Is aquamation really better for the environment? What the evidence shows
On energy and carbon, yes: water cremation is claimed to use about 90%[1] less energy than flame, and every study we found puts its emissions far lower. The honest caveats are that most research measured human bodies, some comes from the industry itself, and the process uses water and produces a liquid that has to be treated.
By the Bio Urns & Eco Memorials editorial team · Updated September 24, 2026 · 5 min read · Sources
- Every carbon figure, with who measured it
- Water use and where the liquid goes
- What pet aquamation costs next to flame
The short answer
Is aquamation better for the environment than flame cremation?
Yes, by the measures that matter most. Aquamation, also called water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis, heats water rather than a brick chamber, so it burns far less fuel and releases far less carbon dioxide. The gap in the studies is large, not marginal. What's weaker is the evidence base: few studies, mostly on people, and not all independent.
90%[1]
Pet aquamation is described as available across all 50 US states, and is claimed to use about 90% less energy than flame cremation.
about 1/10[2]
Alkaline hydrolysis has about a tenth of the carbon footprint of conventional cremation, according to People's Memorial Association's Nora Menkin.
~89%[3]
Water cremation cuts cremation CO2 by about 89% per the Irish provider's figures (245 kg vs 28 kg).
So the fair summary is: very likely much greener on energy and emissions, with a small, manageable water footprint, and worth choosing if a provider is within reach. The rest of this post shows where each number comes from, so you can judge it for yourself. For the wider picture of green aftercare, including burial and bio urns, see our guide to eco-friendly aftercare.
The process
How does aquamation work, and where does its energy go?
Your pet is placed in a stainless steel vessel with water and a strong alkali, usually potassium hydroxide. Pet systems typically run for 12–20 hours at 200°F[4], well below boiling, at normal pressure. Over those hours the soft tissue breaks down into a sterile liquid, leaving only the mineral part of the bones, which is dried and ground into a fine white powder.
Flame cremation, by contrast, holds a chamber at 1,200 °F+[5] and burns natural gas to keep it there. For a human-scale cremation we estimate the gas used at ~264 kWh (thermal)[6]. Heating water to below its boiling point in an insulated tank simply takes much less energy than running a furnace, and many pet units run on electricity, which can come from renewable sources.
The numbers
What do the carbon studies actually say?
| Source | Finding | Measured on | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| TNO life-cycle study, Netherlands (2011) | Flame 79.9 kg CO2e; water -31.8 kg CO2e per body | Humans | Negative figure relies on credits for recycled metals |
| Keijzer research, via BBC (2014) | About seven times less CO2 | Humans | Secondary report of one study |
| People's Memorial Association (2019) | About a tenth of the carbon footprint | Humans | Expert estimate, not a full study |
| Ireland's first water cremation provider (2022) | About 245 kg vs 28 kg of CO2 | Not specified | Provider's own figures |
| Industry research (2023, 2025) | Around 90% less energy | Mixed; includes pet claims | Industry sources |
The most careful work is the Dutch TNO study, which put flame cremation at 79.9 kg CO2e[7] per human body and alkaline hydrolysis at -31.8 kg CO2e[8]. That below-zero number looks too good, and in a sense it is: it counts credits for metals recovered from implants and products avoided downstream. Strip those out and water cremation still comes out far lower, just not negative.
Other figures point the same way. The Irish provider's numbers work out to ~89%[3] less CO2, close to the tenfold difference cited in the US and the 7x less[9] CO2 reported from Keijzer's work, both for human cremation. When several independent-ish estimates cluster, you can trust the direction even if you doubt the decimals.
Scaled to animals
What would the switch mean for pets specifically?
Nobody has published a proper life-cycle study of pet aquamation, so we worked from shelter data. Researchers cited by the Veterinary Sustainability Alliance estimate that cremating the shelter animals cremated each year in the US produces about 19,000 t CO2e[10]. Divided out, that's ~31 kg CO2e per animal[11].
Scaling up to all pet cremations, our rough estimate is that US pet flame cremations emit ~47,000 t CO2e/yr[12]. If just one in ten moved to water cremation, by our estimate ~4,200 t CO2e/yr[13] would be avoided. These are our own low-confidence calculations, labelled as estimates, but they show that the choice isn't trivial across a whole country.
For your own pet, the difference also depends on the provider's equipment and how far your pet travels to reach it. A water cremation two hours away may give back some of its advantage in driving, so check the local pages for your area before assuming the nearest option is flame. How we build estimates like these is explained on our research page.
Water and the liquid
How much water does aquamation use, and where does the liquid go?
Less than people expect. A pet aquamation cycle uses about as much water as 1–3 pet baths[14]. That's real, but modest next to the everyday water use of a household.
