MAGAZINE
98
THANOS
The World Organisation of Funeral Operatives
SUMMER 2022
YOUR WORLD.
YOUR WAY.
YOUR EXPO.
TANEXPO.COM
FOLLOW US
North entrance | Costituzione entrance | Organized by: BEXPO srl – T. +39 051 282611 - info@tanexpo.com
22.23.24
JUNE 2022
BOLOGNA ITALY
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WEDNESDAY. THURSDAY. FRIDAY
TANEXPO.COM
Exhibitors, Program, Hotels, Online Ticketing
THANOS MAGAZINE
No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
Marek Cichewicz
FIAT-IFTA President
ad interim
Dear colleagues and friends,
I am delighted to share with you that the preparations
for the FIAT-IFTA Annual Meeting 2022 and V4
Funeral Expo (TEMEXPO), 15 to 17 June – Budapest,
Hungary, are well underway. The Hungarian Funeral
Association OTEI (Országos Temetkezési Egyesület
és Ipartestület) and FIAT-IFTA International Office
have been busy making sure this first face-to-face
international FIAT-IFTA meeting since the start of
the pandemic will be a successful, educational and
enriching experience for everyone.
Participants will have the opportunity to listen to
experts and discuss the future of funeral services,
and meet potential business partners from all over
the world. They will also take part in a dazzling
welcome cocktail party, evening show, and stunning
Gala Dinner. A technical visit has also been organised
where we will be visiting Fiumei Road Cemetery,
the modern Crematory in Nagyteteny, and Dohány
Street Synagogue. Finally, for those who want to
discover more of Budapest, a cultural tour has been
organised by OTEI.
During the three-day program, we will have our
annual FIAT-IFTA I.C.D. (International Council
of Direction) meeting as well as our General
Assembly followed by Conference & Forum. It will
be a great opportunity to set out the next steps
for the development of the organisation. During
the Conference, we will discuss how Covid-19 has
affected the industry with a panel discussion with
several FIAT-IFTA members around the Globe. We are
delighted with the participation of the International
Air Transportation Association (IATA). It is the first time
IATA participates in our meeting and we are looking
forward to their presentation on the Compassionate
Transportation Manual. This is certainly another
important step for FIAT-IFTA in consolidating
international partners and I am confident it will be
a great moment for the further development of our
organization in many fields.
I am also delighted to present to you this issue of
THANOS magazine. The following pages will focus our
attention on ecology and sustainability in the funeral
industry. This topic is very important in many aspects
of our daily lives and should not be overlooked in our
funeral community either.
The Board and I would like to emphasize that all
members are invited to be the co-creators of Thanos
Magazine, by sharing their news and experiences
as well as having the opportunity to showcase
their products and services. We want our magazine
and website to truly reflect the funeral industry
Worldwide.
I look forward to seeing you all in Budapest or at one
of the funeral events taking place around the world.
Marek Cichewicz
FIAT-IFTA President ad interim
THANOS magazine, the official magazine of FIAT-IFTA
Editor-in-Chief: Katarzyna Supa, e-mail: fiatifta-magazine@thanos.org
Editorial Office: FIAT-IFTA – The World Organisation of Funeral Operatives,
Apolloweg 325, 8239DC, Lelystad – NL
All materials are copyrighted. Reprinting and use of materials requires permission
from the FIAT-IFTA Office. Editors reserve the right to shorten texts and change
the titles of submitted materials. FIAT-IFTA Office is not liable for the content of
advertisements and promotional materials.
Feel invited to create the Thanos Magazine together with us and advertise your products and services: fiatifta-magazine@thanos.org
THANOS MAGAZINE
No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
LET’S MEET
FIAT-IFTA
ANNUAL MEETING 2022
June 15-17, 2022 | Budapest, Hungary
The FIAT-IFTA I.C.D. (International Council of
Direction) Meeting, General Assembly and conference
will be hosted by the Hungarian Funeral Association
OTEI (Országos Temetkezési Egyesület és Ipartestület)
and will take place in the beautiful city of Budapest
on June 15-17, 2022.
OTEI will also host a conference of the Visegrad
countries (Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic and
Hungary) as well as an international funeral trade fair
TEMEXPO which will make this a fantastic opportunity
for the world funeral industry to get together and
share their knowledge, experiences and products.
This is the first opportunity for FIAT-IFTA members to
meet after two years and we are all looking forward
to seeing you in Budapest in Corinthia Hotel.
Official Sponsor:
Gold Sponsors:
Organized by:
Due to the international situation, registration for the event
has been extended until June, 10.
More information is available on the official website of the event:
http://fiatifta2022.otei.hu or directly from the organizer OTEI
We are all looking forward to seeing you in Budapest!
