New start-up offers clean and green pet cremation

James Hughes-Lock and Kirstie Lovell have started Pet Reflections — a water cremation business for pets, which uses new technology to provide a more eco-friendly method of cremation. This is only the second business of its kind in New Zealand. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

A new and more environmentally friendly method of pet cremation, known as water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis, is now available in Gisborne.

New start-up Pet Reflections is the second business of its kind to offer this service in New Zealand.

Water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis uses 95 percent water combined with 5 percent potassium hydroxide to accelerate natural decomposition and break down the pet’s organic matter, leaving perfectly clean bones.

The bones are then processed to create the ashes, which are then returned to the family.

Each pet is placed in their

own individual compartment, with a stainless steel ID tag that follows them through the entire process to guarantee that each pet is returned.

Clients then have the option of purchasing a wooden urn or a piece of jewellery that holds ashes.

Kirstie Lovell and James Hughes-Lock have been working on Pet Reflections for over a year and only recently received the machine from Australia along with training provided by the manufacturer.

Gisborne does not offer a traditional pet cremation and animals are currently transported to Napier to be cremated by fire.

“It can take a long time and this puts people off,” says Kirstie.

“Our purpose is to change the way our community experiences pet loss, and we do this by offering a service locally that not only cares for your pet but also the planet.”

“We also aim to reduce the time it takes to get your pet back to you.

“Water cremation is more eco-friendly as it does not produce any air emissions, doesn’t burn fossil fuels and uses 90 percent less energy compared to flame cremation,” says James.

“We have goals to become a zero-waste, sustainable business.”

The water solution that remains is then transported to a local farm to be used as fertiliser.

No solution goes down the drain.

In addition to Pet Reflections, Kirstie and James also own Pet Space — a local pet boutique that offers grooming and DIY baths.

Kirstie, a  dog  groomer, and James, an engineer, are both animal lovers.

They hope their water cremation business will appeal to local pet owners who are looking for a cleaner, greener alternative to traditional cremation.

They are already connecting with Gisborne vets to offer this new service.

The water pet-cremation process has been utilised for decades (for both pets and humans) and is widely used in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

It is a relatively new concept in Australia and a very new concept in New Zealand but it is expected to grow in popularity due to its peaceful and natural process together with its pollution-free and environmentally friendly operation.