Apparently, the funeral industry is the second biggest source of pollution after fossil fuel fired power stations, but an alternative to cremation could reduce the UK’s carbon footprint.

Resomation is a process that involves alkaline hydrolysis – heating and treating the body so it decomposes quickly, leaving just bone ash and a small amount of liquid. The firm behind resomation won’t make the process commercially available until it has been regulated, and an act of Parliament is required for regulation, preceded by a research project. Budget cuts have postponed the research, as rerported in  (Pharos International, Summer 2011;16).

It is interesting to look back through the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum archives where we discuss the possibility for resomation of tissue wastes, to operate as an adjunct to conventional ATT processing of other clinical wastes. This may be a cost effective solution contributing still further to carbon reduction. Start here, and remember where you first heard the proposal!