THANOS MAGAZINE
No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
LET’S MEET
PROGRAM
Last updated 15.05.2022
Wednesday, June 15th
14.00 – 16.00
Board meeting
Hotel Corinthia, Boardroom I
18.00 – 20.00
Welcome cocktail party
Hotel Corinthia, Atrium II
dress: Business casual
20.00 – 23.00
Stage show
Hotel Corinthia, Orfeum
dress: Business casual
Thursday, June 16th
9.00 – 17.00
Visit to TAMEXPO (ground floor)
8.30
Registration all delegates
Hotel Corinthia, Valetta II
9.00 – 12.30
I.C.D. meetings I and II
Hotel Corinthia, Valetta II
including coffee break
12:30
Official opening of TAMEXPO
by FIAT-IFTA President Marek Cichewicz
13.00 – 14.00
Lunch
Hotel Corinthia, Brasserie & Atrium
14.00 – 17.30
FIAT-IFTA General Assembly I
Conference (details of conference to
follow in due course)
Hotel Corinthia, Grand Ball Room
20.00 – 23.00
GALA DINNER
Hotel Corinthia, Grand Ball Room
Enjoy Hungarian Lifestyle
dress: cocktail
Friday, June 17th
9.00 – 17.00
Visit to TEMEXPO (ground flour)
9.00 – 14.00
Site visits
Fiumei Road Cemetery
Modern Crematory in Nagyteteny
Dohány Street Synagogue
14.00 – 15.00
Lunch
Hotel Corinthia, Brasserie & Atrium
15.00 – 17.00
FIAT IFTA and OTEI members
• Presentation by ALBIA
– official sponsor of the conference
• FIAT-IFTA – General Assembly II
– remarks President Marek Cichewicz
• OTEI – Lifetime Achievement Award
Ceremony
Wine tasting
Hotel Corinthia, Grand Ball Room
Meet the exhibitors of TEMEXPO Fair
Last updated 15.05.2022
• ALGORDANZA, Switzerland – memorial jewelry
• AMW SLOVAKIA, Slovakia – funeral equipments
• ANTEA, Hungary – international assistence
• ATI INDUSTRIES, France – cremation furnace
• AUTOTHERM, Hungary – transport van
• BOSISIO, Italy – modular cemetery wall
• CSÍZI HŰTŐ, Hungary – mortuary fridges
• E-GYASZJELENTES.HU, Hungary – digital service
• EMLÉKTÁRGY KFT, Hungary – funeral assecories
• ERDENSEN, Poland – urns
• FIAT-IFTA, UN – funeral association
• HAMVASZTAS.HU, Hungary – digital service
• HT TŰZELÉS TECHNIKA, Hungary - cremation furnace
• KARSOL, Hungary – coffins
• LOVE URNS, The Netherlands – urns
• MANTEX, Hungary – coffins, urns
• MASTABA, Poland – urns
• MODU-AL, Slovakia – modular cemetery wall
• OTEI, Hungary – uneral association
• PELEMAN, Belgium – funeral editions
• PRIMATECH, Poland – funeral equipments
• RIELLO FRATELLI, Italy – mortuary equipments
• TABO, Czech Republic – cremation furnace
• TARANIS, Hungary – quality coffins
• THANATOPRAXIS TÁRSASÁG, Hungary – education
• TÓBELURNA, Hungary – urns
• TOYOTA, Japan – transport van
• VALMAN, Romania – coffins
THANOS MAGAZINE
No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
Sad news from Serbia
Mr. Dragan Baltovski, general manager of the Public
Utility Company “Funeral Services” passed away
suddenly on October 1, 2021. FIAT-IFTA had not been
informed of his death. Hence we will post it only now.
Mr. Dragan Baltovski was the National Representative
for Serbia.
Mr. Baltovski was an exceptional manager and scholar,
who transformed Public Utility Company “Funeral
Services” into a well-organized, modern funeral
company. He was born in Zaječar (Serbia) on November
16, 1953. He graduated from the University of Belgrade,
Faculty of Economics in 1977 and acquired a Master
of Science in Economics at the University of Belgrade
Faculty of Economics in 2005. Mr. Baltovski commenced
his professional career at the Foreign Trade Institute
in 1978 and continued at the Serbian Chamber of
Commerce Canter for Research, Development and
Economic Analyses in 2000. Mr. Dragan Baltovski
MEMBERS’ NEWS
and cremation services, the Camilleri family have
established a reputation for professional, reliable
and dignified funeral services in Malta. This makes
Camilleri Funeral Directors a trusted name for
numerous families and organizations looking
for professional funeral services in Malta, also
for pre-organised and prepaid funeral plans for
a traditional funeral service in Malta, burial at sea,
repatriation or cremation overseas. Find out more at
https://www.camillerifuneraldirectors.com
Our members are growing
Camilleri Funeral Directors International, Malta’s
National FIAT-IFTA Member, has opened a new office
and showroom in Qawra. This is the third location
for the company, which provides emergency support
services available 24/7 all over Malta.
