When a family chooses cremation, it’s rarely just a “method” in the abstract. It’s usually a cluster of hopes and practical needs held together by love: a desire for simplicity, a wish to keep someone close, a budget reality, a religious or cultural preference, or a deeply personal environmental value. In the last few years, those values have expanded the conversation beyond flame-based cremation. More families are now asking about green cremation options—especially alkaline hydrolysis, sometimes marketed as water cremation explained in gentler terms like “aquamation.”
This guide is here for that moment when you’re trying to picture what these newer methods actually mean. How do they work? What do you receive back? How does it compare to flameless cremation vs traditional cremation? And what should you ask a provider so you don’t feel rushed into decisions you don’t fully understand?
Why “greener” cremation is showing up in more funeral conversations
Cremation is now the most common disposition choice in the United States, which is one reason alternatives are gaining visibility. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the U.S. cremation rate is projected to reach 63.4% in 2025 (with burial projected at 31.6%).
As cremation becomes more common, families naturally start asking second-order questions: “How does this affect the environment?” “Are there gentler methods?” “What feels aligned with who they were?” That’s where alkaline hydrolysis enters the picture—not as a trend for trend’s sake, but as an option some people feel better about.
It’s also showing up because funeral planning itself has changed. Many families are blending practical choices (like direct cremation) with meaningful remembrance (like a memorial later, a home display, or a scattering ritual). If you’re trying to hold all of that together, Funeral.com’s How to Plan a Funeral in 7 Steps can help you organize the process without turning it into a checklist you have to “perform” perfectly.
What alkaline hydrolysis is in plain language
What is alkaline hydrolysis? It’s a water-based process that uses a combination of water, an alkaline agent (commonly potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide), heat, and sometimes pressure/agitation to accelerate natural decomposition. The goal is the same as flame cremation—reducing the body to “cremated remains”—but the pathway is different. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) describes alkaline hydrolysis as a process that leaves bone fragments and a sterile liquid byproduct (often called effluent).
If you’ve heard a swirl of marketing terms, you’re not imagining it. CANA notes alkaline hydrolysis may also be called water cremation, flameless cremation, green cremation, aquamation, resomation, and other labels depending on the provider and local regulations.
What many families want to know, though, is simpler than terminology: does it feel respectful? Many people describe it as gentle, partly because it avoids flame and high-temperature combustion. That emotional response matters. Choosing a method isn’t only about chemistry—it’s about whether your heart can rest in the decision.
How it differs from traditional cremation
Traditional cremation relies on high heat to reduce the body, then processes remaining bone fragments into what families recognize as ashes. Alkaline hydrolysis also returns bone-derived remains, but without the same combustion step. The NFDA’s alkaline hydrolysis resource summarizes it as an alternative disposition method using lye and heat rather than flame.
If you want a clear refresher on the flame process itself—especially if you’re comparing options—Funeral.com’s What Happens During Cremation? is a calm, step-by-step explanation.
What families receive back and how the remains may look
One of the most tender fears families carry is: “Will it still be them? Will I recognize what I’m given back?”
With alkaline hydrolysis, the remaining bone fragments are typically rinsed, dried, and then processed into a fine, ash-like powder—similar to what happens after flame cremation. Some families notice the remains can look lighter in color (often described as white or pale) compared with the gray tones many associate with flame cremation, though appearance can vary by individual and provider practices.
In practical terms, families still face familiar “after” questions: what to do with ashes, whether you’ll be keeping ashes at home, or whether you plan scattering, burial, or placement in a niche. If home feels right, Funeral.com’s Keeping Ashes at Home: How to Do It Safely, Respectfully, and Legally is especially grounding for first-time decision-makers.
And yes—your memorial choices still apply. Families choosing alkaline hydrolysis often still select cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, or keepsake urns depending on whether they want one central resting place or a shared set of tributes. If you’re browsing gently, Funeral.com’s Cremation Urns for Ashes collection is a starting point, with smaller options in the Small Cremation Urns for Ashes collection and shareable pieces in the Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes collection.
Environmental impact: what we can say with confidence
It’s easy to find sweeping claims online, and harder to find careful ones. The most honest approach is this: alkaline hydrolysis is widely presented as lower-impact than flame cremation because it avoids combustion and typically uses lower temperatures, but the “how much” depends on equipment, energy sources, wastewater treatment, and local regulations.
A public health evidence review from the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (NCCEH) notes that life cycle assessments comparing disposition methods generally find environmental benefits for alternatives like alkaline hydrolysis, largely because they avoid or reduce some of the chemicals, energy use, and materials associated with conventional methods.
Families also ask about emissions related to mercury from dental amalgam. While the science and regulation around mercury emissions is complex and varies by jurisdiction, mercury from dental amalgam is recognized as an environmental concern in general by authorities like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If environmental impact is central to your decision, it’s reasonable to ask a provider how their method addresses emissions concerns and what local rules require.
It’s also okay to hold two truths at once: you can care deeply about sustainability and still choose the option that’s available, affordable, and emotionally bearable in your community. “Green” choices are still choices made by humans under stress.
