Desmond Tutu, South Africa's first black archbishop, has died at the age of 90. He was buried by aquamation process. The news of Tutu's death was delivered directly by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. One of the highlights is that Tutu's burial process was carried out by aquamation. This process was Tutu's request before his death because it was considered a more environmentally friendly way than ordinary cremation.
However, what is aquamation?
Aquamation is a cremation process without fire, but water based. The scientific name for this process is alkaline hydrolysis, in which a combination of gentle water flow, temperature, and alkalinity is used to speed up the breakdown of organic matter when the body is resting in the soil. The aquamation process is said to use 90 percent less energy than cremation by fire. Even Bio-Response Solutions, a US company that specializes in the process, says aquamation does not emit harmful greenhouse gases. The North American Cremation Association (CANA) says alkaline hydrolysis or aquamation is also sometimes referred to as fireless cremation. When this process is done, the body will be placed in an alkaline hydrolysis machine which consists of an airtight chamber and is filled with a solution made of water and alkaline chemicals. The room was then heated, melting the body and leaving only the bones. After the shin, the smoothing process can be carried out.
"This process produces about 32 percent more cremation residue than fire-based cremation and may require larger urns," according to CANA.
Tutu, who is also a Nobel Peace Prize winner, is known to love the environment. During his lifetime he made many speeches and wrote articles on the need to act to address the climate crisis. In 2007, he wrote an article entitled "This Fatal Complacency" for the Guardian, in which he discussed the alarming effects of climate change on the Global South and on poor communities, as much of North America and Europe are yet to face extreme weather. Apart from calling for an eco-friendly alternative to his body cremation, Tutu also took other steps to ensure his funeral was held as simple as his lifestyle. Tutu's body was laid in a simple pine coffin, which became the cheapest coffin in the funeral procession. This was also done according to Tutu's wishes during his lifetime.
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