Camilleri
Funeral
Directors
International
has
provided comprehensive and caring funeral services
in Malta since 1890. Over 4 generations, having
conducted countless funeral services, repatriations
Let’s welcome new members
We are happy to welcome 10 new members of our
organization! Since January 2022 we have been joined by 2
Active Members and 8 Associate Members. Please welcome:
Active Members:
• Hautauspalvelu eHautaus Oy from Finland
• Utfararstofa Kirkjugardanna from Iceland
Associate Members:
• Cronimet Cremetal GmbH from Germany
• Funeral Repatriation Memento Mori from Poland
• INDUSAUTO HERNÁNDEZ, S.L. from Spain
• LCK Funeral Support Services from the United
Kingdom
• Mauritanie Assistance Pompes Funebres from
Mauritania
• MEMENTIS – Zadbamy o wszystko from Poland
• Zakład Pogrzebowy Janusz Woźnicki from Poland
• ZESS Funeral Services from Tanzania
If you wish to expand your network to enhance
the global exposure of your services, apply for
FIAT-IFTA Membership by sending us an e-mail at
info@thanos.org
was the author of numerous papers on the economic
development of Serbia, international economic relations
and services sector development. He was appointed
General Manager of PUC „Funeral Services“ by the City
of Belgrade on October 20, 2008, and was elected three
more times, with his fourth term of office in progress until
his untimely death.
MEMBERS’ NEWS
ADVERTISEMENT
The importance of ecology and sustainability in the funeral
industry can be seen at funeral trade fairs and expos.
During TANEXPO Bologna, which will be held from 22-24
June, many exhibitors will present environmentally friendly
products and services. Among others, these will be urns for
human and pet cremations made of sustainable materials
like recycled plastic or glass as well as totally organic
and biodegradable materials like wood, sand, salt, olive
stones, and paper. Exhibitors will also present eco-friendly,
certified biodegradable coffin linings and other products
manufactured with care of sustainability of the production
process, starting from guaranteed and selected raw
materials to plants equipped with sustainable technologies
such as biomass boilers and photovoltaic panels.
All main hearses manufacturers will present green models,
such as Hybrid Plug-In hearse. Among vehicle accessories
suppliers Car Fibreglass will present the CoverABS
by CarFibreglass Upholstery. It is a 100% recyclable
product, at the end of its life it can be re-transformed into
raw material, in full concept of circular economy. During
production all the scraps are recovered and reprocessed,
not even 1 gram of product ends up in landfills.
One of the more interesting pro-environmental solutions
will be Memorial Reefs which provides an alternative to
traditional burial that helps to build artificial reefs,
aiding vital ecological habitats throughout the globe.
A Memorial Reef is designed to rest on the ocean floor
for more than 500 years while its surface provides
a home for coral as well as a critical habitat for marine
life such as fish, crustaceans, and undersea plants.
Memorial Reefs are perfect for placement in areas that
have experienced the destruction or displacement of
marine life.
To emphasize the importance of ecology and
sustainable
funeral
products,
the
TANEXPO
organizers have established new category “GREEN
SUSTAINABILITY” during the TANEXPO Awards that
will reward Exhibiting companies on the occasion of
TANEXPO 30 years celebration.
www.tanexpo.com
Ecology and sustainability
at TANEXPO Fair
THANOS MAGAZINE
No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
DISCOVER
FIUMEI ROAD CEMETERY
A TREASURE OF HUNGARIAN FUNERARY
HERITAGE
By Gábor Móczár, Director General of National Heritage Institute
(Nemzeti Örökség Intézete), Hungary
THANOS MAGAZINE
No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
DISCOVER
Funeral professionals from all over the world
who will attend The FIAT-IFTA I.C.D. Meeting,
General Assembly and conference will be able
to participate in a number of accompanying
events. One of them will be a tour of
the Fiumei Road Cemetery, which is not only
the most famous cemetery in Budapest,
one of the oldest cemeteries in Hungary,
but also a kind of open-air history book of
modern-day Hungary.
The Fiumei Road Cemetery is more than a graveyard:
it is one of Hungary’s largest collections of statues, and
its 56-hectare, arboretum-like landscaped area has
avenues harbouring 10 species of tree and 110 different
bird species. Fiumei Road Cemetery that opened in
1849 as the public cemetery of Pest is the only cemetery
to be a national memorial in its entirety, an open-air
history book of modern-day Hungary in which one will
find traces of the Age of Dualism, national development,
communism, the 1848-49 War of Independence and
1956 Revolution, as well as the democratic multi-party
system. Among the greats of Hungarian culture, Béni
Egressy, who set the ‘Summons’ (Szózat) to music, was
first to be buried here, in 1851, while the coffin of Mihály
Vörösmarty, author of the Summons, was carried here
attended by a vast crowd in 1855. The mausoleums of
Count Lajos Batthyány, Ferenc Deák and Lajos Kossuth
transformed the cemetery into a national place of
worship, where the impressive Apponyi funerary
coach also reminds us of the final respects paid to
the immortals of the nation. This is similarly the resting
place of other great figures such as Mihály Munkácsy,
Endre Ady, Zsigmond Móricz, Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka,
Attila József, Lujza Blaha, Mari Jászai, Miklós Jancsó,
Imre Kertész and Károly Makk, thus the cemetery is
also an essential ‘place of pilgrimage’ of Hungarian
culture. Fiumei Road Cemetery is sometimes referred
to as the Père Lachaise of Budapest. From 1 May 2016,
the Fiumei Road Cemetery is managed by the National
Heritage Institute (NÖRI). There are still coffins and urn
burials in the cemetery, and it is possible to scatter
the ashes all year round.
