The reformers of burial practices hope for water cremation and composting in Finland - however, there is a long way to go before they are allowed

In Finland today, you can only choose coffin burial or cremation. However, there are hopes for allowing other burial methods from time to time.

For example, the Helsinki Parish Association rarely receives inquiries about new burial methods. In recent years, the Ministry of Education and Culture has also been contacted about this.

One example of the desire for new burial methods is a citizen's initiative that proposes the acceptance of water cremation and composting in our country as well.

The new burial methods would require major changes in practice and laws, says Mikael Wilén, chairman of the Finnish Funeral Association.

- For example, we have to decide what to do with the liquid organic material produced in water incineration and where it ends up, says Wilén.

Wilén sees the need for new forms of burial coming from outside the church.

- The fact that, according to the current law, you cannot aim for profit in funeral operations brings its own challenge. Whoever takes over this matter has quite a mountain to climb, says Wilén.

Leila Roininen, head of the Vaasa parish association's funeral service, also knows that even if new ways are desired, it is not a simple matter.

He thinks that the new methods would involve significant investment needs.

- This could be more of a private activity, but the initial investments are large, Roininen says.

"No real pressure yet"

Administrative adviser of the Ministry of Education and Culture , Hanna Kiiskinen, considers the decision on new burial methods to be a government program-level matter. The issue is not mentioned in the current government program.

A change in the law would require, for example, the clarification of issues related to environmental health care and culture, as well as the perspectives of different religions.

- Within a couple of years, there have been contacts regarding these matters. Maybe there isn't really any pressure to change the law yet, Kiiskinen estimates.

The Funeral Act binds everyone working in the field, including the church.

Two wild cat cubs have already appeared in front of the wildlife camera, and it has also been proven that their parents often go there. In one month, 73 pictures were taken of them, while only one wild cat was photographed in a control area.

Ecology, energy savings and values

One of the initiators of the citizens' initiative is Stephanie Sinclair-Lappi, the executive director of the Swedish Burial Association. He would offer people more options for burial, regardless of belief.

- There have already been some discussions about new burial methods, but the citizens' initiative is the first opening on this scale, says Sinclair-Lappi.

The citizens' initiative was opened on October 18. By November 13, it had been signed by 729 people.

According to Sinclair-Lapi, the new burial methods hoped for in the initiative are supported by ecology, because in his opinion they would be more efficient over time than traditional cremation due to lower energy costs.

- Everyone should be able to choose according to their own world of values.

Water incineration is already legal in, for example, Canada, Australia, Holland and Norway, while composting is legal in many US states.

"Good to preserve traditions too"

Halsua vicar Juha Karhulahti , the county governor of Kokkola's deaconship, has not received any requests for new burial methods. Even cremation is still viewed with reservations.

- We belong to a tradition and culture where the church has its own important place. I would think that individuality is a good thing, but somewhere it is good to preserve traditions, says Karhulahti.