---
title: "What Is Alkaline Hydrolysis? Sustainable Funeral Planning"
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source_url: "https://earthfuneral.com/resources/alkaline-hydrolysis-sustainable-funeral-planning"
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summary: "Alkaline hydrolysis is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial and cremation that uses heat, pressure, water, and lye to produce a benign liquid called hydrolysate, requiring only about a quarter of the energy of flame cremation. The article explores its pros and cons, noting environmental benefits and a gentler process but limited availability across U.S. states and higher costs compared to traditional cremation."
tags: "alkaline-hydrolysis, green-funeral, water-cremation, eco-friendly, cremation, end-of-life-planning, sustainability"
key_entities: "Alkaline Hydrolysis (concept), Water Cremation (concept), Green Funeral (concept), Earth Funeral (organization), Minnesota (location), Hydrolysis Chamber (technology), Aquamation (concept), Resomation (concept)"
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# What Is Alkaline Hydrolysis? Sustainable Funeral Planning

Green Funeral Practice | February 20, 2022 Alkaline hydrolysis is an eco-friendly alternative to burial and cremation. It is a disposition method that typically uses heat, pressure, water and lye in a dedicated hydrolysis chamber. The product is a benign liquid known as hydrolysate. The process uses a large quantity of water and is therefore sometimes known as "water cremation." Alkaline hydrolysis is also referred to by multiple other names, including "aquamation," "resomation," "biocremation," and "flameless cremation." This article explains alkaline hydrolysis, explores pros and cons, and discusses how it fits into end-of-life planning. We will also look at the environmental benefits of alkaline hydrolysis, where the process is available, and why someone might choose it instead of other options. Alkaline Hydrolysis Vs. Traditional Cremation During cremation, the body is incinerated and turned into ash. With alkaline hydrolysis, the body is put into a vessel with water and potassium hydroxide. The vessel is then heated and pressurized. The process produces a liquid as well as bone remains. Alkaline hydrolysis allows for a similar experience to cremation. The bones are dried and processed into an ash-like matter at the end of the process. This means family members and friends are able to memorialize their loved one in similar ways. The alkaline hydrolysis process typically takes four to six hours. It may take longer if a lower pressure and temperature are used. This compares to the slightly quicker process of cremation, which takes on average two hours. Pros And Cons Of Water Cremation Like all disposition methods, alkaline hydrolysis has pros and cons. It is a gentle and eco-friendly process, but at present it is not as convenient and affordable as other alternatives. Pro: It’s More Environmentally Friendly Than Flame Cremation Alkaline hydrolysis is less pollutive than traditional cremation . It requires only about a quarter of the energy of flame cremation and it is not reliant on fossil fuels. It therefore does not produce carbon dioxide emissions on the same scale as the traditional process. As a fossil fuel driven process, flame cremation produces significant quantities of carbon dioxide. One cremation is estimated to produce 535 lbs of CO2. These emissions are equivalent to a 609 mile car journey in an average sized car. The combustion of fossil fuels also causes the emission of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. Other noxious substances emitted include fine soot and mercury. Alkaline hydrolysis avoids most of this environmental damage and can be fairly considered a green funeral option. Pro: It’s A Gentler Process Some people find alkaline hydrolysis to be a more appealing concept. The process is slower and involves a gentler reduction than the relatively quick process of flame cremation. Con: It’s Not Available In All 50 States Alkaline hydrolysis was first legalized by Minnesota in 2003. Since then about 20 states have legalized the process in some form. In many of these states there are no alkaline hydrolysis facilities, even though the process is legal. It can therefore be difficult to access the process in the United States even when it is someone's preferred option. ‍ {{CTA-webinar-2}} ‍ Con: It’s Not Necessarily Cheaper Or More Convenient Than Flame Cremation The benefits of alkaline hydrolysis are mainly environmental, although each process does require around 400 hundred gallons of water. Many people find that other options, including other green options, are more convenient. The greater availability of other processes often makes organizing them more