We
are
convinced
that
an
awareness
of
the oeuvres of the people resting in the cemetery and
the architectural and sculptural masterpieces erected
in their honour contributes enormously – particularly
for the younger generations – to the strengthening of
national identity, since as Hungarians we can always
be proud of what our predecessors gave to the world.
Visitors can select from around 40 themed walks
and programmes on the National Heritage Institute
website (http://fiumeiutisirkert.nori.gov.hu), while
the FiumeiGuide mobile app assists in a personalized
discovery of the cemetery. Visitors will also find
unconventional history classes, concerts, theatre
productions, adventure games and treasure hunts.
In the National Heritage Institute, we believe
that the values of our past are the pillars of our
future. Our mission is to preserve and pass on
the Hungarian historical and cultural heritage and
to exercise respectful memory because the key to
a strong Hungary is a deep-rooted national identity.
It is our conviction that the future of our country
in a unified Europe built on nation-states is based
on the responsible education of young generations
having a solid Hungarian awareness who think in
terms of national cohesion. We consider it to be
our strategic task to serve this. We believe that
the preservation of the spiritual heritage of
Hungarians, furthermore, the broad dissemination
of the culture of national memory, are of key
importance in this work.
Along this Mission Statement the National Heritage
Institute operates as an institution of the Prime
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THANOS MAGAZINE
No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
DISCOVER
Minister’s Office and is the assets manager and
operator of locations of symbolic significance from
the aspect of the nation’s past and historical memory,
such as the Fiumei Road Cemetery, the Salgótarjáni
Street Jewish Cemetery and the National Park of
Mourning of the New Public Cemetery. At the same
time, the National Heritage Institute exercises rights
of disposition over the National Graveyard, that
is, the protected graves of the most prominent
representatives of the Hungarian nation lying
within the country’s borders, acting as an umbrella
organization uniting the national and historical
monuments of our nation. It is our objective to
contribute to the realization of our mission through
the careful treatment of the built and spiritual cultural
heritage entrusted to us.
In addition to preserving the national heritage,
the National Heritage Institute brings the memory
of the great figures of our history closer to a wider
audience through commemorations, memorial days,
conferences and diverse cultural programmes
connected to the anniversaries of significant events
and personalities. Its broad-ranging promotional
and educational activities are also reflected on
the website, newsletters, social media channels,
media communications and publications. From among
the fields of activity of the National Heritage Institute,
we intend to place ever greater emphasis on historical
and cultural memory education. Without exception,
the locations cared for by the National Heritage Institute
are of key significance in the history of the nation, thus
they are of outstanding importance from the aspect of
the self-image of being Hungarian. As such, our goal is
to include these symbolic spaces of remembrance in
the upbringing and education of younger generations.
By engendering genuine experiences and emotions,
we want to expand the understanding of children
and young adults, exploiting potential educational
opportunities outside the classroom.
One increasingly essential task of the National Heritage
Institute is the identification and registration of beyond-
the-borders Hungarian-related locations and graves
important from the aspect of the national memory, in
order for the expanding database in the online space
– with the help of our compatriots living and working
in the separated Hungarian areas – to contribute to
the preservation of the awareness of the Hungarian
origins of our compatriots living beyond the borders
and to the strengthening of their sense of belonging.
In June 2021, our institution joined the Association
of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE) with
the intention of highlighting in international culture
Hungarian historical cemeteries as well as the built
and spiritual heritage having Hungarian associations.
In addition, the National Heritage Institute mutually
collaborates with the National Memorial and Piety
Committee (NEKB), which the National Assembly
established over 20 years ago to renew the culture
of the memory policy, national mourning and
remembrance. The National Heritage Institute, legal
predecessor of the National Heritage Institute, was
established from the secretariat of the NEKB as
a working body of the NEKB in 2013 and continues its
activities under the new name from 2021.
The Fiumei Road Cemetery
is more than a graveyard:
it is one of Hungary’s largest
collections of statues,
and arboretum-like
landscaped area.
