Flame vs Water Cremation for Pets: What Australian Pet Owners Need to Know
Losing a pet is heartbreaking, and planning their farewell is a deeply personal process. When it comes to pet cremation, Australian pet owners now have two primary options for saying goodbye: traditional flame cremation and the newer water cremation (also known as aqua cremation or alkaline hydrolysis). This article compares flame vs water cremation for pets in Australia – examining the process, environmental impact, cost, and popularity – to help you make an informed, compassionate choice. We’ll also discuss the importance of memorialising your pet with urns and memorial products, and how Talking Stones – Australia’s largest manufacturer and supplier of pet memorials – can support your healing journey.
Traditional Flame Cremation for Pets in Australia
Flame cremation is the long-established method for pet aftercare. In this process, the pet’s body is placed in a high-temperature cremation chamber and incinerated by fire (typically fuelled by gas) for an hour or two. What remains are bone fragments that are then processed into fine ashes, which are returned to the pet’s family in an urn or container. This method has been used for decades and is the most common pet cremation in Australia, largely because of its familiarity and wide availability.
Availability and popularity: Nearly every pet crematorium in Australia offers flame-based cremation. It’s the “default” option that veterinarians and pet aftercare services have traditionally provided. Because it’s so popular, it’s often a straightforward choice that many grieving pet owners accept as the norm. However, high demand can sometimes mean a wait of up to a week or two to receive your pet’s ashes, depending on the provider’s schedule.
Cost: Flame cremation has generally been more affordable than newer alternatives. The process is common and doesn’t require specialised new equipment, so providers can offer lower prices. Pet cremation in Australia typically costs a few hundred dollars (varying by pet size and services). Flame cremation tends to be the budget-friendly choice, often cheaper than water cremation at present. This is an important factor for many families, though it’s worth noting that both flame and water cremation cost far less than burial in a pet cemetery.
Environmental impact: The biggest drawback of flame cremation is its environmental footprint. The process uses fossil fuels and releases greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the air. For example, cremating an average-sized dog in a flame-based system can emit over 45 kg of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Traditional cremation furnaces may also release trace amounts of chemicals (like mercury from microchips or other materials) and particulate matter. In today’s terms, flame cremation is generally seen as less eco-friendly, since it contributes to carbon emissions and air pollution. Many environmentally conscious pet owners feel uneasy about this “carbon pawprint.”
The flame cremation experience: Despite environmental negatives, flame cremation remains popular because it is quick and trusted. The entire process – from the time your pet is placed in the chamber to the processing of ashes – happens in a matter of hours. Families often take comfort in knowing their pet’s remains will be handled respectfully and returned to them, allowing them to memorialise their pet soon after. The ashes from flame cremation (often a coarse grey-white powder) can be kept in a decorative urn, scattered in a meaningful place, or even incorporated into jewellery or other keepsakes.
Water Cremation (Aquamation) for Pets in Australia
Water cremation – also called aqua cremation or aquamation – is an emerging, eco-friendly pet cremation method now available to Australian pet owners. The scientific name for this process is alkaline hydrolysis. Instead of fire, it uses a gentle solution of 95% water and 5% alkali (potassium or sodium hydroxide) combined with warm temperatures to break down the body’s tissues. The pet’s body is placed in a specialised stainless steel chamber filled with this solution. With a combination of mild heat and sometimes a little pressure, the natural decomposition that would occur in soil over years is accelerated to just a few hours. At the end of the process, all soft tissues have been dissolved, leaving only the mineral bone remains. These remains are dried and processed into ashes, similar to the ashes from flame cremation. The family receives the ashes (sometimes more of them than with flame cremation) to memorialise their beloved pet.
A gentler, “flameless” process: Many pet owners are drawn to water cremation for its gentle and natural approach. There are no flames or smoke; instead, the method mimics the way a body would naturally return to the earth, but in a controlled, accelerated manner. Providers often describe aquamation as a process that “uses water, not fire” and thus avoids the harsh burning of traditional cremation. The idea of a water-based farewell can feel softer and more comforting to those who find the thought of fire distressing. Importantly, the end result – the ashes – are equivalent to those from flame cremation in terms of how you can use them. In fact, water cremation typically returns 20–30% more ashes of your pet because no part of the bones are lost to extreme heat. This can be meaningful if you have a very small pet or simply wish to have more ashes to divide among family or use in multiple memorial items.
Environmental benefits: Water cremation is often touted as the eco-friendly pet cremation choice. It has a dramatically lower environmental impact than flame cremation. Studies and providers report that aquamation uses about 90–95% less energy than flame-based cremation. It also avoids emitting greenhouse gases or toxic fumes – there’s no combustion, so no CO₂, methane, or particulate pollution directly released. The only outputs are the sterile liquid solution (which is neutralised and safely returned to the water system) and the ashes for the family. By choosing aquamation, environmentally conscious pet owners can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their pet’s final farewell. In short, water cremation is a truly “green” alternative for aftercare.
Availability and popularity: Aqua cremation is newer and less common than traditional cremation, but it’s growing. The technology was first introduced to the funeral industry in the early 2010s. Interestingly, the world’s first water cremation for a human took place in Australia in 2010, and that same year the first pet aquamation unit began operating. Over the past decade, a handful of pet crematoriums across Australia have started offering pet aquamation services (often in major cities or through specialty providers). As of now, flame cremation remains the dominant choice simply due to broader availability and awareness. Many pet owners only learn about water cremation when faced with a euthanasia or pet loss decision, and not every region has a pet aquamation facility yet. However, interest is on the rise. Advocates believe that in a few years, water cremation could become as common as flame cremation for pets in Australia, thanks to its sustainability and gentle reputation.
