With the current climate crisis we all find ourselves in, many of us would like the option to make a positive impact on the environment after we die. There are numerous environmental issues with burial, cremation and hydrolysis, but composting allows us saves 1 ton of carbon per person. It also provides much needed compost which can be used to plant trees and help tackle climate change. 

Human composting has already been proven popular by ‘Recompose’ a company based in the US. The deceased person’s family and friends are invited to participate in the ‘laying in’ process if they’d like to, and many say it helps them in their grieving. The whole process takes about 6 weeks in total and the family can either keep the compost or donate it to a conservation charity. You can find out more about Recompose on their website, or the ‘Ask a Mortician’ YouTube channel. 

In the US there has been some opposition from funeral directors who prefer more traditional methods, but hopefully if we can get Human Composting legalised here, it will become an option for those of us who would like it.