Page B9 MAY 2023 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Section B www.vischerfuneralsupplies.com FIND A SUPPLIER OR BECOME A MEMBER AT WWW.IMSA-ONLINE.ORG JOIN THE MOST TRUSTED Marketing initiatives that promote IMSA members RESOURCE OF FUNERAL AND CEMETERY SUPPLIER COMPANIES Funeral & Cemetery Association Savings A Press Release Service Exclusively for You A Code of Ethics to differentiate IMSA Suppliers MEMBER BENEFITS Visit IMSA Member Firms throughout the Exhibit Hall Booth 1540 An update on Alkaline Hydrolysis in the US, around the World and Why it will continue to Grow The Resomator Water Cremation System at Bradshaw Funeral and Cremation Services, a family-owned and operated business they were the first funeral home in Minnesota to offer the service calling it Green Cremation™. growing interest in greener ‘deathcare’ choices, it’s reasonable to think they may have more success this time around. Republican senators in Pennsylvania have introduced a bill to make water cremation legal which has been referred to the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for consideration. In Texas the Democrats are proposing to amend the definition of cremation in state law to include water cremation. It feels like each month we are seeing activity on water cremation legislation. Three states passed legislation in 2022, Hawaii, Maryland, Arizona and we expect more states to pass legislation in 2023. If the bills are passed, they will join 27 other US states who have either legalized or are active practitioners of alkaline hydrolysis, which means soon, a majority of states will have legalized the practice of water cremation. With alternative methods such as human composting also now legal in six states, the industry is responding to greener, more eco-friendly alternative end-oflife choices. The status of Resomation in Europe and Australia In Europe, the buzz for Resomation is being well and truly felt. At recent events across Europe, attendees were “overwhelmed and enthusiastic” at the prospect of this sustainable end of life option being offered in their country. The most frequently asked question was “when will this be possible in my country?” In England, the British public will soon be able to choose Resomation for the first time as the first Resomation facility by Kindly Earth is expected to open later this year. Ireland too is very much in the race to become one of the first countries in Europe to offer Resomation to the public. Pure Reflections in County Meath is due to open this year, 2023, offering Resomation services to all in partnership with local funeral directors. After being delayed due to the pandemic, 2024 is set to be the year that Resomation is expected to be legalized in the Netherlands. In Norway, the Funeral Act was amended in 2022 to allow regional administrations to apply to the Ministry of Children and Families for trialing Resomation’s technology and momentum is also building in Finland. Resomation is currently legal in parts of Australia - New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and it was a hot topic at the Redesigning Deathcare Conference at the University of Melbourne, Australia, at the end of October 2022. In New Zealand the funeral reform package is expected to go through parliament over the next year paving the way for water cremation to become another option for families there. Reasons why alkaline hydrolysis will continue to grow Real enthusiasm is evident for Resomation across the globe. There is a growing curiosity from those in the industry and growing interest from families. According to NFDA’s 2022 cremation and burial report, 60.5% would be interested in exploring “green” funeral options because of their potential environmental benefits, cost savings or for some other reason, up from 55.7% in 2021. One of the reasons we believe Resomation will continue to grow in popularity is Now is the PERFECT TIME to order the PERFECT GIFTS Customization Available! Call for Details “I Love My Cemeterian” “I Love My Funeral Director” Order Online at www.NomisPublications.com or call 1-800-321-7479 Continued from Page A31 the growing concern over the high energy consumption of cremation by fire. Once people learn that the alkaline hydrolysis process provides the same result as traditional cremation without the greenhouse gas emissions many get on board with it as an end-of-life option. It’s also considered to be gentler than cremation, which some people prefer. There has been a notable uplift in interest and acceptance of Resomation following Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s request for it at the end of his life in 2022. His choice brought international attention to the water cremation process, and got even more people interested in the idea of using water instead of flame to reduce the body to ash. Natural water cremation offers funeral homes, crematories, and cemeteries an opportunity to differentiate themselves, reach new families and expand their service offering, bringing additional revenue streams for business. 2022 saw Resomation gain momentum in America and around the globe. With three further states legalizing alkaline hydrolysis last year, two more under consideration and interest growing in other environmentally friendly end of life options, 2023 has the foundations to become a game changer of a year. Resomation Limited (www.resomation. com), established in 2007, is a company dedicated to the global introduction of a sustainable alternative to burial and flame cremation. Nicki Mikolai is Sales Manager for United States and Canada at Resomation America. Nicki has been a licensed funeral director in Minnesota for over 25 years and joined the Resomation team in 2018. Contact Nicki at nickimikolai@resomationamerica. com to start a conversation or visit her at booth 1540 during the upcoming ICCFA convention in Kansas City this month. www.nomispublications.com
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