the intense heat of cremation, mercury is released into the environment. No standards yet exist to determine which cremation facilities produce the most 5 pollution and carbon emissions. If flame-based cremation is the best choice for you, there are several ways that you can consider ‘greening’ the process: look for a crematorium that is frequently in use (to avoid repeated heating up of the furnaces), recycle metal medical parts, and/or make a contribution to a carbon fund to offset the pollution. Cremation by Water This process is technically known as alkaline hydrolysis but is more commonly called green cremation, water cremation or chemical cremation. It is a flameless process that, like flame-based cremation, ends with a result of ashes or cremated remains. With flameless cremation, the body is placed in a sealed machine which is then filled with a solution of 95% water and 5% potassium hydroxide (or sodium hydroxide). All the contents are heated to between 200 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and with the help of gentle movement and/or pressure (depending on the type of system in use) the body is reduced to liquid and bone in about the same amount of time as flame-based cremation. The bone fragments are dried and then (as with flame-based cremation) ground up. The cremated remains look quite similar to what is produced in a flame-based cremation; however they have a lighter color and the process preserves about 20% more bone fragments. The liquid is processed through the wastewater treatment system. The Cremation Association of North America clarifies that “The liquid is considered a sterile wastewater and discharged with the permission of the local wastewater treatment authority and in accordance with federal, state or provincial, and local 2 4 http://fcaofmn.org/direct-cremation-price-survey.html/ 5 Green Burial Council, https://greenburialcouncil.org/home/what-is-green-burial/ laws.”6 While some people are surprised to learn that the sterile liquid from flameless cremation safely enters local wastewater treatment systems, it is worth noting that if a body is embalmed, bodily fluids 7 are put directly into local wastewater treatment systems (so that the embalming chemicals can replace those bodily fluids). The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Minnesota points out several environmental advantages of alkaline hydrolysis compared to flame-based cremation: a 75% reduction in carbon footprint, a 91% reduction in the total amount of energy used, and the proper containment and processing of mercury from 8 dental fillings. A major disadvantage of flameless cremation is that it is not available in all states. Less than 20 states, as of 2018, regulate alkaline hydrolysis for the public. Several states are currently considering this process. It has also been noted that in water-stressed areas, there is some concern about the 285 gallons 9 of water used per cycle as well as the high introductory cost for the cremation professionals who invest in the needed machine. Again, it is important to be an informed consumer if you are considering a green cremation. Some providers may offer flame-based cremation and flameless cremation at the same rate. In general, the least expensive direct cremation rates for a flame-based cremation cost less than green cremation, but that could change with time. If you choose cremation, remember there is also the decision of what to do with the cremated remains. Common options to consider are: burial, placement in a niche (often called a columbarium), depositing them in a place significant to you, making keepsakes, or not deciding and storing the cremated remains in an urn until a later time. You’ve probably seen products that say you can use your cremated remains to grow a tree. It’s important to know that cremated remains, in concentrated forms, are fairly hostile to plant life because the process of cremation removes all the nutrients in our bodies. Trying to plant a seed or a plant directly into cremated remains is not viable, so the products being sold actually have to neutralize the chemistry 10 of the cremated remains so that seeds and plants might survive in them. If you’d like to help trees and 11 plants grow, the remains need to be distributed over a large area (or areas) in small quantities. You might consider choosing a natural burial for cremated remains, and planting a variety of local wildflowers and native plants above them, so the plants can work together across seasons. 3 6 Cremation Association of North America, https://www.cremationassociation.org/page/alkalinehydrolysis 7 https://www.funerals360.com/blog/burial/the_truth_about_embalming/ 8 http://fcaofmn.org/alkaline-hydrolysis-green-cremation.html 9 http://www.ba-fca.org/InTouch2017FallAB967.html 10 https://www.wired.com/story/turn-your-dead-grandma-into-a-tree-with-this-smart-planter/ 11 https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/cremation-ashes-and-plants.htm A final word: Deciding which method is right for you depends on many factors: values, cost, timing, cultural and religious beliefs and circumstances. There is no universal right or wrong way to care for a body after death, but the clarity you provide your loved ones about your wishes can greatly reduce their stress during an already stressful time. It is a significant gift of peace of mind. 4 allaycare.org v6 November 2018.
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