Bio Cremation: The Future is Now

In California, seven out of ten people choose cremation over the more traditional alternative of embalmment and burial. Cremation is a natural fit for Californians, who tend to favor eco-friendly options in life as well as death. But, while standard cremation is a harsh flame-based process, Bio Cremation is revolutionary because it is quick, efficient and exceedingly environmentally-friendly.

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Breaking Down the Difference Between Traditional Methods & Bio Cremation

Whether a person chooses earth burial, flame cremation or Bio Cremation, the results are identical. The body is eventually reduced to basic elements of bone ash. The major difference between burial, flame cremation and Bio Cremation is the amount of time each process takes as well as the “catalyst” that supports the transition.

• Flame-based cremation is carried out at temperatures ranging from 1400 to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. The catalysts to reduce the body to bones are flame, created by heat, mixed with oxygen.
• Buried bodies decay over a period of 25 years, with soil and micro-organisms as the catalysts used to reduce the body to bones.
  
• Bio Creation is a quiet process that uses water (95 percent) and potassium hydroxide to reduce the body to its basic element of bone ash in 2-3 hours.

Bio Cremation is a Cutting-Edge Process

In use by UCLA in their Willed Body Program, Bio Cremation should soon be approved by the California State Senate, which will make it available to the public. Foothill Funeral & Cremation Service plans to be one of the first funeral homes in California to offer the revolutionary service.

Breaking Down Bio Cremation

Bio Cremation technology uses water, blended with an alkali solution of potassium hydroxide. The body is placed into a pressurized stainless steel cremation chamber where water and alkali are added and the temperature is raised to 350°F. Water, alkali, heat and pressure gently circulate over the body, causing a chemical reaction which begins and eventually completes the cremation process. As with traditional cremation, ashes are returned to the family.

Misconceptions

Myth #1: Acid is used during the Bio Cremation process.

False. Acid is not used during this gentle, water-based process. With Bio Cremation, the only chemical mixed with water is an alkaline called potassium hydroxide, which is a colorless, solid, inorganic compound. In fact, potassium hydroxide is so gentle it is used to blanch olives, and make soft soaps, cleaning supplies and other common household items. Bio Cremation works because of the chemical reaction between potassium hydroxide and water. The resulting heat contributes to the breakdown of human tissue inside of a sealed cremation chamber.

 

Myth #2: The Bio Cremation process “boils” the body.

False. Bio Cremation creates a highly controlled and sophisticated environment that uniquely combines water, alkali, heat and pressure. This process biochemically hydrolyzes the human body, leaving bone fragments. During a typical Bio Cremation cycle, rinsed bone fragments from the body produce the by-product of a sterile fluid.

Quick Overview

• An accelerated version of what happens during natural decomposition, Bio Cremation returns the body to its natural form, dissolving it in a water-based solution.
• Bio Cremation is a two to three-hour cycle. 
• Funeral workers place the body into a stainless-steel cremation chamber, and add water (95%), an alkali additive (5%), heat and pressure. This combination of water, alkali, heat and pressure reacts to gently reduce the body to bone fragments and a sterile solution, recycled to the earth.

Eco-Friendly Benefits of Bio-Cremation

Bio Cremation is an extremely environmentally-friendly choice—greener than flame based cremation because there are almost no air emissions admitted into the atmosphere during the process. It offers substantial environmental advantages over traditional flame-based cremation:

• No vaporized mercury emissions and no filtration or abatement systems required.
• Mercury from dental amalgam is contained and recycled instead of vaporized.
• Unburned caskets protect natural resources and produce less CO2.
• Low carbon footprint: 4x less carbon impact versus traditional flame cremation. Bio
• Cremation reduces the use of fossil fuels and minimizes greenhouse gases.
• Energy efficient: 1/8 the energy usage versus traditional flame cremation.
• By-product (effluent) is safe with no harmful chemical or microbial contamination.
• Preserves 20+% more bone fragments than traditional flame cremation.
• Neutralizes embalming fluid and destroys cytotoxic drugs in the process.
• No need to surgically remove pacemakers prior to the process.
• Medical implants, unaffected by the procedure, can often be recycled.

About Foothill Funeral & Cremation

Named San Gabriel Valley “Reader’s Choice” for 2017, Foothill Funeral & Cremation has a beautiful showroom and offices located at 402 West Baseline in Glendora. We have also recently developed a strategic partnership with Sacred Heart Chapel in the city of Covina, which allows mourners the opportunity to host funerals and memorial services in a grandiose yet intimate setting. We proudly serve the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and the Inland Empire.

Working in the mortuary industry since 1996, we have worked hard to build a reputation of quality, sincerity and trust. Call today (626) 335-0615 or drop by our showroom. which allows mourners the opportunity to host funerals and memorial services in a grandiose yet intimate setting. We proudly serve the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and the Inland Empire. Working in the mortuary industry since 1996, we have worked hard to build a reputation of quality, sincerity and trust. Please allow us to help you at your time of need or in the future. Call today (626) 335-0615 or drop by our showroom.