Cost: Currently, water cremation for pets can be a bit more expensive than flame cremation. Because the equipment is specialised and the practice is new, providers are still recouping their investment and operating in smaller numbers. Pet aquamation might cost slightly more than a standard fire cremation – for example, one Australian provider notes that water cremation is usually priced higher than flame cremation for the same size pet. The good news is that as this service becomes more common, economies of scale should bring the price down. In fact, aqua cremation’s operating costs (energy, etc.) are lower in the long run, which means the fee for pet owners is expected to decrease over time. Many families who choose aquamation today feel the modest extra expense is worth it for the environmental peace of mind. If budget is a primary concern, it’s always wise to compare local providers – you might find the difference is smaller than expected, especially for small pets. Also, keep in mind that both flame and water cremation are generally far more affordable than arranging a formal pet burial in a cemetery.
Timeline and experience: The aquamation process itself takes longer in the machine (several hours, often around 4–8 hours depending on the pet’s size and the equipment). However, because relatively few pets are in queue for water cremation, you might actually get your pet’s ashes back sooner than with flame cremation. Some water cremation providers in Australia note that they can return a pet’s ashes within a couple of days, as opposed to a week or more with busy traditional crematoriums. The ashes from aquamation are typically a soft white powder (many say they are cleaner or whiter than flame-cremated ashes, as there’s no charcoal or soot). From a ceremonial perspective, families don’t notice a big difference – you still receive your pet’s remains in an urn or container, ready to be honoured in whatever way you see fit. Pet owners who have chosen water cremation often feel comforted knowing their pet’s body was handled in a very gentle, “kind to the Earth” manner, which can be one less worry on their conscience during grief.
Memorialisation and Pet Urns in Australia: Honouring Your Pet’s Memory
Choosing flame or water cremation is only one part of the farewell – the next step is deciding how to memorialise your beloved pet. Memorialisation is a crucial aspect of the pet grieving process, helping pet parents find comfort and meaning after loss. Whether you keep your pet’s ashes in a beautiful urn or create another type of tribute, what’s most important is that it feels right to you and honours the bond you shared.
For those who opt for cremation, pet urns are a very popular choice. In fact, urns are often seen as an “obvious” or essential memorial for a pet that has been cremated. You might select a decorative urn to display at home, a biodegradable urn to bury or scatter, or even a small keepsake urn so multiple family members can each keep a portion of the ashes. Australia offers a wide variety of pet urns – from simple wooden boxes to ceramic paw-print jars to ornate engraved vessels – allowing you to choose one that reflects your pet’s personality and your style. Talking Stones provides one of the widest selections of pet urns Australian pet owners can find, along with other memorial products to help commemorate your companion.
Beyond urns, there are many other pet memorials Australian families embrace to keep their pet’s memory alive. These can include engraved plaques or stones for the garden, photo frames or albums, paw print imprints, memorial jewellery containing a bit of ash, and even plush toys or art made from a pet’s fur. Creating a memorial – big or small – is an important outlet for grief. It gives you a dedicated space or object to channel your love and remembrance. Psychologists note that having some form of memorial to celebrate your pet’s life is “normal and completely reasonable” – it provides a tangible way to acknowledge the loss and can kickstart the healing process. In fact, memorialising your pet helps you express your grief in a healthy way (since our society doesn’t always have formal rituals for pet loss) and allows you to begin to heal by focusing on the happy memories and the love you shared. Instead of just feeling the pain of absence, a memorial keeps the pet’s presence alive in your heart and home.
At Talking Stones, we understand how vital memorialisation is to pet owners. As Australia’s largest manufacturer of pet memorials and bereavement products, we have helped thousands of families create lasting tributes, from custom engraved stones to personalised urns. We believe that honouring your pet’s life in a meaningful way can bring comfort during the darkest days of grief. Every pet’s love is unique, and we’re here to help you celebrate that unconditional love through a memorial that tells their story.
Finding Support and Next Steps
Deciding between flame and water cremation comes down to personal values and practical considerations – there is no “one-size-fits-all” answer. What matters is that the choice feels right for you and respects your pet’s memory. Some Australian pet owners will stick with the familiarity of traditional fire cremation, while others will embrace the gentle, eco-friendly aquamation process. Ultimately, both methods will allow you to keep your pet’s ashes and cherish their memory in whatever way brings you peace. Whichever path you choose, remember that you are honouring your pet with love and respect.
After the cremation, take advantage of the memorial options that resonate with you – be it an urn on the mantle, a memorial garden stone, or a special keepsake. Memorials are not about dwelling on death; they’re about celebrating the life and love you shared, and they can truly help in healing.
Finally, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Talking Stones regularly works with leading pet cremation providers across the country and is happy to recommend a trusted pet cremation provider in your area. We can guide you through the process and connect you with reputable services for either flame or water cremation. Our compassionate team is here to answer your questions and help you give your beloved pet the heartfelt farewell they deserve. Together, we can ensure your pet’s final journey is handled with dignity, and help you find some comfort and solace in remembering the joy they brought into your life.
