The Greenest Way to Die

By Katherine Butler, MNN

Want to go green in death? Here’s a process that may allow you to do just that. Resomation involves an alkaline hydrolysis process that dissolves a body into both a liquid and a powdery white mass. Experts call it the green alternative to cremation, which notoriously releases nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. The process is legal in several U.S. states, and one undertaker wants to bring it to Belgium. But as American Public Media Marketplace reports, resomation is being met with some trepidation in Europe.

The process, which emits none of the toxic carbon ash common with crematoriums, uses much less energy than other death preparation practices. It is a zero-emissions process. The body is placed in a bag and lowered into a Resomator. The Resomator is filled with water and potassium hydroxide, which is heated to around 160 degrees Celsius. The result is a greenish, DNA-free liquid and a powdery mass of white bone. In the United States, it is a common way to dispose of bodies donated to medical science.

Now Belgian undertaker Bruno Quirijnen wants to bring the process, which was developed by a Scottish firm, to Antwerp. Quirijnen hopes city official will approve the process. As he told American Public Media, ”People don’t like to have chimneys in their back yard. So with resomation, you don’t have that problem. It’s very natural and it’s more eco-friendly.”

But not everyone sees resomation as a viable solution for their post-mortem existence on Earth. Many everyday citizens are completely opposed to the idea of dissolving their body after death. When people were interviewed on the streets about the idea, their responses were vehement. One man retorted, “I don’t like it. It’s not so … No. Not to be dissolved in a liquid or something like that, no. I don’t see it as a good solution.” Others erroneously felt cremation was the better eco-solution.

Next: How eco-friendly is cremation?

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Rosemary R.

8:40PM PDT on Oct 5, 2011

Appreciated thank you Megan and Eco

send a green star

Anna B.

10:46AM PDT on Oct 29, 2010

What we need to put a stop to is all the toxic chemicals, e.g., embalming fluids, and the toxic emissions, e.g., from crematoria, also the appalling waste of burying or cremating dead bodies in hardwood coffins (or any kind of wooden coffin).

Here in Britain, we can chose a flat-pack cardboard coffin, made from recycled, unbleached paper. We also have the option of choosing a papier mache' "mummy pod", also made from recycled, unbleached paper.

Personally, I cannot see that it makes the slightest difference whether our dead bodies are dissolved in non-toxic fluid or cremated (burned). In both cases, the corpse is destroyed and transmuted into something completely unrecognizable. With respect to burial, there is the process of putrefaction and the worms, maggots, bugs etc consuming the dead flesh and other soft body parts. What remains is bone.

I agree with Margaret B. that we need MORE green, open spaces and more natural and semi-natural areas as well as many additional more or less landscaped parks. Old cemeteries here in Britain tend to be wonderful places, teeming with greenery and wildlife. Often there are badgers, foxes, hedgehogs, bats, owls and other birds (even rare species) as well as a plethora of insects living there, among all the undergrowth, hedges, shrubberies and trees.

We also have "woodland cemeteries", where you plant a tree of your choice on top of the interred ashes or coffin, and where NO grave markers of any kind are permitted.

Derek W.

6:52PM PDT on Sep 21, 2010

This is a rather dreary thing to think about. ; (

ChanTlalok Rain C.

12:58PM PDT on Sep 21, 2010

thanx Megan, I mean Mille Grazie, is this allowed in TEXAS? How do I find out. God Bless.

Michelle M.

1:57PM PDT on Sep 20, 2010

Sounds like a good idea! I hope they legalize it in Maryland soon!

Chinmayee J.

5:17AM PDT on Sep 19, 2010

Cremation is basically going to be my way to go...however, the resomation process is very fascinating and doesn't actually seem like such a horrible idea...

Danielle W.

8:07PM PDT on Sep 17, 2010

I don't even want to read this article because of the title

Stefani A.

5:12PM PDT on Sep 15, 2010

Hmmm sounds neat. I wouldn't mind doing that. Or just buried in a pine box unembalmed.

Carol C.

3:33PM PDT on Sep 15, 2010

Interesting.

Theresa C.

9:40AM PDT on Sep 13, 2010

Thanks for the article