Human Composting: Everything You Need to Know

For generations, the choice between either burial or cremation has been a standard in funeral planning. Today, a new and environmentally friendly option is growing in popularity. This innovative process transforms a body into nutrient-rich soil, returning it to nature without harmful chemicals or carbon emissions.

As awareness of climate change and environmental responsibility grows, human composting is emerging as a preferred alternative for the eco-conscious. This method serves as a way to honor our connection to nature. In becoming soil, a person’s body can nourish new life for generations, whether in memorial gardens, forests, or conservation sites.

If you’re curious about this green alternative to burial and cremation, you probably have questions. We’ve written many articles about human composting and end-of-life care. Here, we’ll bring it all together in a comprehensive guide.

What is human composting?

Human composting is also known as soil transformation, terramation, recomposition, and natural organic reduction. While “natural organic reduction” is a more commonly used term in legislative texts, at Earth we call this process “soil transformation.”

In short, human composting is the gentle, natural process of turning a person into soil. The process harnesses the science of composting in a controlled environment to produce real, healthy soil. This allows individuals to return to nature upon death, and become part of a healthy, regenerating, and natural ecosystem. It’s also carbon-neutral, and therefore an eco-friendly alternative to burial and cremation.

How does the human composting process work?

The human composting process begins with gently washing the body and wrapping it in a biodegradable shroud. The body is then laid in a specially designed vessel with organic materials like mulch, wood chips, and wildflowers. This vessel is sealed and meticulously monitored to ensure the ideal balance of carbon, nitrogen, and moisture to facilitate microbial activity. Over 30 to 45 days, these naturally-occurring microbes break down the body into soil. Sometimes, bones are removed and ground down to fine particles, then returned to the soil. Human composting mirrors natural cycles of life and decomposition, akin to how leaves decompose on a forest floor, enriching the soil with nutrients.

Where does human composting take place?

Human composting takes place in purpose-built facilities designed to be serene and respectful places for honoring loved ones. These facilities vary slightly in their technology but universally focus on maintaining optimal conditions for the composting process, including temperature, moisture, and oxygen levels.

Natural organic reduction is not yet legal in all 50 states, but new bills are being introduced and passed each year, making it more accessible to a growing number of people. We have a tracker with up-to-date information on where human composting is legal and the status of bills in progress.

Why choose human composting over cremation, traditional burial, or natural burial?

This is a deeply personal choice. For some, the environmental benefits of human composting are a significant factor in choosing human composting. (We’ll get into those in the next section.)

For others, human composting acknowledges a deeper connection to nature and an ecosystem beyond our lives. The nutrient-rich soil produced by human composting helps nourish the environment and capture carbon, helping sustain the environment beyond one’s lifetime.

Human composting also enables individuals to both choose and nourish a final resting place that is meaningful to them. By planting or scattering the soil of a loved one, their body becomes a part of the land and helps sustain it. This allows friends and family to visit their loved ones in a natural setting where trees, gardens, or plants can grow.

This green funeral option relieves some of the finality of death by nourishing something new. When soil transformation is used to nurture life, life goes on. This can be incredibly comforting to those who have lost someone and those who are planning for the end of a life.

How is human composting better for the environment?

Traditional burial practices can be resource-intensive involving embalming chemicals, non-reusable caskets, and an increasingly large cemetery footprint. Cremation, while simpler and easier than burial, is a fossil fuel-driven process that releases significant carbon emissions and fine particles. One cremation typically emits about as much carbon as driving over 600 miles.

In contrast, human composting is a gentle, carbon-neutral alternative that not only avoids emissions but also produces nutrient-dense soil that can revitalize ecosystems and sequester carbon. Providers like Earth use renewable energy to power their facilities, further reducing the environmental footprint.

What happens to the soil after human composting is complete?

The result of human composting is about one cubic yard of healthy soil. That’s enough to cover 100 square feet of land three inches deep – room for a significant amount of plants and trees.

Some families choose to take all of this soil, while others only keep a portion. We receive heartfelt stories from the families we’ve served, sharing the unique and profound ways they’ve used the soil—from starting gardens and planting trees to leaving the soil in cherished places around the world. Many choose to divide the soil among friends and family, allowing each loved one to grieve and memorialize in their own special way.

Soil can also be donated by families to aid conservation projects. At Earth, we send donated soil to our conservation projects to help support growth and nourish local land.

How does the cost of human composting compare to traditional burial?

According to the National Funeral Director’s Association, the median cost of funerals with burial in the United States in 2024 is $8,300. Human composting typically costs between $5,000 and $7,000. No matter what type of funeral you choose, it’s important to consider what is included in each price, as this varies significantly between providers. For more information on our pricing at Earth, you can request an instant quote.

How do I make arrangements for a human composting funeral?

Funeral planning can be overwhelming, especially without pre-arrangements in place. In the event of an unexpected loss, family members are left to navigate their grief while also managing the responsibility of making funeral arrangements. At Earth, we have a dedicated care team available by phone and email, 24 hours a day. Call us at (877) 327-4109, and we'll walk you through the process of making immediate arrangements.

It's always beneficial to plan a funeral in advance. This allows you to clearly outline your wishes and pay for arrangements yourself, rather than leaving those decisions and costs to your loved ones. If you wish to have your own body transformed into soil, a prepaid plan will secure that option and protect your family from any future financial burden.

Planning a funeral in advance is also a good opportunity to think about other details related to your final days and how your life will be honored. Funeral planning is a deeply personal process and people have a wide range of desires. Human composting can be a meaningful part of broader plans. Some people incorporate the planting of a garden or tree in their celebration of life while others pass out soil to loved ones at a traditional funeral service.

Where is human composting legal?

As of August 2024, human composting is legal in Maine, Minnesota, Delaware, Maryland, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New York, Washington, Oregon, and Vermont. About a dozen more states have bills in progress. For the most up-to-date information on legislation, refer to our tracker.

Why is human composting not legal in my state yet?

People are catching on to the great benefits of human composting and pushing for legalization, but the legislative process can be slow. The funeral industry has, for the most part, only ever offered burial and cremation. With deep roots of tradition and history, people within the industry and the general public can be wary of change. Human composting has been available in the United States since 2019, when Washington became the first state to legalize the process. It continues to face industry hurdles, as well as cultural and legal ones.

Since funeral options are legislated state by state, each state must draft their own legislation, and that bill must then go through a lengthy process before becoming law. A growing number of people want this eco-friendly option to be available in their state, and we’ve seen new bills being drafted every year. As more individuals learn about and voice their support for human composting, states will continue to consider new bills that legalize this safe and sustainable practice.

Is human composting the right option for you?

Human composting has been a comfort to countless individuals. When it’s the right option for you or someone you love, choosing it becomes an important part of the grieving process. Watching the soil of a loved one nurture new life can be life-changing and offer solace after loss.

The best advocates for human composting are those who have made this decision. You can read reviews from families who chose human composting for themselves or loved ones. Reading these first-hand experiences can offer a lot of reassurance when making this decision yourself.

To learn more about green funerals and human composting, give us a call at Earth Funeral. Our friendly and professional team is ready to assist you in exploring your options for planning a meaningful return to nature.