Aquamation, which is also called aqua or water cremation, uses heated water and alkaline chemicals commonly found in cosmetics or soaps to “reduce” or dissolve a body that has been placed in a stainless steel vessel.
The bones left behind are then put through a machine to be ground into fine dust or “ashes”, which are then handed over in an urn to the pet owners.
The process of aquamation mimics the natural decomposition process of a body exposed to soil, but takes about 20 to 24 hours to complete rather than months or decades.
It has also been touted as an eco-friendly alternative to cremation. Advocates say aquamation uses 90 per cent less energy and, unlike cremation, does not release harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
One cycle of aquamation uses about 800 litres of water – roughly the same amount used by a household of five daily, said Mr Loo.
However, sustainable benefits aside, it takes longer to put an animal carcass through aquamation compared with cremation, which takes two to three hours.
It is also more expensive due to the technology used as well as the treatment and disposal of effluent, or the leftover liquid after aquamation.
Mr Loo hopes that in time, this can be reused as liquid fertiliser for plant nurseries, further strengthening the company’s green ethos.
Depending on the size of the pet, The Green Mortician charges S$577 to S$977 (US$430 to US$730) for a full-service package that includes picking up the pet carcass, a memorial service, aquamation and returning the ashes in an urn to the owners.
This is comparable to similar services offered by traditional pet cremation businesses, which also offer cheaper packages for more basic services.