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Promession: Freeze-dried corpses?
- Alyssa Cavalieri
- Jun 2, 2020
- 2 min read
Promession is another attempt to find the perfect eco-friendly alternative to traditional cremation. Similar to alkaline hydrolysis, corpses are broken down into an ash-like substance comparable to the bone ashes leftover from a traditional flame cremation. The leftover powder can then be turned into soil, comparative to recomposition, or cremated to become ashes. The process of promession itself does not cause air pollution like cremation, and even choosing to cremate the remaining powder releases less carbon dioxide in comparison to burning a whole body. It legal in countries such as Sweden, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, but not yet in the United States.
Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak, Swedish biologist, spent twenty years developing the idea for promession according to her website, Promessa. She was driven by the need for an environmentally friendly burial method as well as something that has no negative impact like cremation.
"My idea is to combine biological knowledge with a dignified and ethically correct way of being remembered by ones next of kin. The primary principles are preservation after death in organic form and shallow burial in living soil that quickly converts us to mulch. I am aware of the fact that this way of thinking is contrary to many customs. Yet we should try to adopt a more natural approach to our life and our death. Today’s burial traditions conceal reality from people and do not allow them to feel secure in the fact that death is essential to new life." -Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak
Promession begins by freezing the body using liquid nitrogen, over the span of approximately two hours. Once the body has frozen and become brittle, it is gently vibrated for about a minute until it has become a powder. The moisture is then removed from the powder using a method similar to freeze-drying. Any inorganic materials, such as metal from fillings, artificial limbs, or other implants, are removed at this point. The remains are then placed into an environmentally friendly and biodegradable casket to be buried in a relatively shallow grave for around six months until both the casket and powder have fully broken down and become part of the nutrients for the soil. The remaining soil is essentially fertilizer, and plants can be buried over the space as a memorial for the deceased. Alternatively, the powdered remains are able to be cremated in a small furnace and scattered or kept as ashes. The Promessa website links a video to visualize the process of promession as well.
In comparison to the burial of embalmed bodies and cremation, promession is a much more environmental friendly process. By planting trees, flowers, or other plants on top of the grave site, it can even have a positive impact on their growth. Unfortunately, the lack of legality in the United States prevents its citizens from choosing promession for their body disposition. However, the process is relatively new, and still has a chance to be legalized with public support. Promessa has been looking for States in America willing to legalize promession by including it under the umbrella of cremation, and are hopeful that it will be made available soon.
Until death do us part,
Alyssa
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