Scotland becomes first UK country to legalise water cremations
Scotland has become the first part of the UK to legalise hydrolysis, an environmentally friendly alternative to cremation or burial, reflecting increasing demand for more sustainable funeral arrangements.Also known as water cremation or aquamation, the process is already available in many parts of the world, and regulations approved by the Scottish parliament on Monday mark the most significant change to funeral law since cremation was introduced in 1902.Replicating the natural process of decomposition that occurs after burial, but over a much shorter period of time, hydrolysis uses a strong alkaline solution to break down the body of the deceased person.The body is immersed in water and 5% alkaline, such as potassium hydroxide, for three to four hours in a pressurised metal cylinder and heated to about 150C (300F).This dissolves the body tissue, leaving only bones, which are then dried and pulverised into white dust.
This is placed in an urn and relatives can choose to keep, scatter or bury it just as they would with traditional ashes from a fire cremation.The Scottish government’s public health minister, Jenni Minto, said: “The choices people make about their remains prior to death are deeply personal, shaped by individual values, beliefs and the wishes of their families.“Hydrolysis offers a new, environmentally friendly alternative to burial or cremation, responding to significant public support for greater choice, and it will be the first new option available for over 120 years.”Minto stressed that the new process would be subject to the same regulatory requirements as existing methods.Kindly Earth, which holds exclusive rights to manufacture hydrolysis equipment in the UK, said it could take up to nine months before the first Scottish facility was operational, as a funeral director would need to secure planning permission as well as a permit from the local water authority.
Describing it as a historic moment for the funeral sector in Scotland, the company’s general manager, Helen Chandler, said: “We know that not everyone will choose hydrolysis – and that’s the point.It’s about giving families more choice.Each family has different values and priorities.Some people, particularly those planning ahead for their own funeral, are looking for options that feel more aligned to their own preferences.”Hydrolysis is already legal in 28 US states, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu chose water cremation for his funeral in 2022.Kindly Earth says families choosing hydrolysis do so because it feels a gentler and less environmentally impactful alternative.The process produces no direct toxic emissions to air and there is also potential to reduce the use of single-use coffins, as one is not required for hydrolysis.Elsewhere in the UK, the Law Commission in England and Wales is considering a regulatory framework for new funerary methods, including hydrolysis and human composting.Andrew Purves, the chief operations officer of William Purves Funeral Directors, an independent Scottish funeral firm that has been part of the working group advising the Scottish government, said families he worked with were increasingly interested in the sustainability of funerals.
“We’re all aware of the environmental impact we have in our lives, and spend a lot of time choosing what we recycle and so on, so it’s only right that people should be able to consider that for their funeral too.”Purves points out that over 100 years ago when cremation was introduced, public opinion was divided, with some advocates and critics who thought it was abhorrent.But now cremations account for almost 80% of UK funerals, according to the Cremation Society.“With something different and new, people are always going to be sceptical and they may not even know what it is yet.But cremation has become very accepted in the UK and I expect the same thing will happen with hydrolysis as we accept it as a society.
”
Inside Cadillac’s F1 journey: ‘Our Silverstone shakedown was a miracle’
Formula One’s newest team join the grid having designed a car from scratch in only 12 months with the aim of becoming a championship-winning forceWhen the new Formula One season begins on Sunday in the usual fever of excitement and anticipation, consider amid the maelstrom the Cadillac team. Before the lights go out in Melbourne, F1’s newest entrant will have a deserved chance to take a breath and savour for but a moment, their remarkable achievement of simply having made it to the grid.The US team backed by General Motors has been built, aside from those involved in the pre‑planning, from scratch in what will be a year and a day since its entry was formally approved. As their team principal, Graeme Lowdon, explained, that process had begun in an empty room with a screwdriver and an A4 sheet of paper.While Audi are also new entrants, they have taken over the extant Sauber team; Cadillac are the first new constructor to enter as a startup since Haas joined a decade ago
AFL 2026 predicted ladder part three: Brisbane’s best may be yet to come
“It’s definitely not ideal, is it?” Darcy Fogarty said in the days following Izak Rankine’s homophobic slur. And no, it wasn’t. It wasn’t ideal for his AFLW colleagues. It wasn’t ideal for the people running things. It wasn’t ideal for Rankine himself
Sam Curran insists India T20 World Cup semi-final holds ‘no fear’ for England
England have pledged to go into Thursday’s T20 World Cup semi-final against India with no fear, with Sam Curran describing the fixture as “a dream” and “a brilliant opportunity” about which they are feeling “hugely confident”.On the face of it the challenge England face is daunting. Though they won all three games in the Super 8 stage to ease into the semi-finals those matches were played in Sri Lanka, where they now have a 100% record in six outings this year. They have since returned to Mumbai, where they were so nearly beaten by Nepal in their tournament opener and then actually beaten by West Indies, and where they can expect nothing but hostility from a sold-out crowd of 33,000.Though scoring rates here in this tournament have been relatively modest, across the last three seasons of the Indian Premier League the Wankhede has been the competition’s highest-scoring ground, with an average of 9
The Breakdown | Again we dare to wonder if this is Italy’s time – because England’s confidence looks shot
Italy matched France physically and, while England have never lost to the Azzurri, Saturday is a Six Nations chance as good as any for the hostsItaly and England. On level points in the Six Nations table. Two rounds to go. And England have already played their Wales joker.All in all, there is quite a lot riding on the fixture in Rome on Saturday, especially if you are interested in the lower reaches of the Six Nations table, a purgatory with which even England are quite familiar
NFL offseason storylines: Pro Bowler trades, the draft and some big quarterback moves
After the league gathered for the combine, we look at the plots that will dominate the news cycle in the coming weeks and monthsBarring a gas mask situation, we know who will be the No 1 overall pick in the draft. The Raiders need a viable long-term solution at quarterback after Geno Smith flamed out last year. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner and national champion, is the top quarterback on the board and will be the first named called on 23 April. After Mendoza, the real intrigue begins.The Jets hold the second pick
Luke Kornet says Atlanta Hawks’ theme night with strip club Magic City objectifies women
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet has called on the Atlanta Hawks to abandon their collaboration with a famous strip club.Magic City is an Atlanta institution and been mentioned in a string of hip-hop records, and has hosted rappers such as Drake, Lil Yachty, Migos, Jack Harlow and Future. It is also popular with athletes: past visitors have included Michael Jordan, and MLS’s Atlanta United celebrated their title at the club in 2018. Magic City gained widespread attention in 2020 when the Los Angeles Clippers’ Lou Williams visited the club after leaving the NBA’s quarantine bubble during the Covid-19 pandemic.The Hawks recently announced a theme night with Magic City for their game against Orlando Magic on 16 March
UK firms in Middle East face heightened threat from Iran hackers, agency warns
US military reportedly used Claude in Iran strikes despite Trump’s ban
Datacentre developers face calls to disclose effect on UK’s net emissions
OpenAI to work with Pentagon after Anthropic dropped by Trump over company’s ethics concerns
Her husband wanted to use ChatGPT to create sustainable housing. Then it took over his life.
Suicide forum found to be in breach of Online Safety Act after failing to block UK users