“These regulations, if passed by parliament, will give an option for people interested in alternatives to burial or cremation for the first time in more than 100 years.”
Scots could receive water cremations when they die next year – in the first new funeral process for a century. Proposals for hydrolysis have been put forward by the Scottish Government.
Plans have been unveiled to introduce the first new option for what happens to your body after death since 1902 by SNP ministers. Hydrolysis, which is also known as a water cremation, is set to be introduced under draft regulations put forward in the Scottish Parliament.
This comes after a government consultation in 2023 found that 84 percent of Scots supported the idea. This process would see the body wrapped in a silk or woollen shroud (or another biodegradable material) and then placed in a chamber with hot water and chemicals to speed up decomposition.
The remains would then be returned to the next of kin, similar to a family receiving a loved one’s ashes after a cremation. International evidence suggests hydrolysis is more sustainable than traditional cremations, which typically use large amounts of natural gas.
If it is approved, it will be one of the biggest changes to how bodies are handled after death in more than a century.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “We are introducing these regulations today following extensive consultation which has shown significant public support for the introduction of new, environmentally-friendly alternatives to burial or cremation.
“This included hydrolysis – which is already in use in some countries including Ireland, Canada and the USA.”
She added: “These regulations, if passed by parliament, will give an option for people interested in alternatives to burial or cremation for the first time in more than 100 years.
“We are not suggesting hydrolysis replaces or displaces traditional methods of burial or cremation in any way.
“It is a matter of individual choice, but it is important that we ensure bereaved families and friends can have confidence in the care and dignity given to their loved ones when they pass.”
Water cremations use about a quarter of the energy of a traditional cremation and produce less carbon dioxide and other pollutants. The concept dates back to the 19th century.
Ireland became the first EU country to introduce hydrolysis in 2023. The Scottish Government believes the first water cremations will take place in 2026.
