Terramation questions, answered

Not yet. On 15 October 2026 Alex Greenwich’s Bill passed the NSW Legislative Assembly unanimously, and it now goes to the Legislative Council. If it passes there and receives assent, NSW would be the first Australian state to allow terramation. Evergrove is working closely with Alex Greenwich, government and industry to see the Bill pass in the strongest form available to it. Learn more about the Public Health Amendment (Natural Organic Reduction) Bill 2026.

No date can be given yet. On 15 October 2026 Alex Greenwich’s Bill passed the NSW Legislative Assembly unanimously and now goes to the Legislative Council, with debate expected in November. If it passes there and receives assent, the terramation provisions commence two years after that, so the earliest it could be offered is 2029. Evergrove is working closely with Alex Greenwich, government and industry to see the Bill pass in the strongest form available to it. If it passes, we expect other states to follow. Under Australia’s division of powers, death care falls within state jurisdiction, so terramation must be legalised and regulated state by state. Learn more about the Public Health Amendment (Natural Organic Reduction) Bill 2026.

In 14 states of the United States, and in one German state, Schleswig-Holstein. It is not legal in Australia. California passed its law in 2022 but it does not take effect until 2027. See the map of every jurisdiction and the year each one passed →

It is not illegal anywhere in the world as that would mean it had been considered and is now explicitly prohibited. In most places, it is simply unlegalised meaning it hasn’t been officially authorised or approved through local legislative and regulatory processes. If you want this option where you are, the best thing you can do is join our movement and contact your local MP to let them know.

Terramation (also called human composting or natural organic reduction) is an accelerated replication of the burial breakdown process that happens in an aboveground vessel instead of an underground, land locked plot. It returns a body to the earth by transforming it into soil (or scientifically speaking a soil amendment) that nurtures living memorials such as trees, gardens and ecosystems. Like all living things, humans are made of organic matter and our bodies are biologically built to return to the earth. The acceleration comes from biomimicry. The vessel recreates the ground conditions in which organic matter naturally returns to the earth most efficiently using two key elements: continuous oxygen airflow, and natural fibres such as straw.

Human composting terminology is gradually being phased out due to its undignified waste connotations, in favour of the more appropriate term terramation (certain jurisdictions call it natural organic reduction as a technical term in legislation and regulation). Some feel that composting is more to the point because like all living things, humans are made of organic matter and our bodies are biologically built to return to the earth. However, the historical evolution and adoption of the word cremation, instead of incineration, demonstrates why direct language isn’t always the answer. Language is powerful and there are sensitivities that must be observed for how we talk about our deceased loved ones. Most global jurisdictions do not classify human remains as waste, and composting will always have waste connotations. Evergrove encourages the widespread adoption of terramation for all these reasons, but also because we want to help create a world where death is less taboo. We think this looks like our society talking more openly about death so that we can broaden our collective understanding of this core human experience, and relate more to each other and ourselves. If the door to conversations about death is already confronting and scary, providers like us have a responsibility to help make that door feel more inviting and language is a key part of how we do that. We’d love your help to do this.

You can learn more about terminology here.

Terramation (also called human composting or natural organic reduction) is an accelerated replication of the burial breakdown process that happens in an aboveground vessel instead of an underground, land locked plot. Biomimicry enables the acceleration. The vessel recreates the ground conditions in which organic matter naturally returns to the earth most efficiently using two key elements: continuous oxygen airflow, and natural fibres such as straw. It returns a body to the earth by transforming it into soil (or scientifically speaking a soil amendment) that nurtures living memorials such as trees, gardens and ecosystems. Like all living things, humans are made of organic matter and our bodies are biologically built to return to the earth.

See the process step by step →

Terramation (also called human composting or natural organic reduction) takes between 40-90 days depending on the provider, rather than 20 years in an underground plot. At Evergrove, it is expected to take approximately 40-49 days. The acceleration comes from biomimicry. The vessel recreates the ground conditions in which organic matter returns to the earth most efficiently using two key elements: continuous oxygen airflow, and natural fibres such as straw.

The end result of terramation (also called human composting or natural organic reduction) looks like soil because it is a type of soil amendment. It’s usually quite dry, with a soft and fine texture.

You can learn more about the process here.

Terramation (also called human composting or natural organic reduction) uses the same process of bone reduction and metal recycling that occurs during cremation. After the vessel has been sealed for 40 days (or up to 60 days depending on the provider), it is screened for inorganics. Bones are reduced, metal implants such as pace makers are removed and recycled (the one exception is that pace makers specifically are removed before cremation due to being flammable). The difference with terramation is that the reduction of bone is added back into the vessel to completely transform into soil (or scientifically speaking a soil amendment). Importantly, the reduction step can be bypassed for certain cultural or religious groups where necessary.

