A review by the Law Commission of England and Wales could clear the way for new funeral practices such as alkaline hydrolysis – sometimes dubbed “water cremation” – and human composting, as the commission proposes reforms to permit their use.

Alkaline hydrolysis involves dissolving a body in a solution of water and alkaline chemicals, using heat and pressure to accelerate the process. The procedure, which lasts between two and 18 hours, breaks down the body into liquid and bone fragments. Any remaining bone and teeth are then pulverised, with the liquid byproduct typically disposed of via the sewer system.

These alternative methods were first proposed in 2023. However, implementation stalled due to unresolved regulatory barriers. The Law Commission now states that the lack of a clear legal framework has effectively rendered such practices unviable.

Co-op Funeralcare, one of the UK’s largest funeral providers, welcomed the Law Commission’s consultation. A spokesperson said: “At Co-op Funeralcare, we are committed to serving the needs of our member-owners and clients and offering the most sustainable and affordable services.

“In 2023, we announced our ambition to pilot Resomation in the UK, and we subsequently worked closely with the government to explore the regulatory requirements to introduce this service across the nation. However, we did not proceed with this as, at the time, we were unable to find a path through the current regulatory framework.

“We welcome The Law Commission’s review and encourage exploration into alternative methods that provide consumers with greater choice and deliver environmental benefits.”

The Law Commission’s consultation paper suggests amending existing legislation to permit new funeral methods, establish regulatory standards, and introduce new criminal offences for improper or unauthorised use.

Dr Lian Lundy, a wastewater expert at Middlesex University, said concerns about environmental impact may be overstated. “We collected the wastewater and analysed it for the sort of parameters used for trade effluent and all the pollutants that we looked at fell well within the range of values they would accept,” she said.

“From a technical perspective, for the parameters we looked at, it wasn’t an issue. From a water quality perspective, our study didn’t indicate there were any issues with discharging to sewer.”