NOR Around the World (colloquially referred to as human composting)

Natural organic reduction (NOR) — also called terramation or natural organic reduction — is primarily a United States innovation. As of April 2026, fourteen U.S. states have legalized NOR, and the practice is slowly expanding its operational footprint. Outside the United States, however, NOR remains largely unapproved, with no other country having established a comprehensive legal framework for it as of this writing. That said, global interest is growing, and the international landscape continues to evolve. This article surveys the current state of NOR worldwide, explains why the U.S. led the way, and looks at what international expansion might realistically look like.

Important caveat: regulatory status for disposition methods changes. If you are researching NOR availability in a specific country, always verify current law with a local legal or funeral professional.

Is natural organic reduction (terramation) legal outside the United States?

As of April 2026, no other country has enacted comprehensive legislation permitting commercial NOR. The United States — with 14 legal states — is the only jurisdiction with an operational NOR industry. Switzerland passed legislation in 2021 for a composting-based method ('reerdigung') that shares some similarities, but no other country has a comparable framework. Global interest is growing, but international legalization is likely a multi-decade process.

The United States is the only country with an operational NOR industry as of April 2026 — no other country has enacted comprehensive NOR legislation.
The U.S. state-by-state legislative model gave NOR advocates a faster path than national-level legislation in other countries, where funeral regulation tends to be centralized.
The UK has over 300 natural burial grounds and a strong green burial tradition, but NOR is not permitted under existing Burial Act (1857) and Cremation Act (1902) frameworks.
Switzerland passed legislation in 2021 for 'reerdigung' — a composting-based method with some NOR similarities — making it one of the closest international analogues.
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have growing green burial movements and some media interest in NOR, but none have enacted enabling legislation as of 2026.
International NOR expansion will likely prioritize countries with existing green burial traditions, strong environmental policy frameworks, and decentralized regulatory structures.

Where Is NOR Currently Legal?

As of April 2026, NOR is legal in 14 U.S. states: Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, California, New York, Nevada, Arizona, Maryland, Delaware, Minnesota, Maine, Georgia, and New Jersey. Washington was the first, legalizing NOR in 2019 with SB 5001. Providers in most of those states are now operational, though California, New York, and New Jersey have passed enabling legislation but are not yet accepting families for NOR services.

No other country has enacted comparable legislation permitting the commercial composting of human remains as of early 2026. The United States remains the only jurisdiction with an operational NOR industry.

For a full breakdown of U.S. state-by-state legal status, see our state guides at /blog/state-guides/.

Why Did the U.S. Lead on NOR?

The United States’ state-by-state legislative model gave NOR advocates a powerful path forward. Rather than requiring a single federal law or a sweeping national policy change, advocates could focus their energy on individual state legislatures — building a record of safety, environmental benefit, and consumer demand one state at a time.

Washington state became the proving ground. After Katrina Spade, NOR pioneer and founder of the first commercial NOR facility, and Washington State University researchers demonstrated NOR’s scientific validity, advocates worked with state legislators to draft and pass SB 5001. That bill’s passage in 2019 gave other states a legal template to work from. Colorado and Oregon followed in 2021, and a cascade of state-level legislation followed.

This incremental, state-level approach is uniquely suited to U.S. federalism. Most other countries regulate disposition of human remains at the national level, which means any change requires broader political consensus and longer legislative timelines.

What Is the Status in the United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom has a well-established green burial tradition. Natural burial grounds — where bodies are interred without embalming, in biodegradable containers, in land managed for conservation — are legal and widely available across England, Scotland, and Wales. The Good Funeral Guide estimates there are more than 300 natural burial grounds in the UK.

NOR-style composting of human remains, however, is not currently permitted in the UK. British burial and cremation law is governed by the Burial Act 1857, the Cremation Act 1902, and subsequent regulations — a framework that does not contemplate composting as a recognized form of disposition. As of 2026, there is public and academic interest in expanding legal options, and occasional media coverage (including in outlets such as The Guardian and BBC) has discussed NOR. However, no UK legislation has been introduced to legalize NOR as of this writing.

What About Sweden and Scandinavia?

Scandinavia has a long tradition of environmentally conscious burial. Sweden is home to promession, a process developed by biologist Susanne Wiigh-Mäsak that uses freeze-drying and vibration to reduce remains — a method different from NOR, which relies on aerobic microbial decomposition in a vessel with organic bulking material. Promession has received significant international attention as a “green” disposition concept, though it has not achieved widespread commercial deployment.

Green burial is culturally familiar across Nordic countries, where forest cemeteries and natural grave markings are common. Despite this cultural openness, NOR itself has not been legalized in Sweden or other Scandinavian countries as of early 2026.

What Is the Status in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand?

Canada: Some Canadian provinces have shown public interest in NOR, and the topic has received media coverage, but no Canadian province or federal territory has legalized terramation as of 2026. Canadian funeral regulation is primarily a provincial matter, meaning any legalization would likely need to occur province by province — a dynamic somewhat analogous to the U.S. state model. The status of any active Canadian legislative efforts should be verified with current sources, as this landscape may be evolving.

