Human Composting in California

Earth provides eco-friendly human composting services to families across California. We help them honor lives well-lived by giving back to the earth.

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Whether you’re in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento, or a smaller town in between, our soil transformation process offers a meaningful, climate-conscious alternative to traditional burial or cremation.

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A pair of human hands holding compost with a small green seedling growing through. Plants growing in soil in the background.

Modern, eco-friendly California funeral home

Human composting, also called soil transformation, body composting, natural organic reduction, or terramation, is a gentle process that transforms a body into nutrient-rich, life-giving soil. It offers a natural burial alternative for Californians who want their final arrangements to reflect their care for the planet.

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With Earth, a loved one is placed in a vessel with natural materials and gently transformed into soil in about 45 days. When the process is complete, families choose how much soil to receive for memorial planting or other meaningful uses. Earth donates the remaining soil to local conservation and regional restoration projects that help nourish new growth.

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Many Californians choose human composting because it aligns with their environmental values, including reducing their impact, giving back to the land, and leaving a living legacy.

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California body composting services

Making final arrangements can feel overwhelming, and Earth understands that. That’s why we’ve created a simple, clear process for choosing this green funeral alternative to traditional burial and cremation. Make arrangements online, or call our care team for guidance.

Eco-friendly

Our process produces no net CO2, versus the 535 lbs of CO2 produced by the average cremation (equivalent to a 600+ mile car journey).

Online convenience

Make arrangements in less than 15 minutes, manage everything online with the Earth Portal, and share obituaries with family and friends.

Exceptional care

Our Care Team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We update you at each stage of the process via email, SMS, or via our online Portal.

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State-of-the-art facilities

Earth owns and operates state-of-the-art human composting facilities designed for expert care. Each proprietary vessel is monitored for temperature, moisture, and airflow to support a safe, consistent process powered by 100% renewable energy. When you choose Earth, our Care Team coordinates everything from transport to soil transformation and a gentle return to nature. You don’t have to manage any logistics on your own.

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Supporting land conservation

Each soil transformation creates about a cubic yard of nutrient-rich soil that can support ongoing conservation and restoration work. After families receive the soil they want to keep, Earth donates the remaining soil to projects selected with our partners, including California’s Sierra Riverlands, where it helps restore native habitats and supports long-term ecosystem health.

For many families who care deeply about the climate and the land, knowing their final act contributes to healing the environment brings real comfort.

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The Earth package

The Earth package includes the key services families in California need in the days immediately following a death. As soon as you contact Earth, our Care Team steps in to manage the complete process.

This includes everything you need in California, taking place in the days immediately following the passing.

Services of a licensed funeral director
Collection & care from place of passing
Filing of all necessary paperwork & permits
An Earth soil transformation
The soil returned to your family
Manage everything in our online portal

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Guidance whenever you need it

Every family’s timeline is different. Whether you’ve just experienced a loss, are caring for someone nearing the end of life, or are simply planning ahead, Earth is here to guide you no matter where you live in California.

Immediate need

For families who have recently lost a loved one.

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Imminent need

For families expecting a loved one to pass in the next 6 months.

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Earth Prepaid

For individuals and couples planning for the future.

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Serving each California family like our own

With Earth's 2,000+ five-star reviews, people in California are finding comfort in our environmentally conscious end-of-life alternative.

In thinking about what I want for my body after I die, I didn’t want it to be a chemicalized waste of space in an overpriced piece of real estate with a view. The idea of being turned into compost for my loved ones to grow something from my remains was a beautiful idea. Earth made enrolling in a prepayment plan very easy. They answered all of my questions and sent plenty of information to share with my loved ones.

I highly recommend them for your green burial alternative to traditional burial practices.

Jonny C., Nevada

This was the easiest decision I have ever made on a topic that is the hardest to discuss with family members. Earth - Green Funeral Home made the process simple, answered all my questions, and even accommodated an add-on service with ease and no complications.