Electric Cremation Trend and Needed Innovation

Healthful Vitality | 05/27/2021 | Electric Cremation Trend and Needed Innovation

Everyone noticed how quiet these pandemic years are. We are advised to stay at home and out of crowds. We are living in fear of getting sick and dying [1]. Moreover, we are experiencing some unexpected scenes of mourning and funerals. Indeed, almost every aspect of our traditional sympathy practices and funerals have changed by adding the word “New Normal” [2]. Mourning in the U.S. and other parts of the world has changed tremendously due to COVID-19 [3]. The pandemic forced people to confront death and dying in new modified ways, e.g., electric cremation. We explore the state of the electric cremation trend and needed innovation as electric cremation is rising in relevance for multiple reasons, as it is comparatively cheaper, faster, and requires less workforce than the conventional cremation method. Notably, in electric cremation, wood is not burnt, and there is no emission of poisonous gases [4].

The Trend towards Electric Cremation: A Need of the Time

What are the electric cremation trend and needed innovation in respect of the COVID-19 pandemic? Grieving the loss of a loved one is a normal response, which can be overwhelming, especially during the anxiety and fear about the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected the ability of family and friends to arrange gatherings and grieve in traditional ways. As a result, they are finding alternate ways to connect and assist each other after their loss. Electric cremation offers a great way of mourning and funerals during the pandemic while following social distancing and travel precautions. Indeed, electric cremations are faster than conventional methods of cremation, which may be the primary reason for their adoption during the pandemic [5].

Notably, it is required now more than ever and it is no doubt the requirement even in normal times for the future due to a combination of multiple factors, including less time-consuming and pollution-free way, social distancing, limitations on gatherings, and financial concerns. Indeed, electrical cremation is a woodless process with no smoke, coal dust, and ash. It takes about 2-3 hours and is handled by only two persons.

Electric Cremation Trend and Needed Innovation: Major Challenges for Electric Cremation

Electric cremation has become one of the most prevalent ways for funerals worldwide. The major challenges for electric cremation right now are:

1) Abrupt Rising of Electric Cremation Rates

The cost of electric cremation varies worldwide, based on where the electric cremation takes place. Also, the cost will lower or rise depending on whether the family wants to include additional services like a funeral viewing, flowers, or a more costly casket or urn.

Certainly, electric cremation rates have been rising abruptly at an unpredictable rate since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic [6]. Indeed, rising electric cremation numbers and rates are due to multiple reasons i.e. pricing, convenience, possession, fast and pollution-free way, social distancing, and limitations on gatherings. Those reasons plus more than 3.4 million deaths worldwide have resulted in a jump in electric cremation numbers and rates.

2) Educating Families About Electric Cremation

Funerary professionals should face and accept the challenge of educating families on electric cremations beyond their basic grasp of the concept [7, 8]. This challenge can be overcome by creating awareness about electric cremation on media and other feasible communication means.

3) Personalization

Currently, most families don’t want traditional sympathy practices, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. However, family and friends of the deceased person have different stories to share even after they have left their mortal bodies for electric cremation. Funerary professionals must accept the challenge of achieving personalization at every electric cremation by including videos and pictures of the family and friends with the deceased; while he/she was alive. This allows friends and family to vent their emotions and relive their memories.

Religious Objections: A Closer Look at Religions on Electric Cremation

1) Hindu Cremation Beliefs

According to Hindu beliefs, the soul should be completely detached from the dead person so it can be reincarnated [9]. In traditional Hindu funerals, an open cremation is performed while prayers are chanted to free the spirit after the dead body is burnt over a wood stack wrapped in a white cloth. However, electric cremation is conducted in an electric crematorium, a covered space that won’t allow the spirit to be freed from the dead body and may combine with other spirits. Thus, Hindus believe that after electric cremation, the concerned dead person may not be reincarnated again.

2) Islam and Cremation

Followers of Islam completely reject an open or electric cremation. Instead, Muslims follow strict guidelines for treating the body after death. In Islam, burying the dead body is the method prescribed by the divine law [10].

3) Judaic Cremation Beliefs

In Conservative and Orthodox Judaism, electric cremation is prohibited or disliked [11]. However, some Reform or Liberal Judaism followers have been more willing to accept electric cremation as an alternative to the conventional cremation method and traditional casket burial.

Technology Driving New Innovation in Electric Cremation

For family members who cannot view or attend a cremation for multiple reasons, there are live streaming options via video conference calls offered by many funeral homes. These trends for integrating technology for those who are unable to travel to attend funerals are expected to continue long after the pandemic [12].

Many funeral homes are pivoted to offer live streaming services, phone, and online arrangements, and new alternative strategies to manage operations and staff remotely. No doubt, this is the right time to upgrade our technology game. Everything from making arrangements for electric cremation to continuing awareness will continue to offer online. Significantly, funeral homes should invest in more stable and fast internet connections. They should install computers with web cameras sooner rather than later. Indeed, advanced software and apps can help with everything from digital funeral management to initial calls and personalization. Funeral homes should grow their online offerings to accommodate consumers who cannot travel to attend funerals.

Access and Affordability Issues of Electricity for Electric Cremation: Use of Alternate Renewable Energy Sources for Cremation

To cremate a human body electrically, almost 2-3 hours and 300 Kwh power consumption is required. Without a doubt, there are problems with access and affordability of electricity in developing and underdeveloped countries due to the higher price of power generation, increased government taxes, harsh weather patterns, and poor transmission and distribution infrastructure. Therefore, innovation is required in electric cremation to ease access and affordability for the process. Solar panels or other renewable energy sources can supply the energy needed to make it cheap, environmentally friendly, and more energy-efficient than electricity-powered cremation.