I N N O VAT I V E T E C H N O LO GY S U S TA I N A B L E F U T U R E I N D U S T R Y 4 . 0 B A C KG R O U N D D E D I C AT E D M A N A G E M E N T
L E A D I N G C O F F I N FA C TO R Y I N C E N T R A L E U R O P E
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THANOS MAGAZINE
No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
MAIN TOPIC
Sun, water, soil are the basis
for a sustainable funeral industry
WITH CARE FOR THE PLANET
WHAT CONTRIBUTION CAN THE FUNERAL
INDUSTRY MAKE TO PROTECTING
THE ENVIRONMENT?
By Katarzyna Supa, funeral innovation researcher,
editor-in-chief of THANOS magazine
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THANOS MAGAZINE
No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
MAIN TOPIC
The number of people moving towards
environmentally friendly solutions in their
daily lives and want to live responsibly
is growing every year, so it is likely that
the area of end-of-life care will also have
to meet these needs and become more
environmentally sustainable.
What exactly does sustainability mean in the case
of the funeral industry? Funeral entrepreneurs are
expected to publicly declare pro-environmental
attitudes and actions to, for example, reduce
the carbon footprint of their goods or services.
At the same time, words must be backed up
by concrete actions to reduce the risk of accusations
of greenwashing. In the funeral services sector,
this includes offering biodegradable urns (made
of sand, clay, plant components, wood, bamboo),
tree urns, coffins made of mushrooms, forest
cemeteries, artificial reefs in the oceans, the use of
electric vehicles and much more. Sustainability also
means taking a critical look at how we control our
processes, in other words, working in a way that has
as little impact on the environment as possible.
The common belief is that traditional funeral
options are not eco-friendly. Conventional bu
rial consumes valuable urban land, pollutes
the soil, and contributes to climate change through
resource-intensive manufacture and transport of
caskets, headstones, and grave liners. The overall
environmental impact of conventional burial
and cremation is about the same. In the U.S.,
some estimates suggest that cremation based on
fossil fuels emits approximately 360,000 metric
tons of CO2 each year. According to the Green
Burial Council, heating a furnace at 2,000 degrees
Fahrenheit for two hours produces roughly the same
emissions as driving 500 miles in a car. Burials pose
their own set of problems: caskets and vaults use
a large amount of natural resources. Casket wood
alone requires the felling of 30 million board feet
of wood in the U.S. each year, and thousands of
tons of steel and concrete are used to construct
vaults. Embalming fluid (which contains carcinogenic
chemicals) can contaminate groundwater around
cemeteries. In the context of the funeral industry,
an important aspect is also the amount of waste
produced at cemeteries - used candles and artificial
flowers. They represent a considerable challenge
in Poland, for example. Recycling and reuse are
therefore important in this area.
But there are also some disadvantages to “green
deathcare”. At the moment, the price can be an
issue. For society’s poorest, direct cremation (no
viewing or visitation) costs as little as $1,000. Human
composting, on the other hand, is priced between
$7,000 to $10,000. There may also be religious
issues pertaining to human remains. For example,
Washington’s legalization of human composting
was opposed by Catholic groups who argued
that composting didn’t show enough respect for
the deceased body.
Electric Furnace - green flame cremation
Electricity supply from sources other than fossil fuels
is becoming increasingly common in many aspects
of our daily life. The demand for a sustainable
cremation process has increased even more during
the last years. Therefore, it is worth taking a closer
look at crematoria powered fully electrically also
by renewable energy sources, such as solar panels
or, in the short term, also hydrogen. In the case of
electric furnaces, there are still some disadvantages
of flame cremation, but the whole process is
more ecological because of the way it is powered.
The cremator is less environmentally harmful and
more energy-efficient than the gas-fired cremator.
If green energy is used, the cremator can operate
CO2 neutral. The CO2 and NOx emissions are
significantly lower when compared to the emissions
of gas or oil fuelled cremators. This solution is
offered by the company DFW Electric. The first
of the two DFW electric cremation furnaces was
installed at Den en Rust crematorium in Bilthoven
in November 2021. It is worth mentioning that
this crematorium wants to be a completely
environmentally neutral facility by 2030.
According to DFW Electric one cremation in an electric
cremator takes about 30 minutes longer than in
a gas cremator but saves approximately 60 m3 of
gas, which corresponds to 113.4 kg of CO2 emissions.
Funeral entrepreneurs are
expected to publicly declare
pro-environmental attitudes
and actions to, for example,
reduce the carbon footprint
of their goods or services. At
the same time, words must
be backed up by concrete
actions to reduce the risk of
accusations of greenwashing.
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THANOS MAGAZINE
No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
MAIN TOPIC
After a thousand cremations, 113,400 kg of CO2
emissions can be saved, the equivalent of 5,000
trees. What’s more - electric cremations also result
in an energy cost reduction of more than 50% per
cremation process compared to using gas. Which is
not irrelevant in the face of rising gas prices.
