Eco-Friendly Cremation: Aquamation, Human Composting and Greener Flame Cremation

Flame cremation burns fossil fuels, so if you want a greener choice, look at aquamation or human composting. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) says aquamation, also called alkaline hydrolysis, has a lower carbon footprint than flame cremation and burial. Both options are available only in some states, and both usually cost more than direct flame cremation.

Is cremation eco-friendly?

Not in the Green Burial Council's view. The GBC says cremation burns fossil fuels, that some older facilities use significantly more energy than newer ones, and that mercury and other metals are emitted when a person with dental amalgam fillings is cremated. CANA says flame cremation usually runs at 1,400 to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, and takes from about 30 minutes to over two hours depending on body size.

That does not make cremation a poor choice, and it has real advantages: no land, no vault and no casket. It means that if the environment is your main reason for choosing, you have better options, and you can still reduce the impact of flame cremation. The GBC says cremation has a lower carbon footprint than conventional lawn-cemetery burial, but still calls it not an environmentally positive option. See our green burial guide and carbon footprint of funerals guide for comparisons.

What are the eco-friendly alternatives to flame cremation?

Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis)

Aquamation uses water, alkaline chemicals and heat to speed up natural decomposition. CANA says the chamber reaches 199 to 302 degrees Fahrenheit and the process takes three to sixteen hours. What remains is bone and a liquid. The bone fragments are dried and ground, and CANA says the process produces about 32% more remains than flame cremation, so you may need a larger urn. CANA says the liquid contains salts, sugars, amino acids and peptides, with no tissue or DNA, and is discharged with other wastewater.

CANA lists 26 states where it is legal as of March 2026, including California, Florida, Illinois and Washington. New York is not on CANA's list. Other sources count the states differently, so check your state. Our guides cover aquamation vs cremation and aquamation costs.

Human composting (natural organic reduction)

Human composting is not cremation. The body is placed in a vessel with organic material such as wood chips, and microbes turn it into soil. Recompose, a Washington provider, says the process takes 8 to 12 weeks and produces about one cubic yard of soil, which families can use to plant, keep, or donate to conservation land.

Washington was the first state to allow it. The Funeral Consumers Alliance counted Georgia as the 13th state in 2025 and New Jersey as the 14th, after its governor signed a law in September 2025. Some laws take effect years after passage, and rules on how the soil may be used can differ by state, so check yours. It is offered by licensed providers, so ask which ones serve your area.

Greener flame cremation

If aquamation or composting is not available or not right for you, these choices lower the impact of flame cremation:

• Choose direct cremation. It skips embalming, a viewing casket and a service at the funeral home. The FTC says no state law requires routine embalming for every death.
• Use a plain container. The FTC says no state or local law requires a casket for cremation, and a funeral home that offers cremation must tell you alternative containers are available. CANA says the container must be completely enclosed, rigid, leak resistant and combustible.
• Ask about equipment and energy. The GBC says newer facilities can use much less energy than older ones. Ask whether the crematory uses recent equipment.
• Choose a nearby provider to cut transport.
• Choose a biodegradable urn if you plan to bury or scatter the remains. See our biodegradable urns guide and guide to scattering ashes in a reef.

How do the options compare?

Prices are from a 2024 survey of 250 Washington funeral homes by People's Memorial Association and are not national averages. Prices in your area will differ, and you should ask for each provider's General Price List. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes must give you one.

Does the Green Burial Council certify these options?

No. The GBC says it does not set standards for flame cremation, aquamation or human composting, and it certifies only the burial of human bodies. So a provider that says "GBC-certified" for these services is not accurate. See our guide to Green Burial Council standards to learn what the certification does cover.

What is the greenest choice?

There is no single answer, because it depends on what you value and what is available. The GBC certifies natural burial rather than cremation, and CANA says aquamation has a lower footprint than flame cremation and burial. Human composting returns soil, but costs more and is not legal everywhere. If you want to be cremated, a direct cremation with a plain container is the simplest way to cut waste and cost. For a side-by-side comparison, our cremation vs burial calculator can help.

What to do next

1. Check which options are legal in your state, then call local funeral homes and crematories to see which they offer.
2. Ask for a written General Price List and a clear description of any "green" or "carbon neutral" claim.
3. Choose a container and urn that fit the method and the final resting place.
4. Write down your wishes and tell your family. Our eco funeral guide covers other low-impact choices.