NATURAL ORGANIC REDUCTION

Natural Organic Reduction (NOR) is a technique for turning human remains into nutrient-rich

earth, so that death supports life and not the other way around. Bodies are organically reduced,

similar to standard composting. The decedent is placed on a bed of biological remnants, such

as wood chips and straw. The body and natural materials steadily decompose and turn into

soil, which is removed and used by farmers, planted in a forest, or returned to the 
family.

NOR gently transforms human remains into soil in less than six months. The process uses large

vessels to hold human remains which are periodically rotated to disperse the oxygen within to aid

in the decomposition process. Sometimes a blend of fungi, protozoa, and bacteria will be added to accelerate the disposition. The internal confines generate heat of over 131 degrees Fahrenheit, which kills viruses, bacteria, and pathogens, and exceeds EPA requirements for heavy metals, which are stabilized in the soil, not volatilized.

NOR is a green approach to the disposition of one’s body after death as it returns the body’s nutrients back to the soil and produces only a small fraction of the environmental footprint required from more 
modern burial or cremation practices.

This process was approved for human decedents in Washington State in 2019. All three West Coast states have voted to legalize this form of disposition, and other states across the country also now have this option available for families or are considering similar legislature for a favorable vote.