When you die, there are currently only two options in most of the world: burial or traditional fire cremation. Now, the UK’s biggest funeral care provider, Co-op Funeralcare, has announced that it will begin offering a third option later this year. Water cremation — also known as aquamation — uses water to bring the body back to the skeletal remains. The body is placed into a steel vessel filled with water and an alkaline solution. It’s then heated to the point where it takes the flesh back to its chemical components — amino acids, peptides, sugars and salts. After about 3-4 hours, only the bones remain. They are then ground down into a fine powder, placed in an urn, and given to the family. Water cremation is already legal in the UK, but this is the first time it will be widely offered in the country. Research found that 89% of UK adults had not heard of water cremation, but once it was explained to them, 29% said they would choose it for their own funeral if it was available. Water cremation in the UK runs around ￡1,000 ($1,311) for cremation only and around ￡4,000 ($5,244) for cremation and a simple funeral service.