Terramation (also called human composting or natural organic reduction) produces soil equivalent to approximately 90-110% of body weight. This varies between providers.

Terramation (also called human composting or natural organic reduction) allows you to become living memorials such as trees and gardens. Learn more about living memorials.

Terramation (also called human composting or natural organic reduction) uses the same process of metal recycling that occurs during cremation. After the vessel has been sealed for 40 days (or up to 60 days depending on the provider), it is screened for inorganics. Metal implants such as pace makers and medical implants are removed and recycled (the one exception is that pace makers specifically are removed before cremation due to being flammable).

The process of terramation (also called human composting or natural organic reduction) should not smell as it is an aerobic form of decomposition where there is continuous airflow of oxygen. Smells only occur in anaerobic environments with insufficient oxygen. Evergrove will use electronically monitored, automated vessels with real time data. Numerous safeguards will be in place to ensure transformations are completed safely and in compliance with local regulations.

Prices vary based on where it is legal and between specific providers. In the US, it costs between $5000-7000 USD depending on the provider. In Germany, prices start from €4,250. In Australia, Evergrove is intending to offer terramation at a fair price given the cost of technology and the importance of paying our staff fairly. It is likely to be on par with mid to upper tier cremation, but less than burial. Like any new technology, prices will reduce overtime and become more accessible.

Yes, it is the most environmentally friendly method of all current and existing methods assessed according to an independent lifecycle assessment. Read more about environmental impacts.

Terramation (also called human composting or natural organic reduction) is the most environmentally friendly method of all current and existing methods assessed according to an independent lifecycle assessment. It may not be available where you are yet. The next best option is natural burial. Read more about environmental impacts.

Natural burial and mushroom coffins available are the leading options in Australia, but there are lots of ways to reduce the environmental impact of the funeral itself. Check out our friends at the Funeral Commons↗ (opens in a new tab) for all things green funerals.

Yes, and it has been studied extensively. The process holds a temperature of at least 55 degrees for 72 consecutive hours, which is the recognised threshold at which harmful pathogens are eliminated. That heat is naturally produced by the microbes in our bodies.

They are destroyed by heat. Terramation holds at least 55 degrees for 72 consecutive hours, which is the recognised threshold for pathogen destruction and the same principle relied on in commercial composting. The heat is generated by microbes breaking down organic matter, not by an external fuel source.

Some conditions are excluded everywhere terramation is legal, generally including prion diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, because prions are not destroyed by heat. Similar exclusions apply to other forms of disposition. The conditions excluded in Australia will be set by the regulations that follow the legislation.

The Catholic Church are yet to take a formal global theological stance on terramation and their position to date has varied across jurisdictions. In Germany, both the Evangelical Lutheran Northern Church and the Catholic Diocese of Hamburg supported the option where the resulting soil is interred in a cemetery. In March 2023 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement that it failed to show adequate respect for the bodies of the dead, on the grounds that it doesn’t leave remains that can be interred. However, this position was taken in response to some providers and it didn’t fully explore how tailored terramation offerings could be co-developed for the Catholic community. Evergrove is leading engagement with the Catholic Church in Australia and hopes to assist the global Catholic community in reaching a formal theological determination.

Since 2023, Evergrove has been engaging with a number of faith and cultural groups to understand how tailored terramation offerings could be co-designed to meet their needs. These discussions are actively evolving and while we don’t have formal outcomes yet, Evergrove hopes that terramation can be an inclusive option available for as many people and communities as possible.

Katrina Spade, an American designer, who began the work in 2014 with a non-profit called the Urban Death Project and founded Recompose in 2017. The first scientific trials were run with Washington State University in 2018, and Washington State legalised it in 2019, becoming the first jurisdiction in the world to do so.

Nobody in Australia yet because it hasn’t been legalised. In the United States the established providers include Return Home, Recompose, The Natural Funeral and Earth Funeral. In Germany, the sole provider is Meine Erde in Schleswig-Holstein.

Evergrove is aiming to be one of the first providers in Australia. Even if you’re not Australian based, you can join our movement.

In Australia today: natural burial, aquamation, and a mushroom coffin. Natural burial places a body without embalming in a biodegradable coffin or shroud, in ground left to return to bushland. Aquamation, also called water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis, uses water and alkali instead of flame and is legal in some states. A mushroom coffin is still a burial, with a coffin grown from mycelium that helps return the body to the earth.