The overall energy consumption is significantly lower in innovative electric cremators and we can tap into renewable energy sources. For example:

• Solar energy
• Wind energy
• Hydro energy
• Nuclear energy
• Tidal energy
• Geothermal energy
• Biomass energy

Eco-Friendly Electric Cremation: The special Cremation filter system

As discussed earlier, the energy can be supplied by solar panels to make the cremation process eco-friendly and energy-efficient. In addition, it can develop a particular cremation filtration system in electric cremators. These special Hydrogen Chlorides, Mercury, and Dioxin filters can be replaced or removed in a dust-proof manner. Therefore, it should pay much attention to efficient, environment-friendly technology. Also, much focus should be on hygiene and energy consumption within the technical area of the electric crematorium.

The benefits of the special cremation filtration system in electric cremators are:

• The special cremation filtration system is a dry system.
• Heat recovery is possible.
• There is an Easy exchange of particulates filters
• There is also an easy exchange of the dioxins, mercury, and HCl filters.
• There is no free-flying dust in the technical area of the electric crematorium.

Health Benefits for Choosing Electric Cremation

Many families and friends are worried about contracting COVID-19, Hepatitis B, HIV, and other communicable infectious diseases from their deceased loved ones. This tense situation is a valid concern, as one recent case report demonstrated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in a dead person’s lungs 27 days after death.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) also recommends not touching personal belongings or the decedent’s body to ensure everyone’s safety. The death of a loved one due to CIVID-19 or other infectious diseases is challenging for family and friends. Electric cremation puts friends’ and family’s minds at ease and eliminates worries about their deceased loved one spreading the infections.

Electric cremations take place in electric crematoriums, where dead bodies are placed in electric cremation chambers. Some electric crematoriums permit families to view the electric cremation process from a safe distance. In addition, the closed-off nature of electric cremation removes the threat of spreading the virus after death. For families and friends concerned about COVID transmission after death, an electric cremation is a viable option compared to the traditional cremation method.

Conclusion: A Time for Pre-Planning of Funerals

Electric cremation trend and needed innovation state reveal pandemic cremation and cremation, in general, are on the rise, yet no electricity resources and other are available. Electric cremation is rising in relevance as it is comparatively cheaper, faster, and requires less workforce than the conventional method of cremation. Indeed, electrical cremation should be adopted instead of traditional open cremation to limit and minimize tree cutting and ashes generation. Undoubtedly, electric cremation is an environmentally friendly way to save valuable resources like water and trees. It is a myth that religious rituals cannot occur in an electric crematorium. Therefore, it’s high time to get rid of all these myths associated with the electric cremation system.

While electric cremation is an increasingly favorite option, it’s significant to discuss it with all family members and friends, preferably before death occurs. Notably, pre-planning of funerals lifts the extra burden on families and friends to make decisions while grieving and permits them to honor those loved ones who have passed fully.

Additional Readings:

1. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar, develops a movable, electric cremation system.
2. List of Countries by Cremation Rate.
3. Global Statistics of Cremation Furnace Market Scenario.
4. Cremation and Incineration in Modern India.
5. Electric Cremation is An Eco-friendly Alternative:  How Electric Cremation Compares To Other Cremation Services.
6. The Environmental Toll of Cremating the Dead: The World are Seeking Greener End-of-life Options.
7. Crematoria emissions and air quality impacts.
8. 8.Electric cremation has its advantages. “Electric Burning” — an issue of the environment.

Related Articles:

Top Issues for Replacing Traditional Burials with Electric Cremation

Eco-Friendly Green Cremation Revolution

References:

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2. Corpuz, J. C. (2021). Adapting to the culture of ‘new normal’: An emerging response to COVID-19. Journal of Public Health. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/article/43/2/e344/6158063
3. Death and Mourning Processes in the Times of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19). Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/14142/death-and-mourning-processes-in-the-times-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-19
4. Rest in peace! (2019, November 27). ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337632647_Rest_in_Peace
5. Next Avenue. (2020, October 29). The COVID-19 Cremation Trend: What You Need to Know. Next Avenue. https://www.nextavenue.org/covid-19-and-cremation/
6. Cremation rates increasing amid COVID-19. (2020, August 14). FrontRunner Professional Blog. https://blog.frontrunnerpro.com/2020-cremation-rates/
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8. Explaining Cremation to Kids. Family Education. (2000, April 7). https://www.familyeducation.com/life/death-dying/explaining-cremation-kids
9. Prajapati, V. N., & Bhaduri, S. (2018). Human Values in Disposing the Dead: An Inquiry into Cremation Technology. Journal of Human Values, 25(1), 52–65. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/article/43/2/e344/6158063
10. Gatrad, A. R. (1994). Muslim customs surrounding death, bereavement, postmortem examinations, and organ transplants. BMJ, 309(6953), 521–523. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.309.6953.521, Retrieved from https://www.bmj.com/content/309/6953/521
11. Rubin, S. S. (2014). Loss and Mourning in the Jewish Tradition. OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, 70(1), 79–98. https://doi.org/10.2190/om.70.1.h. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.2190/OM.70.1.h
12. Cremation Technology & Crematorium Technical Developments. DFW Europe. (2018, August 9). https://dfweurope.com/cremation-technology/

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