The liquid left at the end is sterile and contains amino acids, sugars, salts and soap-like compounds, but no tissue or DNA. In most places it's cooled, its pH adjusted if needed, and released to the sanitary sewer to be treated at the local wastewater plant, under whatever permit the facility holds. Some facilities are exploring using it as a fertilizer. Ask any provider which route theirs takes; a clear answer is a good sign.
The fine print
What are the limits of the evidence?
- Mostly human data. A 40 kg dog or a 4 kg cat changes the ratios, especially for flame units that must reach temperature whatever the load.
- Some sources have a stake. Providers and equipment makers publish many of the energy claims. They may be right, but they aren't neutral.
- Old studies. The strongest life-cycle work dates from 2011 and 2014. Both flame and water equipment has changed since.
- Local electricity matters. A unit powered by a coal-heavy grid saves less carbon than one on clean power.
- Nobody measures the whole journey. Collection, refrigeration and delivery of ashes are rarely included.
None of that flips the answer. It just means the headline percentages are a strong direction, not a precise promise. If a provider quotes a number, it's fair to ask where it came from, as covered in how to test a green claim.
Price and access
Does aquamation cost more, and can you find it near you?
Often it costs about the same. One insurer's US price guide puts aquamation at $80 to $450[17], overlapping flame cremation ranges. At one Delaware provider, private aquamation runs $150–$450[18] by weight, while communal runs $50–$225[19]. We estimate private costs ~2.5×[20] as much as communal at the same provider. For comparison, private dog cremation by flame averages $260[21] nationally.
Finding it is the harder part. Alkaline hydrolysis for people is legal in 26[22] US states according to the Cremation Association of North America, and pet crematories have taken it up more widely than human funeral homes[23]. Still, water cremation and composting together make up only about 0.1%[24] of human dispositions nationally, and many pet owners have never been offered it. The aftercare options comparison weighs it against flame and burial on the points you care about.
If water cremation (aquamation) were offered near you, would you choose it?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Free tool
Aftercare options compared
Compare private, communal and water cremation with burial on cost, timing and what comes home.
If you choose it
What should you ask an aquamation provider?
- Is my pet's cycle private, partitioned or communal, and how are pets kept apart?
- How long until the ashes come back, and in what container?
- Is the unit powered by electricity or gas?
- Where does the liquid go at the end of the cycle?
- Will the ashes work in a biodegradable or tree urn?
Ashes from water cremation go into a planting or water urn just as flame ashes do; soil and water urns compared helps you pick. If you're shaping the whole day around lower impact, planning a green farewell covers the rest. Browse the services we help arrange, or tell us where you are and we'll reply with water cremation providers we can find, alongside flame options so you can compare. See how other readers answered our water cremation question on the poll results page.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
If water cremation (aquamation) were offered near you, would you choose it?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Had you heard of water cremation (aquamation) before today?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
What would you expect to pay for private cremation of a medium-size dog?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
Does aquamation return more ashes than flame cremation?
Often a little more, and they tend to look whiter and finer. Flame cremation burns off some of the bone's organic structure, while water cremation leaves more of the mineral intact. Mention this when choosing an urn, because a container sized exactly for flame ashes may be slightly too small.
Is the liquid from aquamation safe?
It's sterile and doesn't contain tissue or DNA, and it's typically treated alongside other wastewater at a municipal plant. It is strongly alkaline when it leaves the vessel, which is why facilities cool it and may adjust its pH before release. Ask your provider how theirs is handled.
Are aquamation ashes safe to plant in soil?
They behave much like flame ashes: mostly calcium phosphate, strongly alkaline, and they need diluting with compost and soil before planting. Some people find them slightly gentler to work with, but you should still test the pH before a young tree goes in.
Why isn't aquamation offered everywhere yet?
The equipment is expensive, some areas have unclear permitting, and demand has been low simply because few people know about it. Pet providers have moved faster than human funeral homes, but coverage is still patchy, especially in rural areas where the nearest unit may be hours away.
Is aquamation greener for a very small pet like a hamster?
Proportionally, yes. A flame chamber must reach full temperature whatever the size of the animal, while a water unit's energy use scales more gently. For tiny pets, communal cycles or home burial remain even lower-impact options if you don't need ashes back.
Does water cremation feel different emotionally from flame cremation?
For some people it does. Many find the idea of warm water gentler than fire, and that feeling is a perfectly good reason to choose it. Others notice no difference once the ashes are home. Neither reaction is wrong.
Keep reading
Sources and our estimates
- [1] Pet aquamation is described as available across all 50 US states, and is claimed to use about 90% less energy than flame cremation. Be a Tree Cremation pet aquamation guide, 2025.
