What is aquamation? The green alternative to cremation chosen by Desmond Tutu
CNN
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, long a champion of environmental causes, asked to be aquamated -- a more eco-friendly process of breaking down the body than traditional cremation.
At his request, the Nobel Peace Prize winner's body underwent aquamation -- considered to be a greener alternative to cremation -- South Africa's Anglican Church confirmed to CNN on Saturday.
Aquamation is a water-based process whose scientific name is "alkaline hydrolysis", in which a "combination of gentle water flow, temperature, and alkalinity are used to accelerate the breakdown of organic materials" when a body is laid to rest in soil, according to Bio-Response Solutions, a US company which specializes in the process.
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