(Church Times) Regulate new funerary methods, Law Commission recommends

the regulation of new funerary methods — including “water cremations” and human composting — has been recommended by the Law Commission of England and Wales.

The independent statutory body, set up to keep the law under review and to make recommendations to the Government, published on Thursday a report on reforming new funerary methods. It was preceded by a consultation paper, published last June, which received 124 responses from faith communities, funeral directors, local authorities, industry bodies, and members of the public.

Currently, the law in England and Wales recognises only burial, cremation, and, though less common, burial at sea. New funerary methods are alternatives to these, such as alkaline hydrolysis (sometimes known as “water cremation”) and human composting, which are not currently covered by any specific legal framework, but which are available in certain other jurisdictions. In Scotland, for example, regulations have recently been made enabling the use of alkaline hydrolysis.

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The regulation of new funerary methods — including “water cremations” and human composting — has been recommended by the #LawCommission of England and Wales#funerarymethods #watercremations #humancomposting #churchnews #churchtimes https://t.co/nnqdTBvWWF

— Church Times (@ChurchTimes) June 4, 2026