What is human composting?
Human composting, scientifically known as Natural Organic Reduction (NOR), is an eco-friendly end-of-life process that transforms human remains into nutrient-dense soil. The body is placed in a specialized, reusable vessel filled with organic materials like wood chips, alfalfa, and straw. Over the span of 8 to 12 weeks, the combination of oxygen and naturally occurring microbes facilitates aerobic decomposition, raising internal temperatures to roughly 150°F. This heat naturally destroys pathogens while breaking down the body (bones and teeth are pulverized and readded), leaving behind about one cubic yard of fertile soil that can be returned to the family.
While both human composting and green burial (also called natural burial) share the goal of returning the body to the earth without toxic chemicals, they differ primarily in their setting and speed. Green burial involves placing an unembalmed body directly into the ground using only biodegradable materials like a simple pine casket or a cotton shroud. In contrast, human composting takes place in a controlled, above-ground facility. Because human composting optimizes oxygen levels and moisture in a contained environment, it completes the transition to soil in a matter of months, whereas the same process in a green burial can take several weeks or months depending on the soil conditions and depth of the grave.
Despite these procedural differences, the two methods share a deep similarity in their environmental philosophy and impact. Both eliminate the use of formaldehyde-based embalming fluids, concrete vaults, and metal caskets, which are staples of conventional “modern” burial. By avoiding these materials and the high-heat energy required for cremation, both methods significantly reduce carbon footprints—often saving over one metric ton of CO2 per person. Ultimately, whether a family chooses the focused “soil transformation” of a composting facility or the quiet, direct-to-earth approach of a natural cemetery, both paths honor a commitment to ecological conservation and the cycle of life.
Read an analysis here on the relative carbon impacts of each (hint: Green Burial has less). https://www.greenburialcouncil.org/uploads/1/2/4/2/124231485/carbon_benefits_of_conservation_burial.pdf?ref=ambrook
