Guided by Nature: Comparing Reduction Options and Their Impact
When planning for end-of-life, many families are looking beyond tradition and convention and are asking: What aligns with my values? What impact does this have on the planet? What actually happens to the body? Rather than attempting to preserve the body, reduction acknowledges impermanence and supports a return to the earth. Terramation uses biology and time, aquamation uses water and alkalinity, and cremation uses heat and flame. While the methods differ, the intention is shared: to transform the body back into its elemental building blocks.
At their cores, terramation, aquamation, and cremation are all ways of accelerating nature’s processes. In the natural world, a body eventually returns to its basic elements through decomposition, weather, microbes, heat, and time (while these options accelerate nature’s timelines, natural burial and sea burial are options that follow nature’s timelines). Each of the reduction options guide a transformation, but each uses different conditions to speed up a process that would otherwise take years or decades.
Understanding these options through the lens of how they mimic and accelerate natural cycles can help clarify which path feels most aligned with your values, your priorities, and your sense of meaning at the end of life.
Terramation (Natural Organic Reduction or Human Composting)
Terramation is a gentle, earth-centered process that mirrors natural decomposition in a controlled, indoor environment. Over time, the body is transformed into a regenerative, living soil that can return to the earth to nourish new life.Families may choose to donate this soil to conservation or urban greening projects, or share it with loved ones.
Legality of Terramation
Terramation is currently legal in a growing number of U.S. states, and the exact count is growing as legislation allows for it.
In California, terramation results in what is legally referred to as “reduced human remains.”
Timeframe for Terramation
Approximately 60–90 days
Environmental Considerations for Terramation
- Organic materials used
- (-) Alfalfa is often used in terramation and it is a water-intensive crop that raises regional water-use considerations.
- (+) Organic materials that would otherwise be sent to landfills can be used in the terramation process. This is not a common practice, but one that terramation providers would disclose.
Bones from Terramation
Bones are reduced to a fine powder and fully integrated back into the soil, completing the return-to-earth cycle.
Space considerations for Terramation
Terramation facilities require significantly more space than cremation facilities due to the longer process timeline.
Final remains & scattering for Terramation
In California, reduced human remains may be:
- Scattered at a cemetery
- Placed on conservation land
- Scattered on private property (with permission)
- Scattered on public land with written authorization
Permanent storage options must be confirmed in advance. at this time California Health and Safety Code does not allow for the permanent storage of reduced (composted) human remains, like they do cremated or hydrolyzed remains.
Aquamation (Alkaline Hydrolysis or Water Cremation)
Aquamation is a water-based reduction process that gently returns the body to its natural building blocks. Sometimes called water cremation, this method uses an alkaline solution and heated water to accelerate decomposition. Aquamation uses approximately 90% less energy than conventional cremation and produces no airborne emissions. The remaining elements can be responsibly returned to the environment.
Timeframe for Aquamation
Approximately 4–8 hours
Environmental Considerations for Aquamation
- Energy use
- Electricity required to heat water and operate the system
- Energy demands for facility heating and cooling
- Manufacturing impact
- Environmental footprint associated with producing aquamation chambers
- Resource Use
- Hydrolysis uses approximately 400 gallons of water per person. This is roughly equal to 8 days water use for the average american
Bones from Aquamation Process
The bones remain after the process and they are dried, dehydrated, and ground into a fine powder. Because of a high salt content, they are also neutralized and safe for handling.
Final remains & scattering for Aquamation
The resulting remains are similar in appearance to cremated remains and follow the same scattering regulations.
Cremation
Flame cremation remains a widely chosen option, and it can be made more sustainable through options like filtration and carbon offsets.
Our cremation partner operates the cleanest-burning cremation technology in Los Angeles and California, with a facility fully powered by renewable energy.
Timeframe for Cremation
Approximately 2–4 hours
Environmental Considerations for Cremation
- Fossil fuel use
- Natural gas extraction, refining, and combustion
- Direct fuel use during the cremation process
- Emissions
- Air pollutants and particulate matter
- Mercury emissions from dental fillings (a known neurotoxin)
- Facilities
- Energy use varies by provider and technology
Bones from Cremation Process
Bones are removed from the retort after cremation and mechanically reduced into a fine powder.
Final remains & scattering for Cremation
Cremated remains may be kept, buried, or scattered in accordance with California law.
Choosing What’s Right for You
There is no “right” choice, only what feels most aligned with your values and beliefs. Understanding your options empowers you to make a choice rooted in intention.
If you have questions or want to explore these options more deeply, we’re here to guide you.
