When you think about end-of-life care for yourself or a loved one, the options available can feel overwhelming. If you’re looking for a more natural and eco-friendly alternative to traditional cremation or burial, aquamation might be something you want to consider.
It’s a gentle process that uses water instead of fire. Many find it a meaningful choice, creating a more sustainable future for our world. Keep reading to learn how aquamation works and why it’s gaining popularity among those who want to make more eco-friendly decisions.
Let’s dive into what this option could mean for you or someone you care about.
What is Aquamation? How Does the Aquamation Process Work?
Aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, offers an eco-friendly alternative to flame cremation. Instead of fire, this water-based process uses water, heat, and an alkaline solution to gently return the body to its natural elements, much like natural decomposition.
If you’re considering aquamation for yourself or a loved one, it’s essential to understand how the process works.
The Aquamation Process
During aquamation, the body is placed in a stainless steel vessel filled with 95% water and 5% alkali. The temperature inside the vessel is carefully controlled, typically reaching around 300°F.
Over several hours, the water and alkali work together to break down the body in a process that mirrors natural decomposition.
What Happens to the Body?
Only the bones remain after the completion of an aquamation.
The liquid, free of harmful materials like mercury, is returned to the environment safely. The bones are then dried, reduced to ash, and returned to the family in an urn, much like traditional cremation.
The final ashes can be laid to rest in a way that honors your loved one’s wishes, whether through burial or scattering.
Why Choose Aquamation?
One of the main reasons people choose aquamation is the environmental benefits. The process uses significantly less energy than flame-based cremation, and it produces no greenhouse gasses.
Additionally, aquamation’s water-based method results in a lower carbon footprint, making it a more sustainable choice than traditional cremation. This option appeals to many looking for a “green cremation” solution that aligns with their values of reducing impact on the earth.
Want to make a thoughtful, eco-friendly choice for your loved one’s final journey? Reach out to Endswell Funeral Home at 919-907-9777 or contact us online to discuss aquamation, green cremation, or green burial services.
Is Aquamation Legal in North Carolina?
Aquamation is not just legal in North Carolina—our state has 4 aquamation facilities! This eco-friendly process offers a greener, more sustainable way to honor your loved ones.
North Carolina is among the forward-thinking states that have embraced this alternative to flame-based cremation. Aquamation captures the attention of families seeking a more natural and environmentally responsible end-of-life option.
Aquamation was first developed in the early 1990s as a humane way to handle the remains of animals used in experiments. Later, it played a crucial role in managing the disposal of cattle during the mad cow disease epidemic, as noted by US-based researcher Philip R. Olson.
By the 2000s, medical schools in the US began using aquamation to care for donated human cadavers, and soon after, the practice found its way into the funeral industry, offering families an eco-friendly alternative to traditional cremation.
In fact, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, known for his humble lifestyle, specifically requested aquamation for his own simple funeral, which took place after his passing in 2021.
As burial space in cities becomes more limited and costly, aquamation is emerging as an appealing solution.
Advocates highlight that water provides a gentler, more natural farewell than flames. Resomation, a UK-based company, notes that aquamation uses five times less energy than flame-based cremation and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from funerals by around 35%.
Now, aquamation is popular in many areas, providing a modern solution that aligns with today’s values of reducing our environmental impact while honoring the lives of those we love.
Aquamation for Pets
Aquamation isn’t just for humans; it’s also used for pets. The process is the same, offering a gentle way to say goodbye to a beloved animal companion.
Many families turn to this option for their pets because it feels like a more natural and compassionate way to handle the remains, especially compared to traditional methods.
Aquamation is an alternative that aligns with many individuals’ values of sustainability and environmental responsibility. It’s a gentle, water-based process that helps return your loved ones—human or pet—back to nature in a respectful and eco-conscious way.
Modern Cremation Methods Ensure Sustainability
When it comes to honoring your loved ones at the end of life, more people are seeking environmentally friendly options that reflect their values.
At Endswell Funeral Home in North Carolina, we offer modern cremation methods designed to minimize environmental impact while providing a meaningful farewell. Through options like aquamation, green cremation, and green burial, we help families make sustainable choices for their loved ones and pets.
Aquamation: A Water-Based Solution at Endswell Funeral Home
Endswell Funeral Home offers aquamation, a gentle and eco-friendly alternative to flame-based cremation. After an aquamation, we carefully dry the bone fragments and reduce them to ashes. These ashes are then returned to the family in an urn, just like with traditional cremation.
The beauty of aquamation lies not only in its gentleness but also in its low environmental impact. It uses less energy than flame cremation and avoids harmful emissions, making it an ideal solution for those seeking a greener farewell.
Green Cremation and Green Burial at Endswell Funeral Home
For families looking for more sustainable flame cremation practices, Endswell also offers green cremation.
The green cremation process uses fewer chemicals and less energy than traditional methods, resulting in a lower carbon footprint.
If burial is preferred, our green burial services provide a way to lay your loved ones to rest without the use of embalming fluids, metal caskets, or concrete vaults.
Green burial allows the body to return naturally to the earth, promoting the cycle of life in a way that honors both the environment and the individual.
Choosing Sustainability for Your Loved Ones
Whether you opt for aquamation, green cremation, or green burial, Endswell Funeral Home is here to help you and your family make decisions aligned with your environmental values.
Our modern practices ensure that the end-of-life process remains respectful not just to the loved ones we say goodbye to but also to the planet we share.
Ready to explore sustainable options for your loved one’s end-of-life care? Get in touch with Endswell Funeral Home today to learn more about aquamation, green cremation, and green burial.
We serve communities across North Carolina and Virginia, including Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Cary, Charlotte, and Wake Forest.
Call us at 919-907-9777 or contact us online at Endswell Funeral Home to get started.