In the February 15 issue of the daily newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, there is an article called "Freeze-drying new form of burial" (the link goes to SvD's Swedish article). promessa.se here provides an English translation:
Freeze-drying new form of burial
The Swedish government wants to try freeze-drying as an ecological alternative to casket burial and cremation. A set of trials will not require a change in legislation, according to cabinet minister Lena Hallengren.
With that, the world's first promatorium can be opened in Jönköping by next year. For the first time since cremation was introduced around the last turn of the century, a new alternative to casket burial is being discussed: freeze-drying. Or, to use a more elegant word: promession.
Four deceased Swedish citizens are already lying in wait,
frozen, for the method to be made available. The parish offices all over the
country are receiving a torrent of expressions of interest from
citizens.
— Promession is as close to the original plan of Nature as one gets,
says biologist Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak, who originated the idea whilst tending
her compost for her ecological garden on Orust.
In the closed process developed by Aga Gas, the amalgam fillings are
mechanically taken care of, thus solving a difficult environmental problem:
the exhaust gases of mercury from the crematoria.
The first who want to realise Susanne Wiigh-Mäsaks patented idea are the
parish of Jönköping. Before long, the county administrative board will take
a position on how the environmental examination shall be carried out of the
planned promatorium at Skogskyrkogården. After that, the city architect
Lennart Angselius deems that he will be able to provide a technical
description of the installation.
— At best, we will have a decision during 2005 and start the
construction work during 2006. We really believe in this. It is clearly the
environmentally better solution, but still more important is that one comes
so close to the words of the Scripture: "earth to earth; dust to dust", says
Lennart Angselius, and he adds:
— Already after six to 12 months you are back in circulation.
But the freeze-drying has run into opposition. The boards of both Fonus (the
largest undertaker company in Sweden) and the Swedish Undertakers'
Association (SUA), SUA believe that there are ethical and environmental
doubts.
After being asked in the Parliament, Lena Hallengren now interferes with
the debate.
— So far, I'm having very positive feelings towards the trials in
Jönköping, and will follow the developments closely, says Lena Hallengren to
SvD.
With this new technology, she says, there are "clearly environmentally
sensible advantages".
— Vi have looked at the legal aspects, and there is room for a trial
programme within Swedish legislation. But there are also ethical aspects and
some legal, and if this later will be used in a large scale, another
discussion is required and we will have to look at it then.
Meanwhile, Lena Hallengren hopes that also other parishes follow the
developments in Jönköping.
— Nothing prevents other parishes from initiating more trial
programmes.
The Employers' Association of Parishes of the Swedish Church have become
economically involved and supported the introduction of the new
freeze-drying method.
About 30 of the 69 crematoria in Sweden do not live up to today's
environmental requirements and will have to make vast investments in new
technology.
— So there is a pressure to realise this new alternative. There is also
a very large interest from the public and it is a fantastic thing if we can
be a part in evolving the funeral tradition, says Göran Jakobsson, cemetary
advisor for the Parish Association.
Facts
Cremation:
- became accepted in early 20th century after polluted water from the city cemetaries had spoiled the groundwater.
- Promession, or ecological funeral: freeze-drying can be the solution to the problems with mercury pollution. The crematoria stand for at least a fifth of the exhaust gases in Sweden.
How freeze-drying is done:
- The deceased is placed in a casket made from maize starch or potato starch, and is speedily frozen to 196 degrees Celcius below zero in liquid nitrogen.
- By this treatment, the cody becomes very brittle and spontaneously decomposes at a light vibration into a fine organic powder, which is subsequently steamed in a vacuum chamber.
- What then remains is about 30 kilos of freeze-dried powder, which in the next step is buried at 40 centimeters' depth in a cemetary. There it will quickly be broken down by the worms and microbes of the earth, and becomes nutrition for the plants which relatives can have planted on the ground above.
HENRIK ENNART
Reporter
henrik.ennart@svd.se
+ 46 8 135629
