For those of us with a deep respect for nature, we often find ourselves contemplating the profound cycle of life and our place within it. Human composting—also known as Terramation or natural organic reduction—stands as a dignified end-of-life alternative aligned with the values of sustainability and environmental stewardship. 

What is Human Composting?

Human composting is an eco-friendly burial process that gently returns one’s body to the earth. It’s a final tribute to the natural cycle of life, turning bodies into soil. This method of natural organic reduction places human remains into a vessel with nothing more than water, heat, mulch, and preexisting microbes, accelerating natural decomposition. 

The Human Composting Process

Simply put, human composting is the transformation of human remains into soil. The eco-friendly burial process honors the body by merging it with a blend of natural materials. It involves a vessel layered with straw, wood chips, and other organic materials and the body. Over the course of a month, the microbes in the body transform the body into nutrient-dense soil.

Human Composting: What Happens to the Bones?

After a month, the body in the vessel becomes about a cubic yard of nutrient-rich soil and is separated out from the bones. The bones are reduced through cremation and reintroduced to the soil to sit for another month before going back to the family and ultimately, back to the planet.

Human Composting: Environmental Benefits

The environmental implications of human composting are inspiring. Unlike natural burial methods, traditional burial methods often involve chemical preservatives and non-biodegradable materials that are at odds with the environment. By contrast, human composting offers a return to simplicity and sustainability. It’s a commitment to minimize the human footprint and leave a legacy of nurturing the Earth.

All photos courtesy of Return Home, a company offering human composting services.

Human Composting Cost

The average cost for human composting is $5000-$7000. Transportation fees to the facility may be additional, depending on location and the provider.

Human Composting Companies

Human composting providers are growing as more states move toward legalization. Currently, only a few states have passed legislation making human composting legal. Its legality is determined on a state-by-state basis.

The human composting process honors our bond with nature. It’s one of many sustainable options that can transform the end of life into a legacy of nurturing the Earth.