Promise
The sustainable version of cremation
All over the world, people are looking for more sustainable, environmentally friendly forms of burial and cremation. We think this is a hugely important development and we would like to inform you about the new methods that come out of this research. This time we will tell you about the Promession, a method that treats the body in such a way that it is completely absorbed by the earth within a year.
Promise
In a sense, Promession is the opposite of cremation; instead of being exposed to heat, the body is exposed to cold. The beauty of it is that none of the valuable building blocks of the body are lost. The body is first frozen in a standard freezer. Then the body is transferred to the Promator where it is sprinkled with liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees. This liquid is a by-product of the production of liquid oxygen and is liquid at these very low temperatures. This treatment makes the body fragile. With the help of vibrations, the body then falls apart into small pieces.
By freeze-drying, the remains are dehydrated and then separated from mercury and other metals. Ultimately, about 30% of the original body weight remains. These remains are placed in a biodegradable coffin and buried in the humus layer of the earth. These remains are completely converted into fertile soil within 6-18 months. You can see the process in a simplified way here .
Promessa Organic AB
Promession is a method developed by Swedish biologist Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak. Based on biological research, she developed this freeze-drying method as a solution for the body to become truly fertile soil again. At the moment, her initiative, Promessa, has ambassadors all over the world who are helping to make Promession an approved method where they live. So far, 98 countries have shown interest in the method. For more information and the opportunity to show your support for Promessa, visit the website .
Sustainability
Research by TNO has shown that the freeze-drying method such as Promession is more sustainable, hygienic, space-saving and economical than traditional burial and cremation. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) also supports the initiative.
