Association board member Michael Robertson, also the chief executive of Adelaide Cemeteries, said if Australia mandated low-emissions cremators like those used in Europe, an additional 6000 tonnes of carbon and other particulates could be diverted from the atmosphere every year by 2050.

“We have a growing ageing population,” he said. “The numbers are increasing, and we need to be thinking about tomorrow.”

Adelaide Cemeteries last year installed the first – and, as yet, only – set of modern cremators in Australia.

“We’re committed to collaborating with fellow cemetery and crematorium operators across the country and sharing our experience to support their transition to lower emission technology,” Robertson said.

“It’s time for an industry-wide conversation to work towards realistic and achievable new standards.”

The cemeteries association has committed to establishing a technical group in the Asia-Pacific that aims to transition the region’s ageing crematoria to low-emissions, full-filtration models.

Kelly said if trends continued unabated, cremations emissions could double by 2050.

“Between 70 and 85 per cent of people, depending on where you are [in Australia], are going towards cremation [after death], so it’s a big impact that’s going to have,” he said.

“We’ve come a long way – cremators used to be diesel operate not that long ago, and they were horribly inefficient ... they’re getting better, and they are improving, but there’s still steps that need to be taken ... it does create emissions, and it’s something that we as a sector need to address.”

Loading

The rules governing crematoria differ by states. In Queensland for example, private funeral directors can establish their own crematoria, Kelly said. In Western Australia, they can’t.

“The issue, I guess we have in this country is there is really no overarching standard as such. Each state has its own legislation … it’s hard for us to try and govern that.”

While the cremation sector is looking to lower-emission technology, the broader funeral industry is also considering offering environmentally sensitive options for laying people to rest.

One method attracting increasing attention is alkaline hydrolysis, also known as water cremation or aquamation. In this method, a person’s remains are placed into a stainless steel tank containing water and potassium hydroxide, and slowly heated. The process breaks down the remains into chemical components, leaving behind liquid and softened bones, which can be returned to families as “ashes”.

“Natural” burials, with remains wrapped in shrouds or laid to rest in coffins made of natural materials including cardboard and wicker, with no embalming fluids and in a natural setting, are increasingly mainstream options.

Get to the heart of what’s happening with climate change and the environment. Sign up for our fortnightly Environment newsletter.