Legal status and availability: why it varies so much
If you’ve searched “states that allow water cremation” and found conflicting answers, you’re not alone. The legal landscape changes as states update definitions of cremation and disposition, and the practical landscape changes separately—because even if it’s legal, facilities may not exist nearby.
CANA emphasizes that approved terminology and regulation differ by state and province, which is part of why the same process may be labeled differently in law. For families trying to confirm availability quickly, a regularly updated tracker like Earth Funeral’s “Where alkaline hydrolysis is legal” resource can be a helpful starting point—but you should still verify directly with a licensed funeral home in your area before making plans, because laws and implementation can change: Earth Funeral tracker.
If you’re in the early stage of funeral planning, one practical move is to treat alkaline hydrolysis like a “preferred option,” not a guarantee, until you confirm: (1) it’s legal in your state, (2) a provider can actually perform it (or transport to a facility that can), and (3) your timeline and budget can support it.
Cost comparisons: what families typically want to know
Many families arrive at this question already carrying financial stress. So here’s the calm truth: alkaline hydrolysis is sometimes priced similarly to flame cremation, and sometimes higher—often because the equipment is specialized and not as widely available.
Rather than anchor you to a single national number (which can mislead), it can help to compare the structure of the bill: transportation, permits, facility fees, and whether you’re selecting direct disposition or pairing it with a service. Funeral.com’s guide on how much does cremation cost—How Much Does Cremation Cost? Average Prices and Budget-Friendly Options—walks through typical cost ranges and explains where add-ons do (and do not) change the total.
If you’re choosing between options, ask for an itemized estimate in writing and compare like with like. A “lower” price can quietly exclude essentials, and a “higher” price may include transportation or a memorial package that matters to your family.
Questions to ask providers (so you feel informed, not sold to)
This is one of the rare moments where a short list truly helps—because the same questions come up again and again, and it’s easy to forget them when you’re tired.
- What term does your state use legally for this process, and is it fully permitted here right now?
- Is the process performed on-site, or will my loved one be transported to another facility?
- How are the remains returned to the family, and about how much should we expect back?
- What is included in your quoted price, and what commonly increases the cost?
- How is the water byproduct handled in compliance with local regulations?
- Can we still hold a viewing, funeral, or memorial service (before or after), and what timeline do you recommend?
If you’re planning a memorial service around cremation—water-based or flame-based—Funeral.com’s Cremation FAQs and What to Expect at a Cremation Service can make the “what happens next” feel less mysterious.
Memorial choices after alkaline hydrolysis: urns, jewelry, and water rituals
After any cremation method, many families discover the real work isn’t administrative—it’s emotional. The remains become a bridge between “they’re gone” and “they’re still part of us.” That’s why memorial choices can matter so much, even when you want to keep things simple.
Some families want one central resting place at home. Others prefer to share—especially in blended families, across long distances, or when different relatives grieve differently. That’s where keepsake urns and small cremation urns can be especially gentle: one main urn, plus a few smaller pieces so no one feels left out of remembrance. You can browse those options through Funeral.com’s Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes and Small Cremation Urns for Ashes collections.
For others, wearing a small portion feels more comforting than placing an urn on a shelf. Cremation jewelry isn’t for everyone, but for some people, it’s a steadying touchpoint in everyday life—especially in the early months when grief can ambush you in grocery store aisles and parking lots. If that resonates, you can explore Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry collection and Cremation Necklaces, and read Cremation Jewelry 101 for a practical explanation of how it works and who it tends to fit best.
And if your heart is drawn to a water-centered ritual, it’s worth noting the important distinction: alkaline hydrolysis is sometimes called “water cremation,” but that’s different from a water burial ceremony or scattering at sea. If you’re considering a shoreline goodbye, Funeral.com’s Understanding What Happens During a Water Burial Ceremony can help you plan something lawful and peaceful, including the use of biodegradable urns.
A note for pet families
Families who choose newer disposition options for humans often ask about pets too—because love is love, and environmental values often extend to animal companions. If you’re memorializing a pet, Funeral.com’s Pet Cremation Urns for Ashes and pet urns for ashes options include artistic pieces like Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes and shareable Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes. For wearable tributes, there’s also Pet Cremation Jewelry.
Bringing it all back to planning: the “best” choice is the one you can live with
It’s easy to feel like you have to get everything right: the method, the cost, the ceremony, the keepsake, the environmental footprint, the family consensus. In real life, families make one decision at a time, with imperfect information, while grieving. If you’re considering alkaline hydrolysis, you don’t need to have the entire memorial plan finalized on day one. Many families choose the disposition method first, then let the rest unfold—an urn for now, a service when relatives can gather, a scattering or water burial later, perhaps a small pendant for someone who needs closeness.
If you’d like a calm “big picture” walkthrough that connects the practical steps to memorial choices, Funeral.com’s What to Do When a Loved One Dies is a steady companion piece. It keeps the tone human while still being clear about what happens next.
