Freeze-drying may be the new cremation.
As Trend Hunter first reported in 2007, Promessa Organic AB of Sweden has a method of disposing of dead bodies called ‘promession.’ Once human remains are frozen in liquid nitrogen and shaken to dust, the dust is processed to remove harmful elements, then buried as compost.
A Scottish local authority, East Lothian Council believes that promession could help ease cemetery congestion and cut crematory emissions. Just last month, the council decided to take allowing the method under consideration. The interest in promession in Scotland may be an indicator of its growing acceptance worldwide.
Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak, a biologist, engineer, and avid garden composter, is head of operations at Promessa Organic AB. The Promessa site has a detailed explanation of the method as well as newsletters and downloadable fact sheets.