When was Water Cremation invented?
The History of Water Cremation: A Gentle Revolution in Death Care
In the past century, how we care for our dead has undergone significant changes, shaped by technology, science, cultural values, and environmental concerns. Among the most significant—and least understood—innovations is alkaline hydrolysis, often called aquamation, Water Cremation, or resomation. This method offers a gentler, more environmentally friendly alternative to flame cremation and traditional burial, and its history weaves together scientific innovation, environmental advocacy, and evolving societal values around death.
This blog post explores the history of Water Cremation—from its scientific roots to its growing role in modern death care.
Patented in 1888
Water Cremation, scientifically and legally known as Alkaline Hydrolysis, was first patented in 1888 by an Englishman named Amos Herbert Hobson for "the treatment of bones in animal waste or refuse, generally for the purpose of rendering the same more suited for fertilizing purposes".
First Practical Use: Medical and Research Settings (1990s)
The first modern use of Water Cremation for the disposal of human or animal remains came in the early 1990s in the context of medical research. Dr. Gordon Kaye, a pathology professor at Albany Medical College, is often credited with pioneering the use of this method for processing animal remains from laboratory research. The medical field needed a method that was sterile, environmentally safe, and could handle tissues from disease studies without risk of contamination or combustion.
Dr. Kaye and his team developed a pressurized stainless steel vessel where tissue could be placed and broken down using water and potassium hydroxide. What remained was a sterile liquid and clean white bone fragments, free of DNA, prions, and pathogens. These early units helped demonstrate that Water Cremation was a safe and effective method of tissue disposal, meeting the rigorous standards of medical waste treatment.
From Lab to Livestock: The Agricultural Application
The next step in Water Cremation’s evolution came in the livestock and veterinary sectors. In the early 2000s, concerns about mad cow disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) and other zoonotic illnesses led regulators to seek better ways to handle animal carcasses.
Traditional burial or incineration carried risks of contamination or environmental harm, while Water Cremation offered a safe and sanitary solution. The process could neutralize prions, the infectious proteins responsible for diseases like mad cow, which are notoriously difficult to destroy. This made it an ideal tool for the disposal of high-risk animal remains.
Government agencies and agricultural universities, particularly in Canada and the U.S., began using alkaline hydrolysis digesters to dispose of carcasses in a way that protected public health and the environment.
The Human Application: Entering the Death Care Industry
The first major transition into human death care came in the mid-2000s. A company called Bio-Response Solutions, founded by engineer Joe Wilson, developed Water Cremation units designed specifically for use in funeral homes and crematories. Around the same time, Resomation Ltd., founded by Sandy Sullivan in the United Kingdom, introduced its version of the technology, branding it as Resomation (short for “resolution by water”).
In 2005, Water Cremation was used for the first human body disposition outside of medical or research settings. This event marked a turning point, introducing water cremation as a public alternative to flame cremation and burial.
These companies framed Water Cremation not only as a scientific innovation, but also as a solution to growing environmental concerns. With traditional flame cremation emitting around 600 pounds of CO₂ per body, and burial consuming land, embalming fluids, and non-biodegradable caskets, the death care industry was increasingly under scrutiny. Water Cremation offered a process that used less energy, emitted no airborne pollutants, and left behind bone ash and sterile liquid, with minimal environmental footprint.
Regulatory Challenges and Milestones
One of the greatest hurdles for Water Cremation has been legal acceptance. In the United States, each state regulates methods of body disposition independently, meaning Water Cremation had to be approved state by state.
The first state to legalize Water Cremation for human remains was Minnesota in 2003, followed by a slow and steady wave of adoption. By 2025, over 25 states had legalized it, though some still restrict or regulate its use. Internationally, countries like Canada, the UK, and South Africa have seen growing interest and implementation, though uptake varies widely.
Cultural and Environmental Context: Why Now?
The increasing popularity of Water Cremation coincides with shifting cultural attitudes around death and sustainability. Younger generations, in particular, are seeking alternatives that align with their values of ecological responsibility, simplicity, and personal meaning.
Movements like green burial, natural organic reduction (human composting), and water cremation are all part of a larger transformation in how society approaches end-of-life care. People are increasingly asking, "How do I leave the world better when I leave it?"
For many, Water Cremation provides an answer. The process uses up to 90% less energy than flame cremation, produces no harmful emissions, and allows for the return of calcium-phosphate bone ash to families, just like with traditional cremation.
The Future of Alkaline Hydrolysis
As environmental pressure on the death care industry mounts, alkaline hydrolysis is poised to play a major role in the next generation of funeral services. New technologies, greater consumer awareness, and regulatory momentum are all converging to make water cremation more accessible.
Many funeral homes are now adding water cremation units alongside their traditional services, offering families a broader range of options. Educational efforts are growing to help dispel myths and promote understanding, as consumers continue to seek transparency and sustainability.
In the future, we may see alkaline hydrolysis paired with memorial forests, biodegradable urns, or other regenerative approaches to after-death care. Its gentle return of the body to nature fits into a growing desire for meaningful and ethical legacies.
Conclusion
The history of alkaline hydrolysis is one of scientific ingenuity, environmental responsibility, and evolving cultural values. From its origins in laboratories and veterinary clinics to its current place in green funeral homes, it represents a profound shift in how we relate to death and the planet.
As more people seek meaningful, sustainable ways to say goodbye, alkaline hydrolysis offers not just a method of disposition, but a philosophy: that even in death, we can be gentle on the earth.
Interested in learning more about water cremation or finding a provider near you? Visit Be a Tree Cremation to explore services, FAQs, and stories from families who’ve chosen this path.