Water-based green cremation
Aquamation and Resomation® are part of
a growing “green burial” movement that avoids
non-biodegradable
materials
and
promotes
natural decomposition. Both Aquamation and
Resomation®, are considered to be a more
sustainable (environmentally friendly) alternative
than traditional burial or flame-based cremation.
They are water-based processes whose scientific
name is “alkaline hydrolysis”, in which a combination
of gentle water flow, temperature, and alkalinity
are used to accelerate the breakdown of organic
materials placed in a special chamber. Another
environmentally friendly aspect of water cremation
is that inorganic materials, such as breast implants
and tooth fillings (some of which contain mercury)
remain untouched. If cremated, they would create
emissions harmful to our planet and our lungs.
Inorganic bone minerals which remain after
water cremation are processed into pure white
powder and returned to the family in an urn. This
final processing step is the same process that is
followed with flame cremation. Many families hold
a celebration of life or gathering when the loved
one’s remains are returned to the family’s care.
In North America, green cremation has handled
more than 5,000 successful human dispositions in
multiple sites over the last five years. It is now well
tried and tested. It is also gaining public favor and
when given the choice of water versus traditional
flame cremation, up to 80% choose green cremation.
Interestingly the main reason given is that water
is gentler than fire. Alkaline hydrolysis received
worldwide exposure thanks to the decision of
the Anglican archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize
laureate, Desmond Tutu, who died at age 90 in
December 2021 requested to be aquamated.
Resomation®, a British manufacturer of machinery
used in water cremation, estimates that substituting
aquamation for fire-based cremation cuts a funeral’s
greenhouse gas emissions by 35%. Bio-Response
Solutions, an Indiana-based manufacturer, estimates
© https://www.meine-erde.de/
Human composting is now also available in Germany
thanks to startup Meine Erde
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No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
MAIN TOPIC
that its technology uses approximately 90% less
energy when compared to flame-based cremation.
It also results in approximately 32% more cremated
remains than flame-based cremation and may require
a larger urn, according to the Cremation Association
of North America (CANA).
What does the alkaline hydrolysis process look like?
The individual body is respectfully placed in a stainless
steel vessel. Alkali is added to the process based on
individual characteristics (weight, sex, embalming
status), and the vessel fills with the heated solution
of 95% water and 5% alkali, which gently circulate for
the entire length of the process. According to the data
provided by Bio-Response Solutions, the process
takes 6-8 hours, or 18-20 hours depending on
the operating temperature of the equipment. The 6-8
hour process takes place at 300°F, and the 18-20 hour
process takes place at 200°F. A flame cremation, for
comparison, takes 1-3 hours and takes place at 1,600-
1,800°F. After the process is completed, the dissolved
solution looks like tea, or a pale beer, and is a sterile
mix of water acids, and peptides, with no human DNA
or RNA. It is perfectly safe. In Oregon, the water is
donated to water sod farms. Opponents of water
cremation claim that this method is a waste of water
and find it difficult to accept that it is disposed of
through municipal sewer systems.
Water cremation is currently legal in more than 20
states in the United States, three Canadian provinces
(Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan) and several other
countries. Some faith traditions, such as Judaism
and Islam, forbid the use of cremation, as well as
water cremation, and require bodies to be buried in
shrouds - and, for the former, in caskets made only of
wood, which allows for natural decomposition.
Human composting - turning the body into soil
The process of turning the body into soil was inspired
by nature itself. It is known as natural organic
reduction (NOR), human composting or terramation™
powered by beneficial microbes that occur naturally
on our bodies and in the environment, so less toxic
and environmentally and economically friendly.
Human composting requires 1/8 the energy of
conventional burial or cremation and prevents it to
enter the atmosphere with carbon dioxide.
The idea of human composting started to grow
in 2011 and it made headlines in May 2019 when
Recompose, the first fully operational human
composting facility created by Katrina Spade, was
legalized for the first time in Washington and then in
Colorado and Oregon in 2021.
Recompose has a patent-pending process where
bodies are placed in a vessel with natural materials
such as wood chips, alfalfa and straw. A fan system
is set up to provide air that ensures enough oxygen
is getting to the body, and the soft tissue breaks
down in about a month, transforming into about
two wheelbarrows worth of soil. Each body creates
one cubic yard of soil amendment, which is removed
from the vessel and allowed to cure. Once completed,
it can be used to enrich conservation land, forests, or
gardens. Families of the deceased can keep the soil,
use it to plant a tree, or through a partnership with
Forterra, Washington’s largest land conservation
organization, can donate soil to help rehabilitate
Bells Mountain forest land. Healthy soil created
by Recompose is vital for an ecosystem to thrive. It
regulates moisture, sequesters carbon, and sustains
plants, animals, and humans.
Human composting is now also available in Germany
thanks to the startup Meine Erde created by Pablo
Metz and Max Hüsch. The body is placed in a coffin-
like container, called a cocoon, on plant material such
as flowers, green cuts and straw and covered with it.
