Earlier in May, the largest death care provider in North America, Service Corporation International, added what they call “human composting” services to their list of services provided by five funeral homes in the Seattle, Washington, area.  This press release mentions that the process is also known as “natural organic reduction” and lets the consumer know that the company has partnered with Earth Burial for this service.

 

The press release goes on to say, “The funeral homes, all of which are Dignity Memorial® locations, specialize in unique celebrations of life, and can plan a memorial that includes the family in the process. In addition, families can take their time with the memorial service and plan something truly unique, since the service can be held at any point before, during and after the process. The five funeral homes are Evergreen Washelli, Acacia Memorial Park, Greenwood, Forest Lawn and Sunset Hills.”

 

According to Seattle Market Director Keith Baumgardner, “Our client families have been asking for different options to inter their loved ones.  Human composting is a new way of returning our bodies to the earth.”

 

Funeral Director Daily take:  Every one will have their own take on this revelation.  From my point of view it represents a huge turn in thought to a position where North America’s largest death care provider no longer looks at the future of alternative services as a flash in time but a point where they now realize that these alternative services are a trend or wave of the future.

 

Say what you want about Service Corporation International (SCI), but one thing you cannot say over the past 60 years is that they have not been successful.  Quite the opposite, they’ve been incredible successful going from one Houston funeral home to about 2,000 locations today with an estimated market share of about 1 of every 8 American’s using their services for death care services.  I think that should tell you that they have researched this movement and are ready to put the necessary resources towards the business to be successful.

 

Yes, Seattle is the apex of the natural organic reduction movement. . . . but as seen by bills introduced into state legislatures across the country in the past couple of years. . . it is a movement.  And, I believe it will grow and become a stable portion or percentage of the death care disposition business.  Who knows what that percentage will be, but none of us foresaw cremation reaching close to 70% of dispositions 50 years ago either.

 

If you go to one of the SCI Dignity Memorial Chapel websites that offers the service you will see that it is an alternative on the site.  Here is the website for the Acacia Memorial Park and Funeral Home and the process is listed directly below the information for planning a “Simple Cremation”.

 

I’ve had my doubts on the potential success of the natural organic reduction business since I first heard about it some 5-6 years ago.  However, I look at the obituary page (click here) of NOR leader Recompose and realize that these people using this disposition method are everyday average human beings like myself. . . . That has convinced me that over time, this disposition method, while not for me, will interest enough people to allow for profitable businesses to be built off of it.

 

Here is the website for what we believe to be SCI natural organic reduction partner Earth Funeral.

 

More news from the world of Death Care:

• Indiana funeral director pleads guilty to 40 theft counts after decomposing bodies found.  The Hill
• TPG a “lion” picking off picking off a stray gazelle in InvoCare bid.  Australian Financial Review
• H.E. Turner shares alert from National Funeral Directors on scam being run on bereaved families.  The Batavian (NY)
• Controversial coroner cremation sails through House committee.  WAFB – 9 ABC.  (LA)
• Matthews International investor slide show.  Seeking Alpha

 

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