Green Cremation

A More Natural Alternative

For most of us, options for true green cremation are still relatively limited. Nevertheless, we typically think of cremation as less damaging to the environment than a traditional in-ground burial.

Cremation doesn’t require the vast acreage of land needed for cemeteries and doesn’t leave behind some 800,000 gallons of formaldehyde each year. With in-ground burial, there is also the problem of vast amounts of unrecycled metals, concrete, and wood left in the ground.

What is Green Cremation?

When we hear the term green cremation, we most often think of the technique called alkaline hydrolysis. This process is also called aquamation or resomation. Aquamation currently holds the most promise for providing environmentally gentle disposal of human remains. It uses a water-based process that breaks down the body using a solution of water and alkali. Over a few hours, the body is reduced to bone ash and a sterile liquid. When complete, alkaline hydrolysis leaves behind remains similar to those from traditional cremation. Unlike flame cremation, aquamation uses no fossil fuels, emits no greenhouse gases, and consumes up to 90% less energy, making it a planet-friendly choice. The process takes 2-3 hours and is said to use 1/8th of the energy of traditional cremation. It also eliminates the emission of mercury vapors that result from burning dental amalgam.

Can Traditional Cremation be Green Cremation?

There is no question that new, state-of-the-art crematories are less hazardous to the environment than older cremation facilities. But even the latest equipment is far from perfect. Facilities consume large amounts of energy and release greenhouse gases, mercury, and other particulate matter into the atmosphere. State-of-the-art cremation furnaces have come a long way in reducing emissions. However, they still burn natural gas, which means the release of potentially harmful carbon dioxide and other gases.

New technologies for filtering and metal abatement continue to be developed, along with improvements in energy efficiency. Nevertheless, critics argue that cremation’s environmental impact is still too severe.

History of Bio Cremation

Bio cremation is not new. In fact, Amos Herbert Hobson received a patent for the process in 1888. It received little attention until the late 1990s when the University of Florida began to use bio cremation to dispose of donated research cadavers. The Mayo Clinic began using it in 2006, and UCLA adopted the process around the same time.

As of May 2025, commercial use of bio cremation is legal in twenty-eight states. Legislation to legalize the process is pending in several other states. Unfortunately, though, legal does not mean readily available. In some states, such as Florida, the process has been used at the University of Florida for the disposal of research cadavers for years. However, a limited number of facilities offer the service to the public. The same is true for California. Alkaline hydrolysis has been in use at UCLA for some time, but was only recently cleared for use by consumers. It will still take some time before the process becomes widely available to the public.

STATES WHERE ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS IS LEGAL

Alabama	Kansas	Oregon
Arizona	Maine	Tennessee
California	Maryland	Utah
Colorado	Michigan	Vermont
Connecticut	Minnesota	Virginia
Florida	Missouri	Washington
Georgia	Nevada	West Virginia
Hawaii	North Carolina	Wyoming
Idaho	North Dakota
Illinois	Oklahoma

Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin are all working to legalize the use of the process. Notably, New Hampshire, previously permitted aquamation but repealed the legislation in 2008. As consumers continue to look for more environmentally responsible alternatives, the process will become more widely available. The industry, however, is slow to change, so for many, traditional cremation is the only option. To find out if the bio cremation or other green cremation options are available in your area, check with a local funeral director.

Recycling

One of the first steps taken to prepare a body for cremation is to remove medical implant devices such as pacemakers and dental prosthetics. The crematory may then contract with a specialized recycling company to handle the materials. The devices should never be sold back for orthopedic use; instead, they are generally melted down and repurposed.

Some states prohibit crematories from profiting from the sale of medical devices. In states where profit is not prohibited, recycling might be donated to charity or used as another revenue stream. It is up to you to decide if this type of income generation makes a difference in determining what facility you choose.

Most reputable crematoriums will disclose their policies and procedures for recycling in the package of authorization materials that you sign. If you do not see this in the information, do not feel uncomfortable asking about it.

Tips for Making Your Cremation a Green Cremation

With such a narrow range of choices when it comes to green cremation, there’s not much you can do about the technology that is used. You can, however, take steps to make sure that your cremation does the least amount of harm to the environment as possible.

• Choose a casket or cremation container made of non-toxic materials such as recycled cardboard.
• Purchase a biodegradable urn or container for the remains.
• Authorize your cremation facility to recycle medical parts and metals.
• Contribute to the carbon fund to offset emissions.
• Select a cremation provider that uses an energy-efficient furnace and filtering to minimize pollutants.
• If you are in an area where it is legal, consider bio cremation.
• Opt for a direct cremation in order to skip embalming.
• Scatter the ashes or consider burial at sea.

Memorial Ideas with Green Cremation

Like traditional cremation, green cremation allows you the flexibility to create unique and meaningful tributes. Here are a few ideas for creating a lasting memorial. We have many beautiful sustainable options in our memorial store. (Visit our store for eco-friendly options.)

• Scattering: Spread ashes in a meaningful location, such as a forest or ocean, following local regulations.
• Memorial Reefs: Blend ashes into eco-friendly concrete to form artificial reefs that support marine life (e.g., through Eternal Reefs).
• Planting: Mix ashes with soil to nourish a tree or garden, creating a living legacy.
• Keepsakes: Craft ashes into jewelry, glass art, or other personalized mementos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources:

Cremation Association of North America (cremationassociation.org)

Green Burial Council (greenburialcouncil.org)