The body of Nobel Peace Prize winning Anglican Archbishop and anti-apartheid campaigner Desmond Tutu (7 October, 1931 - 26 December, 2021) underwent aquamation, a green alternative to traditional cremation methods, in Cape Town, South Africa on January 2, 2022. Family, friends and politicians gathered at St. George's Cathedral as Tutu was given a state funeral. In keeping with his wishes, his body underwent alkaline hydrolysis instead of traditional cremation methods being followed.

Aquamation, or Alkaline hydrolysis, is a process in which the body of the deceased is immersed for a few hours in a mixture of water and a strong alkali in a pressurized metal cylinder and heated to around 150 degree centigrade. The combination gentle water flow, temperature and alkalinity accentuate the breakdown of the organic materials, according to Bio- Response Solutions, a US company which specializes in the process. The company's website says the process "uses 90% less energy than flame cremation and doesn't emit any harmful greenhouse gases."

The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) considered this "flameless cremation" as eco- friendly way to dispose of a body. This process is also known as water cremation, green cremation or chemical cremation. There is no tissue and no DNA (heredity materials) left after the process completes. This effluent is discharged with all other wastewater, and is a welcome addition to the water systems.

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