- [2] Alkaline hydrolysis has about a tenth of the carbon footprint of conventional cremation, according to People's Memorial Association's Nora Menkin. National Geographic — The environmental toll of cremating the dead (2019), 2019.
- [3] Water cremation cuts cremation CO2 by about 89% per the Irish provider's figures (245 kg vs 28 kg). Our estimate: (245 - 28)/245. How we calculate.
- [4] Pet alkaline hydrolysis systems run at about 200°F at atmospheric pressure with a 5% alkaline solution for 12–20 hours. Veterinary Sustainability Alliance — Aquamation, 2024.
- [5] Cremation heats bodies to 1,200 °F or more. National Geographic — The environmental toll of cremating the dead (2019), 2019.
- [6] A human-scale flame cremation burns about 264 kWh of natural-gas energy. Our estimate: 25 m3 natural gas x 10.55 kWh/m3 (typical gross calorific value). How we calculate.
- [7] A TNO life-cycle assessment estimated the global-warming impact of an average cremation at 79.9 kg CO2-equivalent per body. TNO report TNO-060-UT-2011-01432, 'Environmental impact of different funeral technologies' (Keijzer & Kok, 2011), 2011.
- [8] The same TNO assessment put resomation (alkaline hydrolysis) at -31.8 kg CO2e per body, a net negative figure driven by credits for recycled metals and avoided products. TNO report TNO-060-UT-2011-01432, 'Environmental impact of different funeral technologies' (Keijzer & Kok, 2011), 2011.
- [9] Alkaline hydrolysis produces about seven times less CO2 than cremation (Keijzer study, via BBC). Connecting Directors — The Real Impact of Alkaline Hydrolysis (Disposition Eco-Impact, Part 3 of 5), 2014.
- [10] Cremating the roughly 607,000 shelter animals cremated each year would produce about 19,000 metric tons of CO2e. Veterinary Sustainability Alliance — Aquamation, 2024.
- [11] Each shelter-animal flame cremation emits about 31 kg CO2e on average. Our estimate: 19,000 t CO2e / 607,000 animals. How we calculate.
- [12] U.S. pet flame cremations emit on the order of 47,000 t CO2e a year. Our estimate: 1.5M pet cremations x 31.3 kg CO2e. How we calculate.
- [13] If just 10% of U.S. pet cremations moved to aquamation, about 4,200 t CO2e a year would be avoided. Our estimate: 1.5M x 10% x 31.3 kg x 90% reduction. How we calculate.
- [14] Aquamation uses about the same water per pet as 1–3 pet baths. Veterinary Sustainability Alliance — Aquamation, 2024.
- [15] TNO estimated total environmental 'shadow costs' of about €0 per body for resomation, €10 for cryomation, €30 for cremation and €85 for burial. TNO report TNO-060-UT-2011-01432, 'Environmental impact of different funeral technologies' (Keijzer & Kok, 2011), 2011.
- [16] Keijzer's research put the environmental shadow cost of alkaline hydrolysis at €2.59 per body, versus €48.47 for cremation and €63.66 for burial. Connecting Directors — The Real Impact of Alkaline Hydrolysis (Disposition Eco-Impact, Part 3 of 5), 2014.
- [17] Embrace Pet Insurance lists US communal cremation at $30-$200, partitioned at $50-$250, private at $100-$500+ and aquamation at $80-$450. Embrace Pet Insurance - Bury or Cremate Your Dog? Costs, Pros & Cons, 2025.
- [18] Delaware Pet Aquamation charges $150–$450 for private aquamation by weight, from under 10 lb to 150 lb and over, including a standard urn. Delaware Pet Aquamation – Pricing, 2026.
- [19] Communal aquamation at the same Delaware provider costs $50–$225 by weight. Delaware Pet Aquamation – Pricing, 2026.
- [20] Private pet aquamation costs about 2.5 times communal aquamation at the same provider. Our estimate: mean of tier ratios 150/50, 200/75, 250/100, 350/150, 450/225. How we calculate.
- [21] CareCredit's 2025 cost study put the US national average for private dog cremation at $260 (range $206-$473). CareCredit (Synchrony) - How Much Does It Cost To Euthanize a Dog? (2025 ASQ360 procedural cost study), 2025.
- [22] CANA lists alkaline hydrolysis (water cremation) as legal for humans in 26 US states as of March 2026. CANA: Alkaline Hydrolysis, 2026.
- [23] CANA notes pet crematories have adopted alkaline hydrolysis more widely than human funeral providers; about thirty practitioners operate where it is legal. CANA: Alkaline Hydrolysis, 2026.
- [24] Alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction together make up only about 0.1% of US dispositions nationally (about 0.3% in states where they are offered). CANA Annual Statistics Report 2025 (Cremationist Vol.61 No.2), 2024.
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