Flame Cremation vs Alkaline Hydrolysis

Cremation has replaced burial as the most common method for the disposition of bodies. In Canada, 80% of families choose cremation whereas in the United States approximately 60% do so.

By 2040, NFDA projects the U.S. cremation rate to be almost 80%.

Flame cremation has many drawbacks:

• Retorts require a lot of space and require an unsightly exhaust stack
• Difficult to install and often requires the additional cost of a crane for installation
• Expensive to purchase and install
• Rebricking required after several years
• Creates dirty grey ashes for the family
• Zoning and permitting is often challenging
• It pollutes the earth, contributing to climate change
• It uses non-renewable fossil fuels, releases CO2 emissions, adds heat to the earth and creates toxic fumes 
• Particulates contribute to poor air quality (especially mercury)
• Incinerating organic material that is 60% water just doesn’t make a lot of sense 
• Explosion and fire risk

Alkaline Hydrolysis by Aqualyser Solutions has many attributes:

• Small footprint (the size of a vault or oversized casket)
• Typically no zoning issues
• Low initial cost
• Easy installation
• Natural colored cremated remains
• High recovery of metal recyclables
• Limited supervision required during the process
• No large exhaust stack
• Eco-friendly with low carbon emissions and 100% mercury free
• Encompasses a more natural "life cycle"

Alkaline hydrolysis units are used by top institutions in the U.S. such as the Mayo Clinic and UCLA, whereas Health Canada has one in its research facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The Aqualyser Solutions system operates at low pressure and was designed specifically for funeral service. It will fit the budget, physical space and aesthetic of a typical funeral home. Many funeral homes will now have the opportunity to provide cremations in-house.