Human Composting Legalization Playbook

Recompose supported the work of NOR Minnesota to legalize human composting in Minnesota in 2024. The following is an article written by the group to inspire and support others interested in organizing to legalize human composting in their state.

The NOR Minnesota action group moved from a loose collaborative with a shared interest in green alternatives to cremation and conventional burial to the legalization of natural organic reduction (also known as NOR and human composting) in under a year and half. 

Just like a river takes in the water from each stream, creek, and smaller river pouring into it, NOR Minnesota drew from the energy and expertise of an eclectic group of activists and current providers to legalize human composting in Minnesota in May of 2024.

We’ve included the following information to help you legalize human composting in your own state. Here’s what you can find in this article:

• Origins of NOR Minnesota
• Communication and messaging
• Tips, tools, and resources for legalizing human composting
• How to connect with others

Inspiring a Movement

One primary source of energy behind our advocacy efforts was the work of Recompose and Katrina Spade. Several folks joined the effort because after they heard Recompose founder, Katrina Spade’s presentation, Exploring Ecological Death Care at the Great Northern Festival in Minneapolis in early 2023.

This event brought a group of unlikely collaborators together with a shared interest in ecological alternatives. Emails were gathered, follow up outreach created, and those passionate about human composting began exploring how this service could be brought to Minnesota through continued conversations. 

In our case, this was a dynamic group of folks with varying skills, motivations, and capacities including:

• people with experience in the funeral profession, policy, advocacy, and education
• folks providing direct support for individuals and families navigating the end of life
• passionate citizens simply interested in broadening the limited disposition options here in MN

The NOR Minnesota community of interest grew to well over 200 people but the core organizing group doing the heavy lifting ranged from 6 to 12 people throughout the process. While there is no perfect recipe for success, a shared interest in ensuring human composting be made available and accessible within your state and, most importantly, the passion to take action are critical elements to forming your action group.

The makeup of the group may vary but we found that filling two key roles was absolutely necessary in moving the needle:   

• Policy Playmaker
  Changing existing or presenting new legislation requires having someone who knows how to navigate the legislative system—from drafting bill language to engaging policymakers and associated resources at the capital. In our case we had the benefit of working with former MN state legislator Carolyn Laine. While there were certainly benefits to having a former legislator, this role could also be filled by a seasoned advocate, lobbyist, etc. What matters is their capacity to navigate the system and be a champion for the cause!
  
• Collaborative Coordinator
  Grassroots advocacy can be extremely effective but coordinating a dynamic group of folks with varying schedules, motivators, and skill sets is far from light work. It is critical to have someone with the time and expertise to help to coordinate the effort – think scheduling meetings, drafting general communication, identifying and activating team skills and strengths, and keeping folks engaged and on task.

Remember, this is just one story, our Minnesota story, and like the states before us and those that have and will come after, no one state will have the same exact path to legalizing NOR. 

Find your Policy Playmaker and Collaborative Coordinator, share the concept of NOR with the public, and see what passionate folks come to the table. If you’re interested in making connections in your state, fill out the form at the bottom of this article

Once you have found your team, here are some tips, tricks, and resources to help move the needle.

Communication and Messaging

Natural Organic Reduction vs Human Composting

Innovative services in any industry often require new language. Determining how to effectively speak about such a new service was a key decision our team had to make early. While the process is more widely referred to as human composting, our efforts were acutely aligned with passing legislation. 

In short, the bill language being entertained in Minnesota used Natural Organic Reduction (NOR), so we chose to align with that language. This helped us to avoid things being lost in translation when engaging constituents to reach out to their legislators via letters, emails, phone calls, etc. but was not without its faults. While we used NOR as our primary way to describe this process, it was often followed with a reference to human composting (e.g. Natural Organic Reduction AKA “human Composting”). 

Be sure to consider the leading language that makes the most sense for your audience. 

Tips, Tools, and Resources for Legalizing Human Composting

Build a Communications Plan

• Create a system(s) for gathering the names and contacts of supporters 
• Communicate with supporters through regular updates to keep them engaged
• Develop website as landing page for FAQs and Take Action Toolkit (see below)
• Send out action alerts to generate immediate grassroots action to reach out to their constituent legislators
• Document and share your journey – write articles for press and letters to the editor

Create an Action Toolkit

• Develop resources to help foster conversation and drive key messages like we’ve created in our Advocacy Toolkit.
  • Develop a FAQ answering key questions about the process and demand in your state.
  • Create one pagers outlining the case for human composting, what it is, and why it is an important alternative.
  • Write template letters to help supporters reach out to their legislators.
• Provide “find my legislator” links to help people identify their legislators.
• Encourage supporters to build relationships with their legislators.

Create legislation

• Creating legislation involves drafting, reviewing, sharing, updating, and amending a legislative bill.
• Review existing language / legislation from states where NOR was legalized and/or in process.
  • Check out our NOR Legislative Library to find bill language for each state that has legalized NOR and/or attempted legislation along with basic information about the legislative process in states where it’s not yet legalized.
• Find your legislative champion(s). You will need someone supporting the movement who has a concrete understanding of the legislative process in your state. This could be a current or former legislator and/or someone with advocacy or lobbying experience. 
• Draft a bill appropriate for your state.
• Identify and engage key stakeholders in your state to help inform the language (e.g. community members, legislators, funeral directors, department of health). 
• Connect with current providers, legislators, and advocacy groups from states where the process has been legalized. Jump below to learn how you can begin strengthening your NOR advocacy network.

Remember why you’re doing this

• Have the team share their “why” throughout the process. Is it a passion for sustainable alternatives; the beauty of returning to earth; a past experience losing a loved one; exploring the realities of your own mortality? It is important to remain anchored through the marathon of advocacy efforts and in the midst of legislative chaos. 
• The story of Steve Wheeler, one of the first Minnesotans to be naturally reduced, became a rallying point for us. What will rally your team when times are tough? 
• Capture, celebrate, and share those first person narratives that can humanize the concept of NOR for legislators. NOR is likely an unknown concept for many legislators. This type of personalization helps legislators understand it better, care about it, and act.

Pay it forward

• You’ve legalized in your state (woohoo!). Now it’s your turn to help the next in line.
• Tell your own action story, and use this post as a framework for telling it.

Written by NOR Minnesota