Language plays a crucial role in shaping our perceptions, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like death care.

Among the many terms used globally, we’ve carefully chosen terramation to embody our belief that language in this space should evoke beauty, comfort, and healing. Originally coined by Return Home, a U.S.-based company, terramation draws from the Latin root "terra" (earth) and the suffix "mation" (a process). At Evergrove, we’ve embraced and refined this process, integrating it into our vision of living memorials that honour both people and the planet. While terms like human composting and natural organic reduction are also commonly used in the industry, we feel that terramation offers a more dignified and emotionally resonant perspective.

To understand why composting is often referenced, it’s important to acknowledge that humans, like all living organisms, consist of organic matter that naturally returns to the earth. Composting - the process of breaking down organic material into nutrient-rich soil - applies just as naturally to us. However, while the term 'composting' is scientifically accurate, we recognise it may feel uncomfortable when discussing human remains. Words hold power, which is why we've chosen terramation. This term not only captures the respectful return to the earth but also honours humanity's oldest tradition of burial - rejoining the natural cycle from which we came.

No matter the method - burial, cremation, or terramation - each involves elements that can be uncomfortable to contemplate. But what makes terramation unique is how it transforms loss into renewal. The life-giving earth it produces can be used to plant trees, grow gardens, or support environmental restoration. It provides the opportunity to create living memorials that nourish the world we leave behind.

This is why we’ve moved away from the term composting. By using language that highlights the life-giving aspects of this process, we believe we can help grow the movement faster and amplify the social, emotional, and environmental benefits of terramation. We encourage others in the industry, media, and those considering their own end-of-life choices to join us in adopting this terminology, honouring both the natural world and the human experience.