What are ‘Deep Freeze’ Funerals?

Posted: 23/01/2018

‘Deep Freeze’ funerals may become available to UK citizens who are looking for ‘greener’ forms of disposition following their passing. Sevenoaks District Council in Kent is considering opening a ‘green’ crematorium which administers Cryomation.

How Does Cryomation Work?

Cryomation works by freezing dead bodies in pure liquid nitrogen until they reach -196C and then using a machine to pulverise the crystallised form into powder.

As with normal cremation, any metals (such as fillings and pins from medical procedures) are removed from the powdered remains.

The process is undertaken by a machine named The Cryomator, which is automated and, as such, requires no human intervention after the coffin has been loaded into it. A Cryomator with a single Freeze Drying unit will dispose of up to 6 bodies a day, but more than one Freeze Drying unit can be added to the machine in order to increase this number.

How is Cryomation Better for the Environment?

Cryomation is championed as a far greener means of bodily disposition than flame-based cremation due to the reduction of fossil fuel usage. The benefits include:

Significant CO2 reduction by replacing incineration
Significant CO2 reduction by reduction of fossil fuels used in cremation
No Mercury pollution
Significant reduction in burial land requirements
Complete reduction of toxic effluents caused by traditional burial
Allows drilled graves with significant reduction to plant root damage
Cryomation remains completely decompose but put back valuable lifecycle organic material
Increased Biosecurity by eradicating bacteria and viruses.
Use reusable coffins which cuts down wood requirements and MDF pollution
Allow landmark burial removing the need for stone or metal monuments
Require significantly less maintenance than Cremators or graveyards reducing long-term carbon footprints

(Source: IRTL)

Despite the clear economic benefits of Cryomation, it has been reported that Anthony Kilmister, president of the Church of England’s Anglican Association, stated in response to the innovation: ‘This sounds a grotesque way to treat the dead. I hope these proposals don’t become regular practice. They are very undignified.’

Incinerator Replacement Technology Ltd (IRTL) also claims that ‘Cryomation returns 100% of the body to the family compared with 2.5% in cremation’, and that it ‘remains could be mixed with soil in a large plant pot to support a legacy plant and complete the circle of life’.

If you are considering Cryomation, or are looking to make arrangements for a funeral, consider a prepaid funeral plan to access services that are frozen at today’s prices. Contact us here.