Terramation vs. Promession and Other Emerging Disposition Methods (colloquially referred to as human composting)

The death care industry is in a rare moment of genuine technological pluralism. After decades in which burial and cremation defined the entire landscape of disposition options, the last decade has produced multiple new methods at various stages of development and commercial maturity. Natural organic reduction (NOR), aquamation, promession, cryonics, and other approaches occupy different positions on the spectrum from commercially available today to still theoretical. Understanding where each method actually stands—and separating the mature from the speculative—is essential for anyone following this space professionally.

What is promession and how does it compare to terramation as an alternative disposition method?

Promession is a theorized disposition method involving cryogenic freezing followed by high-frequency vibration to shatter the body into powder — but as of April 2026, it is not commercially available anywhere in the world and no country has established a regulatory framework for it. Terramation (NOR) is commercially available in 14 U.S. states with thousands of completed cases and an established regulatory framework. Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis) is the other commercially mature alternative, legal in approximately 25+ states.

Only two alternative disposition methods are commercially available at meaningful scale as of April 2026: natural organic reduction (NOR, 14 states) and aquamation/alkaline hydrolysis (approximately 25+ states).
Promession — cryogenic freezing plus vibration to powder — has never been commercially operated anywhere in the world as of April 2026; Promessa Organic faced significant development difficulties and no regulatory framework exists for it.
Cryonics is a real niche service (Cryonics Institute, Alcor Life Extension Foundation) but serves a tiny population and is not a factor in mainstream funeral industry strategic planning.
NOR and aquamation serve overlapping but distinct consumer segments: NOR returns soil that families can plant or donate, while aquamation returns bone fragments similar to cremated remains.
Green burial is not an 'emerging' method but a return to historically common practice, now certified by the Green Burial Council — it shares NOR's low-waste goals but ties remains to a specific cemetery location.

What Are the Currently Available Alternative Disposition Methods?

Two alternative disposition methods are commercially available at meaningful scale as of April 2026: natural organic reduction (NOR) and aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis).

Natural Organic Reduction (Terramation). NOR transforms human remains into nutrient-rich soil through an accelerated biological decomposition process in a controlled vessel. The process typically takes several weeks to a few months, depending on the system. It produces approximately one-half cubic yard of Regenerative Living Soil™ that is returned to the family or directed to a designated location. NOR is legal in 14 states as of April 2026, with California becoming operational January 1, 2027. See NOR State Guides for the full legal picture.

Aquamation (Alkaline Hydrolysis, Resomation, Bio-Cremation). Aquamation uses a pressurized water-and-alkali solution (typically potassium hydroxide) heated to approximately 150–177°C to accelerate natural decomposition. The result is a sterile liquid that is safely discharged to wastewater, plus bone fragments (similar in appearance to cremated remains) that are returned to the family. Aquamation is legal in approximately 25 or more states and has been commercially available since the early 2010s, with providers including Resomation Ltd., Bio-Response Solutions, and others.

These two methods are the foundation of the alternative disposition market as it actually exists in 2026—the ones with regulatory frameworks, commercial providers, and real consumer volume.

What Is Promession and Is It Available?

Promession is one of the most frequently discussed emerging disposition methods—but as of 2026, it is not commercially available anywhere in the world.

Promession was developed conceptually by Swedish biologist Susanne Wiigh-Mässak, who founded the company Promessa Organic. The method involves several stages: first, the body is cryogenically frozen (typically in liquid nitrogen); then it is vibrated at high frequency to shatter into a fine powder; then the powder is freeze-dried to remove remaining moisture; and finally a mechanical process separates metals and other non-organic material. The resulting powder is said to be suitable for burial, where it would decompose relatively quickly.

The concept is scientifically interesting and the environmental logic is appealing: a freeze-dried, powdered body takes up little space and decomposes rapidly in the ground. However, the practical path from concept to commercially viable operation has proven more difficult than expected. Promessa Organic went through significant difficulties in its development trajectory; as of 2026, no commercial promession facility is operating anywhere in the world, and no country has established a regulatory framework for promession as a legal disposition method.

For industry observers, promession occupies the “not yet” column—an interesting concept with an appealing theoretical profile, but without the operational reality that would make it a genuine competitor to NOR or aquamation.

The key distinction from NOR: NOR is commercially available now, legal in 14 U.S. states, with thousands of completed cases and operational providers. Promession is a concept that has not yet been successfully commercialized. Consumers and funeral homes considering alternative disposition are choosing between currently available methods—not between NOR and something that doesn’t exist as a service yet.

What About Green Burial?

Green burial—direct interment in the ground without embalming, in a biodegradable or no casket, without a concrete vault—is the oldest and most established alternative to conventional burial. It is legal in all 50 states (though specific requirements for biodegradable containers vary by state and cemetery).

Green burial is not technically an “emerging” method—it is a return to historically common practice that modern funeral regulation temporarily displaced. The Green Burial Council certifies providers and products. Conservation cemeteries specifically designed for green burial exist in multiple states. Green burial is a mature alternative disposition option.

NOR and green burial share philosophical territory (both return the body to the earth, both avoid embalming and non-biodegradable materials) but are distinct services. Green burial requires cemetery land; NOR produces soil that can be directed anywhere. Both serve environmentally motivated consumers.

What Is Cryonics and Why Is It Different?

Cryonics is the practice of preserving a human body at very low temperatures after legal death, with the intention of future revival if medical technology advances sufficiently to address the cause of death. The Cryonics Institute in Clinton Township, Michigan and Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona are the primary U.S. cryonics organizations.

