Instead of incineration, the body is subjected to treatment in hot, alkaline water.
On March 2, 2026, the Scottish Government officially recognized alkaline hydrolysis—an environmentally friendly substitute for conventional cremation.
Initially, the deceased is placed within a biodegradable shroud, crafted from silk or wool, and then moved into a chamber containing heated water and an alkali to speed up the natural decomposition process. This operation takes merely three to four hours. The endpoint is a sterile residue, which is then presented to the family in an urn, much like the outcome of standard cremation. Water cremation slashes CO₂ (carbon dioxide) emissions by 90% compared to flame-based methods and requires zero fuel input.
Scotland’s Health Secretary, Jenny Minto, stressed that selecting a method for farewell is an intensely personal choice.
The initial instances of water-based disposition procedures are slated for the summer of 2025. Scotland has established itself as a trailblazer: this marks the first new burial modality introduced in the United Kingdom in over 120 years.
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