The cocoon is placed in an ‘alvarium’ where the body
decomposes for 40 days. The technology has been
designed to avoid anaerobic processes that can lead
to the formation of greenhouse gasses. Depending
on the weight of the deceased, the microorganisms
that they carried into and on their body during their
lifetime transform them during the decomposition
process into 100 to 200 kilograms of humus that
smells of fresh forest soil on which new life can thrive.
This re-cultivated soil is then extracted and refined
- any body parts that have not decomposed such
as prostheses or heart pacemakers are removed.
The remains of the bones are shredded in a similar
way to a crematorium. The shredded bones and
the humus removed from the cocoon are buried in
the cemetery as according to the current German
laws, the final burial still has to happen in a cemetery.
Relatives can plant flowers on the grave (which
symbolizes the continued presence of the deceased).
The empty cocoon can then be prepared for the next
funeral.
Natural organic reduction, without doubt, is
a major step for funeral culture. The first burial
of this type has already taken place in the state of
Schleswig-Holstein in the city of Mölln. Meine Erde
representatives estimate that more will take place
throughout Germany as early as mid-2022.
The development of this project is worth watching,
especially as natural burials, also by other available,
means already account for 10% of all burials in
Germany.
16
THANOS MAGAZINE
No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
MAIN TOPIC
THE DECISION OF COMING
BACK TO NATURE
BIODEGRADABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY URNS
By Carlos Callizo Castro, SORTEM, Spain
Choosing a biodegradable urn is an ideal
choice for an aquatic farewell or a garden
cemetery due to the fact that they are
designed to activate their biodegradability
and thus decompose naturally when in
contact with water or soil moisture.
Sortem’s range of biodegradable eco-friendly urns
is a perfect alternative for families that prefer to
keep the ashes of their loved one as well as those
who may choose to scatter them or bury them in
a special place, or simply dissolve them in water.
The preservation of this type of ecological urns
is simple. Our biodegradable urns are incredibly
durable and only begin their decomposing process
when they come into contact with soil or water.
Thus, the family can decide when is the right time to
perform their special farewell ceremony.
• 100% biodegradable materials
Unfired clay, water pigments, sand and cellulose are
the materials used to manufacture our ecological
urns.
• Biodegradability Certificate
All our urns bear a Biodegradability Certificate
• Disintegration time
The urns take around 15 to 20 minutes to dissolve
from the moment they are in contact with either
fresh or salty water. If the urn is buried, its
biodegradability will depend on soil moisture.
• Possibility of burial or deposit in water
The biodegradable ecological urns can be either
buried in the ground or deposited in water. Either
option will activate its biodegradability.
17
THANOS MAGAZINE
No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
MAIN TOPIC
‘Acqua’ Urns
In the workshop where the Acqua urns are modelled,
the energy that makes them unique is transmitted to
each piece individually. Hand painted in anthracite,
blue o walnut natural pigments. Their wavy designs
take us to the image of the sea, the flow of a stream
or the interior of a lush forest. Perfect places to
activate their biodegradability and trigger the return
to nature. They give a new meaning to a unique
farewell ritual that is environmentally friendly.
‘Arena’ Urns
Sand describes the small particles that form beaches.
Each grain of sand, found in either natural or white
colours, immediately takes us to that sensation of
walking barefoot on dunes or sandbanks. Our sense
of touch is awakened by feeling them in our hands
and opens the way for us to say goodbye. With either
a smooth finish, footprints or starfish, it evokes
the perfect place to activate its biodegradability. It
has always been said that it is impossible to count
the grains of sand just the same as its impossible to
count all the endless memories of a shared lifetime.
‘Chroma’ Urns
Memories grow when shared moments are
emotionally alive. Made from unfired clay, Chroma
urns are charged with symbolism represented
through colour. Finished with natural pigments,
they are presented with different scaled graduations
in blue, walnut and anthracite. In addition to
the chromatic contribution, the lids present three
significant symbols that compel the emotional
aspect in an iconic way by using the infinite emblem,
the age rings of a tree and a starfish as a metaphor
of a shared life.
‘Venezia’ Urns
The concept of ecological urn is not opposed
to the concept of elegance and great presence.
The Venezia range is a set of biodegradable urns
made of clay that are presented in gold, turquoise
blue, and anthracite.
The brush and water- based paint effect gives us
the feeling of contemplating a great work on a canvas.
The Venezia series are perfect for those families
who wish to combine the possibility of preserving
the urn for a longer period before activating its
biodegradability.
‘Acqua’ Urn
‘Arena’ Urn
‘Chroma’ Urn
‘Venezia’ Urn
MAIN TOPIC
Urns ‘The Tree Remembers’
Each new growing sprout is a reminder of life.
The Tree Remembers is an urn that stands out for
its functional simplicity and a marked poetic sense.