Cryonics occupies a fundamentally different category from all other disposition methods. It is not a disposition method in the conventional sense—it is a preservation method based on the premise that biological death as currently defined is not necessarily irreversible. The legal and philosophical status of cryopreserved individuals is unsettled.

The Cryonics Institute and Alcor serve a small, dedicated population of members who have made advance arrangements. Cryonics is not expected to become mainstream and is not a genuine competitive threat to NOR or other disposition methods for the vast majority of funeral industry volume.

It appears in any comprehensive overview of alternative disposition primarily for completeness—the industry observer should be aware it exists without overstating its relevance.

Are There Other Emerging Methods Worth Tracking?

The “death tech” space has attracted startup attention beyond established alternatives. Several concepts are at various stages:

Coral reef memorial reefs. Providers like Eternal Reefs create artificial reef structures using cremated remains mixed with concrete, placed in ocean locations as reef-building habitat. This is a cremated remains disposition option rather than a primary disposition method.

Space burial. Companies like Celestis offer to launch small samples of cremated remains into space. Again, this is a disposition option for cremated remains, not a primary disposition method alternative to cremation.

Human-soil burial integration research. Researchers continue investigating optimized approaches to natural decomposition in various substrates and conditions. Some of this work informs NOR process improvements; some explores different vessel configurations.

None of these represent the kind of imminent commercial challenge to NOR that aquamation might—aquamation and NOR are the two most credible emerging alternative disposition methods serving environmentally motivated consumers.

How Should Funeral Industry Observers Think About This Landscape?

The landscape of emerging disposition methods rewards careful calibration between genuine market developments and speculative concepts.

NOR and aquamation are the real story in alternative disposition today. They are legal, commercially operational, growing in consumer adoption, and drawing investment. The professional infrastructure—training, certification, insurance, regulatory frameworks—is developing around them.

Promession is intellectually interesting and worth monitoring, but it should not be discussed as an available consumer option because it isn’t one. Cryonics is real but niche in a way that makes it irrelevant to most funeral industry operators’ strategic planning.

For funeral home operators, the practical implication is clear: the alternative disposition market that matters for business decisions in the near term is NOR and aquamation. The question is which services to add, in which order, and how to position them relative to each other.

NOR and aquamation serve overlapping but not identical consumer segments. Both appeal to environmentally motivated consumers, but NOR produces soil that can be returned to the earth in a meaningful way, while aquamation produces bone fragments similar to cremation. Some families will have strong preferences between them; others will be open to either. Funeral homes in states where both are legal may find value in offering both.

For a detailed comparison of NOR and aquamation’s environmental profiles, see Terramation vs. Aquamation: Which Is Greener?.

Talk to TerraCare Partners about adding terramation to your funeral home. NOR is one of the two commercially mature alternative disposition methods available today—and it’s the one that returns a loved one to the earth as life-giving soil. Contact us to learn about adding NOR to your service menu.

Schedule a discovery call with TerraCare Partners. We can help you evaluate where NOR fits relative to other alternative disposition services in your market. Contact us.

FAQ: Terramation vs. Promession and Emerging Disposition Methods

Is promession available anywhere as a funeral service?

No. As of April 2026, promession is not commercially available anywhere in the world. No country has established a regulatory framework for promession, and no commercial promession facility is operating. It remains a concept under development.

What is the difference between NOR and aquamation?

NOR uses biological decomposition in a controlled vessel to produce nutrient-rich soil. Aquamation uses a pressurized water-and-alkali solution to accelerate decomposition, producing a sterile liquid (discharged to wastewater) and bone fragments similar to cremated remains. Both are environmentally favorable alternatives to flame cremation, but they produce fundamentally different end results.

In how many states is aquamation legal?

Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis) is legal in approximately 25 or more U.S. states as of 2026 and has been commercially available for over a decade. It is more widely legalized than NOR, which is currently legal in 14 states.

Is cryonics a realistic option for most people?

Cryonics is a real service offered by a small number of providers, but it serves a tiny niche population and involves costs and philosophical premises well outside the mainstream. It is not a significant factor in funeral industry strategic planning for the vast majority of operators.

What is the most environmentally beneficial disposition method?

Research comparing disposition methods’ environmental impacts—including carbon footprint, land use, and chemical inputs—generally finds that NOR and green burial have the lowest environmental impact. Aquamation falls between NOR and flame cremation in most environmental comparisons. The WSU study on NOR’s environmental profile is the primary peer-reviewed resource for NOR-specific environmental impact data.

Sources

Promessa Organic — Promession Concept Research. https://www.promessa.se
Cryonics Institute — Cryopreservation Services. https://www.cryonics.org
Alcor Life Extension Foundation — Cryonics Provider. https://www.alcor.org
Washington State Department of Ecology — NOR Regulations. https://ecology.wa.gov
Green Burial Council — Natural Burial Resources. https://www.greenburialcouncil.org
Bio-Response Solutions — Aquamation Equipment. https://www.bioresponsesolutions.com
WSU NOR Environmental Research. https://cahnrs.wsu.edu/ (original sub-page retired; editor locate current WSU NOR research page)
NFDA Statistics and Research. https://nfda.org/news/statistics
The Verge — Death Tech Coverage. https://www.theverge.com
MIT Technology Review — Emerging Technologies in Consumer Services. https://www.technologyreview.com

Part of the complete guide to natural organic reduction | See NOR legal states | Partner support for funeral homes | NOR FAQ