Everything used on or around the person needs to be organic. Medical devices such as pacemakers are removed, and (artificial joints are removed at the end) the body is then laid in a vessel with materials such as woodchips, alfalfa, straw and a bacterial ‘tea’ that accelerate the composting process.
Over time, the vessel holding the body is ideally rotated, with water and oxygen added. In some versions the vessel is also temperature controlled.
Reducing the body to soil can take a few weeks to a few months depending on the specific method.
The advantages of NOR include:
- A coffin is not required
- Families can participate in the ceremony of placing the person into the vessel
- It uses significantly less energy than flame cremation
This innovative process was first developed by the Urban Death Project.The availability has since expanded, and depending on the individual company's approach, can take anywhere from six weeks to six months to complete. In over a dozen states the USA an increasing range of options are now available. Overall, Natural Organic Reduction is designed to replicate above ground what natural burial accomplishes underground.
When the process is complete, any remaining artificial materials are removed, and bone fragments that have not fully broken down are ground—using the same methods as flame or water cremation—before being returned to the soil. Families have the option of receiving up to 450 kg of soil, which can be used for planting or donated to land regeneration projects.
In some areas of the USA where NOR is possible, the soil must be tested for toxin levelsat the end of the process. Importantly, certain causes of death—such as Ebola—are excluded from eligibility.
NOR is now being researched in Australia. There are ongoing discussions about the need for clear legal definitions to enable its introduction to the local market. Although several states have legislation that could support NOR, final approvals are yet to been granted.
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