Loved ones will be remembered by planting a tree,
a shrub or a plant that is meaningful to the family
and will sprout from their ashes. An environmentally
friendly farewell that will return to nature in a new
life. The aim is to mitigate the absence, seeing a part
of one’s own memories grow in each new sprout of
life. The Tree Remembers is a biodegradable and
recyclable urn that allows to restart the cycle of life
and maintain the natural balance of the planet.
Urns ‘Terra’
The basic range of Sortem´s catalogue includes
urns made from different materials and shapes.
The Terra range responds to the different needs of
families looking for a product of excellent quality. A
biodegradable option for environmentally friendly
services that comes in a wide range of colours and
can be customised according to the chromatic range
of each company.
International distribution of all the range of
environmentally friendly urns www.sortem.es
‘The Tree Remembers’ Urns
‘Terra’ Urn
ADVERTISEMENT
info@sortem.es - www.sortem.es
@sortemdelivery
The decision to return
to nature
Transfers of bodies are an exhausting business. If several stairs must be climbed between the hearse
and the pick-up location, or if the room conditions are cramped, a technically sophisticated and
fl exible transfer stretcher is essential.
A lightweight stretcher with space-saving transport dimensions and well stable nevertheless
for a high payload was diffi cult to fi nd until now. In order to remove this lack and relieve the
undertaker, PLUDRA International based in Celle/Germany has developed the Evolution 1.
When folded, the ultra-mobile stretcher measures just 100 x 59 x 17 cm and can therefore
easily be stored in the hearse‘s storage compartment. The frame and other load-bearing
parts such as the footrest and the carrying handles are made of a light, high-strength
aluminum alloy. The hinges on the frame and footrest are secured against accidental
folding through union sleeves or locking pin. The wheel sets are fi tted without tools
using our brand-new one-hand click-&-roll system. Although the ready for use
weight of the Evolution 1 is 18 kg only, up to 180 kg can be loaded.
Following the guiding principle: „The best stretcher is the one you don‘t have
to lug“ the Evolution is equipped with an new revolutionary wheel system.
The Quattro wheels made of durable plastic allow eff ortless lateral ma-
neuvering in addition to the normal forward and backward movement.
Furthermore, the stretcher has a climbing function so that
you can easily climb stairs or small heels. Three Quattro
wheels are mounted in a star-shaped steel frame, which is
mounted to the center of the stretcher axle. When using
stairs, the frame rotates around the axle and the wheels
„climb“ up or down the steps. A positive side eff ect of this
construction is the better load balance on level terrain,
since 4 wheels always carry the weight at the same time.
The transport cover is made of durable, washable artifi cial
material and is connected to the stretcher frame by Vel-
cro straps. The zipper is particularly stable. 6 heavy-duty
carry handles allow for portability to locations where the
stretcher cannot be used.
We off er both transport covers and underlayers in four
colors: black, silver-grey, bordeaux and blue. To secure
the load, the Evolution 1 is fi tted with three length-adjus-
table security belts.
PLUDRA - FRANKFURT GmbH • Bruchkampweg 20 • D -29227 Celle/Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 5141 - 888 600 • Fax: +49 (0) 5141 - 888 6012 • info@pludra.de
www.pludra.de | www.pludra-shop.de
The best stretcher is the one
you don‘t have to lug
One-hand „Click &
Roll“ wheel system
Foldable footrest
with lock pin
Stair climbing
technology
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227 Celle/Germ
@pludra
Evolution 1 in
transport confi guration
Check it out on
Quality
Made in Germany
For our constantly growing sales network,
we are looking for reliable partners.
WORLDWIDE.
If you are interested in collaboration,
please feel free to get in touch.
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ADVERTISEMENT
20
THANOS MAGAZINE
No. 98 – SUMMER 2022
EDUCATION
EDUCATION IS KEY
THE FUNERAL INDUSTRY IN GERMANY
IN 2022 AND BEYOND
By Stephan Neuser, General Secretary of the German Federal Association of Funeral
Directors (BDB) and Dr. Simon J. Walter, Cultural Representative of the German
Burial Culture Foundation, Germany
The
German
Federal
Association
of
Funeral Directors (BDB) has always been
an outspoken advocate for standardized
tracks of education and training to enter
the Funeral Industry. It is our conviction,
that there must be a clear-cut path for young
people joining the industry – to ensure that
funeral directors and their employees are
well qualified in all aspects of their work.
The ongoing pandemic has demonstrated this
necessity beyond a doubt. Mandatory procedures
must be put in place by the administrative bodies
to ensure the high standards we are already
upholding. We owe this not just ourselves – but first
and foremost the deceased and their relatives. Only
under the impression of the pandemic are more and
more representatives and parties in Germany coming
around to support our position.
International exchange is vital
In raising the banner of education, we see ourselves
in a common and concerted effort with funeral
professionals in Europe and all over the world.
Exchange and communication with our partners
The Federal Training Centre in Münnerstadt
Students in Münnerstadt working with body transport, at the Training Cemetery
© BDB