Human Body Composting: The New Science and Technology of Eco-Friendly Funerals
A scientific alternative to the environmental impact of burials and cremations: Transforming human remains into nutrient-rich soil through natural organic reduction.
During its existence on Earth, humanity has caused countless environmental changes and pollution, but this impact is not limited to life alone. Traditional funeral practices after death also place a heavy burden on the environment. Traditional burials occupy large areas of land and utilize toxic chemicals to preserve the body, while cremation consumes significant amounts of fossil fuels. As a solution to this problem, scientists and researchers have developed a science-based method called 'human composting,' which is legally referred to as 'natural organic reduction' or 'terramation'.
Human composting is a biological process in which a human body is naturally converted into fertile soil or compost with the help of millions of microbes and plant-based organic matter. Developed at the beginning of the twenty-first century, this technology is rapidly emerging as an environmentally sustainable alternative. Scientists in France and researchers at Washington State University have conducted in-depth tests in this direction. Washington state became the first jurisdiction to grant legal recognition to this method, and subsequently, it has also received legal acceptance in other US states, Sweden, and New South Wales (Australia).
Historical Background and Necessity
Examining the history of the funeral industry, as illustrated in the famous 1963 book 'The American Way of Death,' the commercial funeral industry promoted highly expensive and resource-intensive practices following the American Civil War. These included chemical processes (embalming), expensive coffins, and vast burial plots. As an alternative, cremation gradually gained popularity over time, and by 2015, the rate of cremation in the United States had surpassed that of traditional burial.
However, cremation is also not environmentally benign. Crematorium furnaces consume large quantities of fossil fuels and release carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Furthermore, there is also the risk of toxic mercury being released into the environment due to old amalgam fillings in the deceased's teeth. For these reasons, Katrina Spade, founder of the company Recompose, began scientific research to apply composting methods used in animal husbandry to the human body. In 2020, a scientific study of this method was conducted at Washington State University.
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How the process works: Science and the biological revolution
Composting is an aerobic, or oxygen-based, method of recycling organic solid materials. This process converts organic matter into fertile humus. Four main components are essential for composting: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and water.
According to Recompose's patent, a deceased body is placed in a specialized stainless steel container along with a plant-based mixture. This mixture utilizes woodchips, straw, and alfalfa. Recompose estimates that approximately 729 cubic feet (20.6 cubic meters) of plant material is used per person. A constant flow of oxygen is maintained within this container, and it is rotated as needed.
In this favorable environment, thermophile microbes (microorganisms that remain active at high temperatures) multiply rapidly and begin the decomposition of the body and the plant mixture. Together with engineer Oren Bernstein, Katrina Spade has designed a container and frame system that allows for the composting of multiple bodies within a single complex. Through this process, the entire body is transformed into fertile soil in a short period of just 1 to 2 months.
| Method | Duration | Energy consumption | Estimated cost ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional burial | Permanent / years | High (resource intensive) | $7,000 - $12,000 |
| Cremation | A few hours | Full (fossil fuel) | $4,000 - $7,000 |
| Human composting (NOR) | 1 to 2 months | 1/8th of cremation | $3,000 - $7,000 |
Safety Measures, Temperature, and Health Regulations
Strict health and legal safety standards have been established for human body composting. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 'Processes to Further Reduce Pathogens' (PFRP) standards, it is mandatory for the temperature of composting in a closed container to reach at least 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees Fahrenheit) for a continuous period of more than 3 days. This high temperature is necessary to neutralize harmful pathogens, medications, antibiotics, and residues from chemotherapy drugs.
Bodies of individuals with certain specific infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, and Ebola are considered unsuitable for this process, as their pathogenic bacteria or viruses may survive even at composting temperatures. Furthermore, medical implants with batteries, such as pacemakers, or radioactive seeds must be removed before the process begins. Metals used in hip replacements are also separated before the soil is used.
Bones decompose more slowly than soft tissues. Therefore, during the middle stage of the composting process, the bones are separated, ground into a fine powder using mechanical equipment, and mixed back into the soil. This same method is used for pulverizing bones in crematoriums in Western countries.
- Placement in containerThe body is placed in a container with a plant mixture such as woodchips, straw, and alfalfa.
- Aerobic composting and temperatureThermophile microbes decompose amid oxygen flow; temperature is maintained above 55 °C (131 °F) for 3 days as per EPA standards.
- Bone processingIn the middle of the process, bones are separated, mechanically pulverized, and added back to the soil.
- Creation of nutrient-rich soil450 kg of nutrient-rich soil is prepared in 1-2 months, which is handed over to the family or donated to forests.
Statistics, Capacity, and Cost Comparison
According to Recompose's data, composting one human body produces approximately 27 cubic feet (0.76 cubic meters) of nutrient-rich soil weighing 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms). Family members can use this soil in their own gardens or donate it to conservation forests.
In terms of energy consumption, operating a human composting facility requires energy, but it is only one-eighth (1/8) of the energy used for cremation. Economically, this method is also more affordable.
According to Washington state regulations, the resulting soil must be tested for toxic elements such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and selenium. In states like New York and Colorado, the use of this soil for growing food crops is prohibited.
Social, Religious, and Future Perspectives
Although the idea of human composting is extremely promising from an environmental perspective, it has received varied responses at the social and religious levels. The Catholic Church has opposed it, stating that human remains should be treated with reverence and that mixing them into soil or agriculture is contrary to the doctrine of resurrection. However, some bioethics experts believe that 'dust to dust' more directly fulfills the biblical message.
In Judaism, Orthodox branches oppose composting, while Reconstructionist-leaning rabbis consider it consistent with environmental values. Environmentalists and activists like author Caitlin Doughty argue that this process fulfills the human desire to nourish the Earth even after death.
Human composting is a unique biological and scientific revolution in the field of funeral rites. It provides a sophisticated and sustainable technique for naturally reintroducing the human body into the Earth's cycle.
