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As Seen In AARP: Human Composting: A New Take on the 'Green' Funeral
AARP
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December 6, 2024
AARP explores the growing trend of human composting as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional burial and cremation, featuring Earth Funeral's expansion across multiple states.
"While it's getting labeled as a new process, what we're doing is actually as old as time," says Tom Harries, CEO of Earth Funeral, describing how the company accelerates natural decomposition using science and technology.
In AARP, reporter Robin L. Flanigan examines the rising interest in green funeral options, noting that 68% of respondents in a 2024 survey expressed interest in nontoxic end-of-life alternatives compared to 56% in 2021.
The article details Earth Funeral's 45-day process that transforms bodies into 300 pounds of nutrient-rich soil, highlighting the company's work with over 5,000 families since launching in 2022. AARP showcases personal stories like Tim Andruss creating a memorial garden with his wife Alenka's soil and Roberta Vollendorff spreading her son's soil beneath their family's sitka spruce tree.
The piece addresses practical considerations including costs, regulatory challenges, and the importance of discussing end-of-life wishes with loved ones as human composting becomes legal in 12 states.
Return to nature through soil transformation
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Takeaways
- Market Growth: Earth Funeral has served over 2,500 families since 2022 and operates across eight states with plans for five more facilities
- Conservation Impact: Company partners with restoration projects including Olympic Peninsula forest restoration and Sierra Foothills habitat improvement
- Cost Advantage: Human composting costs less than traditional burial and cremation
- Emotional Connection: Families describe the soil as feeling "alive" compared to cremation ash, offering ongoing connection through memorial gardens and meaningful plantings
"While it's getting labeled as a new process, what we're doing is actually as old as time."