straightforward. Unlike some of the other green alternatives to traditional funeral practices, alkaline hydrolysis does not tend to be cheaper than cremation. Typically, the process is considerably more expensive than traditional cremation. Many people find green options such as natural burial and soil transformation to be quite beautiful processes, which constitute a return to nature. They therefore often hold a greater conceptual appeal than alkaline hydrolysis. ‍ {{CTA}} ‍ Explore At Earth, we provide soil transformation services . Like alkaline hydrolysis, this is an environmentally-friendly alternative to cremation and traditional burial which uses considerably less water. Soil transformation, also known as natural organic reduction or human composting, involves the gentle transformation of a body into nutrient-rich soil. Families choose how much soil they'd like returned - to scatter or plant - with the remainder sent to local conservation sites for land restoration purposes. If you are interested in sustainable funeral practice, you can read about our services or get an instant online quote . Facebook icon LinkedIn icon More articles Human Composting 101 Human Composting in Ohio: Now Available from Earth Funeral Earth Funeral is now serving families across Ohio with soil transformation, a natural, gentle alternative to cremation and traditional burial. 6/2/2026 Company News Earth Funeral Opens Nation's Largest Human Composting Facility, a First for the East Coast Earth Funeral opens the nation's first East Coast soil transformation facility in Maryland, bringing human composting closer to millions of families who've been asking for it. 5/4/2026 4 min read End Of Life Logistics A Thoughtful Way to Use Tax Season for End-of-Life Planning Tax season is the one time each year when millions of Americans review their finances, and think about the future. Here's how pre-planning your arrangements can fit into that moment. 2/19/2026 Live Webinar and Q&A Nearly 70% of families start here. Join 14,000+ who’ve learned how Earth Funeral works, what it costs, and where it’s available. Plus, hear the questions other families are asking, answered live. Register now Live Webinar and Q&A Nearly 70% of families start here. Join 14,000+ who’ve learned how Earth Funeral works, what it costs, and where it’s available. Plus, hear the questions other families are asking, answered live. Register now Live Webinar and Q&A ‍ Nearly 70% of families start here. Join 14,000+ who’ve learned how Earth Funeral works, what it costs, and where it’s available. Plus, hear the questions other families are asking, answered live. Register now Considering your own plans? Earth Funeral's end-to-end care is a natural alternative to burial or cremation. Get a quote by answering just a few questions. Get an instant quote Want to learn more about your options? 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Earth Funeral's complete care creates impact for generations. Get an instant quote Want to give your loved ones peace of mind? Earth Funeral's pre-planning provides comfort and clarity for families. Get an instant quote Want to create a meaningful legacy of your own? Earth Funeral's end-to-end care transforms your life into lasting environmental impact. Get an instant quote In the early stages of planning? Learn about Earth Funeral's end-to-end care that creates new life. Get an instant quote Create a meaningful legacy of your own Earth Funeral's end-to-end care transforms your life into lasting environmental impact. Get an instant quote A farewell that feeds tomorrow Soil transformation creates something beautiful from life's end—rich earth that can restore ecosystems or grow memorial gardens. See how this gentle process works with a quick quote. Get an instant quote Choose a path that honors both life and earth Our soil transformation process offers families a meaningful way to give back to the earth while keeping loved ones close. Learn more in just a few moments. Get an instant quote Choose a sustainable farewell with soil transformation A natural alternative to burial or cremation that creates new life. Get an instant quote by answering just a few questions. Get an instant quote Return to nature through soil transformation Choose a natural alternative to burial or cremation that creates new life. Get an instant quote by answering just a few questions. Get an instant quote Services Our service Soil transformation Pricing Plan ahead Service area Reviews Resources About Guide Stories Research Press FAQs Glossary Contact Careers Legal Terms of Service Privacy Policy GPLs Call (877) 327-4109 Facebook icon Instagram icon CA # FD-2530 | 576 Sacramento Street, Floor 3, San Francisco, CA 94111 CA # FD-2544 | 41877 Enterprise Cir. 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