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As seen in WHYY: Human composting offers families an eco-friendly death care option
WHYY
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September 2, 2025
WHYY explores human composting as families seek eco-friendly alternatives to traditional burial and cremation, featuring Earth Funeral's leadership in sustainable death care across multiple states.
"Burial can require interment of nondegradable materials like metal and concrete," says Haley Morris, spokesperson for Earth Funeral. "Embalming fluid has carcinogens and then cremation relies on fossil fuels. Each cremation emits the equivalent of a 600-mile car trip."
In WHYY, reporter Sarah Mueller examines the emerging human composting industry through the personal story of New Jersey resident Jayme Strasburger, who chose soil transformation for her mother Jacqueline Reis Messina. The article highlights how families are moving beyond traditional options to embrace what one CEO calls going "back to the earth when we die gently.
The piece details the 30 to 60-day process that transforms bodies into approximately 250 pounds of nutrient-rich soil, showcasing Earth Funeral's facilities in Washington and Nevada. WHYY features touching family stories like Strasburger using her mother's soil to grow sunflowers and planning to plant a magnolia tree, while also scattering soil in meaningful locations from Madrid to Italy.
The article addresses the expanding legal landscape as New Jersey moves toward becoming the 14th state to allow human composting, with Earth Funeral using donated soil to reforest land devastated by wildfire and overlogging.
Return to nature through soil transformation
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Takeaways
- Environmental Leadership: Earth Funeral operates state-of-the-art facilities using 100% renewable energy with zero net CO2 emissions
- Conservation Mission:Donated soil supports reforestation projects restoring lands damaged by wildfire and overlogging
- Legal Expansion:Human composting now legal in 13 states with New Jersey legislation pending, creating growing accessibility
- Family Connection: Families describe deeper emotional bonds with soil remains, creating memorial gardens and meaningful plantings compared to traditional options
"Burial can require interment of nondegradable materials like metal and concrete ... then cremation relies on fossil fuels. Each cremation emits the equivalent of a 600-mile car trip."
