Eco-Friendly Burial Option: Water Cremation

In a quiet Baltimore funeral home, a new era in eco-friendly farewells is unfolding as Maryland embraces "water cremation"—a process that dissolves bodies in chemical baths rather than flames. The Washington Post reports that Maryland has joined a growing list of states offering the process, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, as a legal alternative for handling human remains. The process dissolves bodies in a chemical solution, leaving only bones and a liquid by-product, and is seen as both gentler and more environmentally conscious than traditional flame-based cremation. The method has gained traction since its debut in the funeral industry in 2011, with more than half of US states now permitting it.

The Joseph H. Brown Jr. Funeral Home in West Baltimore is the first in Maryland to provide the service. Bodies are placed in a silver chamber, where water and chemicals break down organic tissues over several hours. Advocates say water cremation appeals to people seeking a softer, more natural way to say goodbye, as well as those concerned about their environmental footprint. Per Maryland Matters, just one fire-based cremation can send more than 500 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air; WCAX notes that's the equivalent of driving about 600 miles. Water-based cremations, however, don't have airborne emissions to worry about.

In Maryland, the journey to legalization began when individuals like Adrian Gardner, motivated by personal family experiences, partnered with professionals to lobby for change. A 2024 state law paved the way for both alkaline hydrolysis and human composting, aka natural organic reduction. The Baltimore funeral home worked with local authorities to ensure that the chemical by-products could be safely disposed of through the city's sewer system after proper treatment. Despite statewide approval, however, regulations are still being finalized, putting the service in a "legal gray area," per the Post. The cost of setting up a water cremation infrastructure is also keeping some funeral homes in states where it's legal from embracing the process, per WCAX.