Australia: Australia has a growing green burial movement, with natural burial grounds available in several states. NOR has received some media coverage there, but it is not currently legal in any Australian state or territory as of early 2026. Interest appears to be growing, particularly among environmentally motivated consumers.

New Zealand: Some discussion of NOR has taken place in New Zealand, particularly in the context of the country’s broader sustainability culture, but no formal legislative pathway has been established as of this writing.

What Is the Status in Continental Europe — The Netherlands, Germany, and Beyond?

Western European countries generally operate under strict national regulations governing the disposition of human remains. In Germany and the Netherlands, burial and cremation are the primary legally recognized methods, and regulations governing these practices are detailed and longstanding. NOR-style composting of human remains is not currently permitted in either country.

Switzerland passed legislation in 2021 creating a framework for “reerdigung” — an alternative composting-based method — that shares some similarities with NOR, though implementation specifics and regulatory details differ from U.S. NOR frameworks. Switzerland may represent one of the closest international analogues to U.S. NOR legislation. Readers interested in Switzerland’s approach should verify current status with local sources.

Why International Expansion Has Been Slower

Several factors explain why NOR has not spread internationally at the same pace as it has across U.S. states:

Centralized regulation. Most countries regulate funeral practices nationally, not regionally. This creates higher barriers to change — a single law must pass at the national level rather than incrementally across regions.

Cultural and religious norms. Attitudes toward body disposal vary significantly across cultures and faith traditions. In some regions, the idea of the body being composted may face religious or cultural resistance that differs from U.S. consumer attitudes.

Lack of an established safety and research record. U.S. advocates could build on peer-reviewed research from Washington State University and operational data from early Washington and Colorado providers. International regulators typically require their own evidence base.

Infrastructure and industry. The U.S. funeral industry’s structure — with many independent operators and a history of adapting to new disposition methods — created fertile ground for NOR adoption. Other countries may have different industry structures.

What Might International NOR Expansion Look Like?

International adoption of NOR will likely follow a pattern similar to the U.S. experience: individual countries or regions will need to pass enabling legislation, establish safety standards, and build a provider ecosystem. This is a multi-decade process.

The most likely candidates for early international NOR legalization share certain characteristics: existing green burial traditions, secular or pluralistic cultural attitudes toward body disposition, strong environmental policy frameworks, and decentralized or regional regulatory structures that allow policy experimentation.

Consumer-driven pressure — particularly from younger, environmentally motivated demographics — may accelerate the timeline in some markets. As awareness of NOR grows globally, advocates in other countries are increasingly watching the U.S. experience as a model.

For families in the United States, the complete guide to natural organic reduction covers the full landscape of current legal status, process science, and provider options.

FAQ

Is NOR legal in any country outside the United States?

As of April 2026, no other country has enacted comprehensive legislation specifically permitting the commercial composting of human remains (NOR). The United States, with 14 legal states, remains the only country with an operational NOR industry. Regulatory status can change, so always verify current law in your country with a local professional.

What is promession, and is it the same as NOR?

Promession is a process developed in Sweden that uses freeze-drying and vibration to reduce human remains — it is different from NOR, which relies on aerobic microbial decomposition with organic bulking material. Promession has received international attention as a green disposition concept but has not achieved widespread commercial deployment in any country as of 2026.

Can I pre-plan for NOR if I live outside the U.S.?

If you live outside the United States, NOR is almost certainly not currently available to you through a licensed provider. The most practical step is to consult with a local funeral professional about what green disposition options are legal in your country, and to monitor legislative developments if NOR is of interest to you.

Will NOR be legalized globally?

International expansion is likely over time, but the timeline is uncertain and will vary by country. Countries with existing green burial traditions, strong environmental policy cultures, and decentralized regulatory structures may be among the first to legalize NOR after the U.S. Anyone wanting to see NOR become available in their country can engage with local death-care advocates and follow legislative developments.

Where in the U.S. can families currently access NOR?

Families in Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, Nevada, Arizona, Maryland, Delaware, Minnesota, Maine, and Georgia can currently access NOR through operational providers. California, New York, and New Jersey have passed enabling laws but are not yet operational. See our state guides for more detail.

Ready to explore terramation options? Contact TerraCare Partners to learn more about NOR providers and availability.

Learn more about terramation providers near you — reach out to TerraCare Partners today.

Sources

Washington State Senate Bill 5001 (2019) — “An Act Relating to Human Remains.” Washington State Legislature. https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5001&Year=2019
Washington State Department of Health — WAC 246-500 Natural Organic Reduction. https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=246-500
Washington State Department of Health — NOR Provider Information. https://doh.wa.gov/
Green Burial Council — Provider directory and green burial overview. https://www.greenburialcouncil.org/
The Good Funeral Guide — “Natural Burial in the UK.” https://www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk/
The Guardian — Coverage of NOR and alternative disposition internationally. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/20/human-composting-washington-law-us
BBC — Coverage of natural organic reduction and green burial trends. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48486506
National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) — Statistics and consumer research. https://nfda.org/news/statistics
Washington State University — NOR research (Lynne Carpenter-Boggs et al.). https://research.wsu.edu/
Order of the Good Death — International death-positive resources and NOR coverage. https://www.orderofthegooddeath.com/