How we care for our families

From Tom Harries, CEO and founder of Earth Funeral:

Our commitment to oversight and accountability

Fully licensed and regulated funeral professionals

Earth Funeral operates as a licensed funeral provider and complies with all applicable state and local regulations. Each individual in our care is overseen by licensed Funeral Directors and licensed operators who are highly trained to uphold our high standard of care and treat all loved ones with dignity and respect.

Reviewed by state authorities

Earth Funeral facilities have passed all unannounced  inspections since our launch in 2022. We uphold a high standard of care and require all loved ones to be treated with dignity and respect.

We are subject to oversight and inspection by state regulators.

Independent third-party safety audits

In addition, Earth Funeral commissioned an  independent, third-party safety audit conducted by national experts and conducts internal safety audits based on their guidance. These audits are a comprehensive examination of our facilities, equipment, and procedures to ensure they meet rigorous safety and occupational standards.

How we ensure safety and integrity

A Guide to Best Practices in Natural Organic Reduction

Earth Funeral has published an industry-leading guide that outlines best practices for Natural Organic Reduction (NOR), including safety standards, regulatory recommendations, and operational learnings informed by five years of operations and innovation. Read the NOR Best Practices guide here.

What it covers:

• Vessel design and monitoring
• Operator training and accountability
• Facility standards
• Continuous improvement and innovation

The Science Behind the Soil

Soil transformation is grounded in biology, compost science, and careful environmental controls. Our Science Behind the Soil guide explains how the process works, how soil safety is ensured through testing, and how NOR compares to conventional compost and other disposition methods.

What it covers:

• Microbiology and temperature controls
• Pathogen destruction standards
• Soil maturity and testing
• Environmental and ecological value

Chain of Custody & Preventing Commingling

Earth Funeral maintains a strict and transparent chain-of-custody process from the moment someone enters our care through the return of soil to families. See our NOR Best Practices Guide for more information about this process.

Key safeguards include:

• One individual per vessel
• Physical and digital identification systems
• Multi-point verification by trained operators
• Documented vessel turnover and cleaning procedures
• These protocols ensure each family receives only their loved one’s soil, handled with care and accuracy at every step.

Safety & Occupational Standards

Protecting our team is essential to protecting families. Earth Funeral conducts formal hazard analyses, maintains written safety programs, and provides required training and protective equipment for all operators. Safety is not a checklist; it’s a shared responsibility embedded in our daily work: Read more in our NOR Best Practices Guide.

Our approach includes:

• OSHA-aligned safety protocols
• Regular training and retraining
• Clear escalation and incident-review processes
• A culture that empowers team members to raise concerns

Consumer Protections & Eligibility

Not everyone is eligible for soil transformation due to specific health or safety considerations. These eligibility standards are defined by state regulations and public-health guidance and apply across the NOR industry.

Earth Funeral reviews eligibility carefully with families, explains any limitations clearly, and ensures all authorizations and documentation are completed transparently.

Transparency by Design

Soil transformation is still new to many families. We believe trust is built through education, openness, and clear communication—not assumptions.

That's why we:

• Explain each step of the process before arrangements are made
• Provide updates while a loved one is in our care
• Share our standards, testing, and practices publicly
• Welcome questions at any point

Our Focus Remains on Families

Earth Funeral exists to care for people during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Everything we do—our process, our standards, our oversight—is designed to honor that responsibility with humility, accountability, and respect.

If you have questions or would like to learn more, our Care Team is always here to help.