The Church of England is considering legalising human composting

The Church of England is contemplating endorsing more eco-friendly means of handling the deceased, which include methods such as water cremation and terramation, also known as human composting.

The Church is initiating an internal review to address the theological, practical, and pastoral considerations surrounding alternatives to traditional cremation and burial, practices that are already in place in several countries.

This topic was brought up at the Church of England’s legislative assembly, the General Synod, which convened in London recently. In his opening address, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, touched upon the sensitive topic of same-sex marriage.

A little over a year ago, Desmond Tutu, the Archbishop of Cape Town and anti-apartheid campaigner, expressed his wish for his remains to be handled through aquamation.

Aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis or water cremation, entails immersing a body in a blend of water and a powerful alkali such as potassium hydroxide within a pressurised metal cylinder. The cylinder is then heated to roughly 150C for around three to four hours.

The procedure reduces everything apart from the bones into a liquid state. The bones are subsequently dried and pulverised into white dust, which is then placed in an urn and given back to the family.

Terramation is the natural organic reduction of human remains into soil. After the removal of non-organic materials such as metal fillings, pacemakers, and artificial joints, a body is placed in a special enclosure.

The process of decomposition is accelerated with warm air and organic materials like wood chips, alfalfa, and straw. Over a span of roughly 30 days, the entire body, including bones and teeth, breaks down into soil, yielding approximately one cubic metre of soil.

The Reverend Canon Andrew Dotchin, who brought up the matter at the Synod, noted that Tutu’s preference for aquamation should encourage other Christians to be more mindful of their post-mortem decisions.

Despite not being illegal in the UK, water cremation has faced resistance from water companies due to apprehensions about the liquid waste from the process entering the sewage system.

However, tests carried out by Yorkshire Water in April 2019 on samples from five UK water cremations found no cause for concern, with no DNA being detected in the samples. Yorkshire Water subsequently granted a discharge consent for water cremation to Leeds-based Resomation Ltd.

Howard Pickard, the managing director of the company, stated that the public is increasingly seeking greener options for body disposal, and this method addresses that need. He explained to Funeral Directors Monthly that Resomation is a straightforward procedure that allows the body to naturally break down into its constituent parts.

In the US, water cremation is allowed in at least 20 states, and terramation is legal in Washington DC, Oregon, Colorado, and Vermont.

In the UK, about 75% of bodies are cremated, with the remaining being buried. Cremation emits about 400kg of CO2 per body, and burial, which can lead to toxins contaminating the soil, is becoming increasingly rare and costly in urban areas.

Cremations were legalised in Britain in 1902 but remained a less popular choice for a considerable period. In 1944, the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr William Temple, was cremated, marking a turning point in the church’s acceptance of this practice. The prohibition on cremations for Roman Catholics was lifted by the Pope in 1963.

Dotchin acknowledged that there might be some reservations among Church of England members regarding water cremation or terramation but added, “The reservations will be from those who have reservations about any form of disposals other than burial.”

In his opening remarks at the Synod, prior to a five-hour discussion in February, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, recognised the “deep and passionately held differences” within the church regarding same-sex marriage.

He cautioned against the Church of England getting entangled in cultural conflicts, stating, “We live today in a time of both physical and cultural war. We too easily import cultural wars and fall into their rhetoric. It is the environment we operate in. We do not need to internalise it.”

The conversations surrounding more sustainable funeral practices reflect a growing interest in the UK for greener alternatives in all aspects of life. As the Church of England is exploring these options, it could potentially set new trends for funerals, offering people a way to consider their environmental impact even in death.