Church of England to consider backing greener alternatives to cremation and burial

The Church of England is to consider backing more environmentally friendly methods of disposing of dead bodies, including water cremation and human composting.

- Harriet Sherwood

An internal consultation will consider the theological, practical and pastoral issues around alternatives to cremation and burial that are used in some countries.

The matter was raised at the legislative body of the C of E, the General Synod, which is meeting in London this week. Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, addressed the contentious issue of same-sex marriage in his opening speech.

Just over a year ago, Desmond Tutu, the archbishop of Cape Town and anti-apartheid activist, requested aquamation for his remains.

The process, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, resomation or water cremation, involves immersing a body for three to four hours in a mixture of water and a strong alkali, such as potassium hydroxide, in a pressurised metal cylinder and heated to about 150C. The process liquefies everything except for the bones, which are then dried in an oven and reduced to white dust, placed in an urn and returned to relatives.