06/02/2026
Some significant news from the Scottish Parliament this week. Regulations have officially been approved to allow alkaline hydrolysis (often called water cremation) in Scotland, coming into force from 2nd March 2026.
This is the biggest change in our caring profession since the introduction of cremation over a century ago. It offers families a gentler, more environmentally friendly alternative to flame cremation.
Mark Porteous, founder of Porteous Family Funeral Directors, has contributed to the development of this new funeral method in Scotland, having sat on the Government's Alkaline Hydrolysis Working Group.
Further information about what water cremation entails can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/alkaline-hydrolysis-water-cremation-regulation-scotland/pages/4/