What in the event you may cremate the one you love fur child not utilizing hearth, however water? This environmentally-friendly, “much less painful” different is now a actuality in Singapore because of The Inexperienced Mortician.
Based by former renewable vitality marketing consultant Yang Bathroom and wildlife rescuer Joe Kam, The Inexperienced Mortician is Singapore’s first pet cremation service which makes use of water as a substitute of fireside to course of useless pets – higher often called aquamation.
Since its launch in March 2023, the duo have carried out the process on pets akin to canines, cats, birds and hamsters on the 2,000 sq. toes facility at Toh Guan Centre in Jurong East. It is usually the one pet cremation service situated in an industrial constructing, versus conventional farmlands in areas akin to Sungei Tengah or Seletar.
Aquamation as a substitute approach to “have fun life”
The concept of aquamation first got here to Yang in 2018. He beforehand labored as a contract deejay and was within the advertising business, earlier than turning into a headhunter for renewable vitality corporations within the Asia Pacific area.
A good friend within the funeral business then informed him about aquamation, which is scientifically often called alkaline hydrolysis. Coupled with the regular improve of pet possession in Singapore lately, Yang knew the chance was there for the taking.
Alongside his enterprise accomplice Joe, the duo spent three years “finding appropriate area or land, persuading constructing managements, and navigating the complexities of participating with related businesses to introduce a brand new know-how.”
“The likelihood to enact change and distinction – and probably make this accessible for people in future in Singapore – is what drives us to go that additional mile,” Yang stated.
Along with aquamation, The Inexperienced Mortician additionally goals to make the process much less miserable, giving pet homeowners extra time to say their farewells and “have fun life”.
In an effort to supply consolation and solace to households throughout this troublesome time, The Inexperienced Mortician stays void of disagreeable and pointless parts, together with conventional “urns” that will evoke emotions of eeriness or misery. As an alternative, the crematorium provides vessels particularly designed to swimsuit modern-day properties, in addition to wearable keepsakes.
Our goal is to current a extra optimistic and uplifting view of our departed family members, inviting households to replicate upon and cherish the joyful moments they shared. In essence, it’s a celebration of life.
– Yang Bathroom, co-founder of The Inexperienced Mortician
The memorial halls additionally boast high-ceilings and fashionable, nature-inspired décor which goal to evoke a serene environment and recharge guests.
How does aquamation work?
Aquamation has been broadly accessible in america for a number of years for pets. It was first developed a long time in the past as a approach to discard animal carcasses utilized in experiments.
It’s a reductive course of that utilises an answer consisting of 95 per cent water and 5 per cent alkali salts to interrupt down natural matter into its elementary elements. No stress is used all through the method, nor does it contain the usage of acids or melting of pets; as acids are corrosive and flames are oxidative.
A standard false impression is that the chemical salts used are the first aspect driving the method, however in actuality, the constant light circulation of heat water performs a vital function. That is based mostly on the idea of collision, the place molecules break up aside.
The ensuing “used water” from aqua cremation, just like decomposition, incorporates amino acids, salts, and peptides.
“In some international locations, this water is repurposed and returned to the earth, permitting for its reabsorption as vitality in alignment with nature’s supposed course of – a reductive strategy just like burial,” Yang defined.
Moreover, aquamation considerably reduces the time required in comparison with conventional burial, taking solely a day as a substitute of the 5 to 25 years that burial can take to attain.
It’s a reductive course of that utilises an answer consisting of 95 per cent water and 5 p.c alkali salts to interrupt down natural matter into its elementary elements. No stress is used all through the method, nor does it contain the usage of acids or melting of pets; as acids are corrosive and flames are oxidative.
A standard false impression is that the chemical salts used are the first aspect driving the method, however in actuality, the constant light circulation of heat water performs a vital function. That is based mostly on the idea of collision, the place molecules break up aside.
However how does aquamation evaluate to fireside cremation?
In Singapore alone, conventional flame-based cremation produces a whopping 5,017,500kg of greenhouse emissions from simply canines in Singapore. To place issues in perspective, if all 27,950 human deaths in 2020 had been creamated, the whole greenhouse emissions would quantity to 7,630,350kg.
Sustainable advantages apart, it takes 18 to 24 hours to place an animal carcass via aquamation in contrast with cremation, which takes two to 4 hours.
“Some individuals could not like the concept that it takes this lengthy, however some admire the additional time for them to replicate and modify psychologically via the troublesome interval,” Yang stated.
Aquamation can value as much as nearly a thousand {dollars}
Aquamation additionally comes with a hefty price ticket because of the know-how used in addition to the therapy and disposal of effluent, or the leftover liquid, after aquamation.
At the moment, The Inexperienced Mortician costs S$577 to S$977 (US$430 to US$730) for a full-service package deal relying on the dimensions of the pet. This contains accumulating the pet carcass, holding a memorial service, conducting an aquamation, and returning the ashes in an urn to the homeowners.
Yang hopes that in time, the used water will be repurposed as liquid fertiliser for plant nurseries, which can make the method extra sustainable. This might additionally decrease the fee barrier for individuals to choose this eco-friendly choice.
“Though some international locations face the difficulty of (repurposing the used water), we don’t foresee such issues occurring in Singapore as a consequence of its fixed adoption of modern applied sciences,” he stated.
One other main barrier to popularising aquamation is altering the mindsets of individuals. Some are pushed by faith, whereas others have merely been used to flame-based cremation being the one choice for many years; so accepting this new different could take time.
Nonetheless, Yang shared that there’s nonetheless hope as aquamation know-how nonetheless permits individuals to obtain the remaining bones and ashes, just like flame-based crematorium.
We’re all born out of water, our bodies of any dwelling organism consisting primarily of water. With Aqua Cremation, we now have the choice to return to the earth as per the cycle of life, our parts reabsorbed as nature supposed.
– Yang Bathroom, co-founder of The Inexperienced Mortician
Aquamation to cremate human our bodies subsequent?
One in all The Inexperienced Mortician’s prime priorities now’s guaranteeing that the water utilized in aquamation is repurposed or successfully utilised. To that finish, Yang and Joe are actively looking for alternatives, networks, and partnerships that may assist them obtain this aim.
“That is at the moment prime of our agenda, and we’re actively looking for any help, recommendation or collaboration from organisations, people, and businesses to take this course of ahead to full circularity. This aligns with our dedication to zero waste and the setting,” Yang stated.
The duo can also be exploring alternatives with agricultural industries, notably plant nurseries, and farms that utilise hydroponic programs. Finally, they wish to use the know-how to cremate human our bodies within the foreseeable future, as soon as the method has gained broader acceptance in Singapore.
Whereas aquamation could also be a game-changer in eco-friendly cremation, it stays to be seen if The Inexperienced Mortician will probably be right here to remain.
As a result of novelty of aquamation know-how, the corporate is at the moment on a three-year approval interval. The authorities will then overview what it has performed earlier than figuring out if it may possibly proceed working.
In the meantime, the duo finally wish to use the know-how to cremate human our bodies within the foreseeable future, as soon as the method has gained broader acceptance in Singapore.
We’re assured that aqua cremation represents the long run for Singapore when it comes to know-how, sustainable practices and land conservation; all of which align with the altering wants of Singapore and our society.
– Yang Bathroom, co-founder of The Inexperienced Mortician
Featured Picture Credit score: The Inexperienced Mortician
