The Swiss National Council has rejected a proposal to standardize “human composting,” or humusation, at the federal level, voting 113 to 75 against a motion by Green Party National Councilor Christophe Clivaz. While proponents argue that transforming human remains into organic soil offers an ecological alternative to cremation and burial, the Federal Council maintains that funerary regulations should remain under the jurisdiction of individual cantons and communes to ensure local needs are met.
Why is Humusation Considered a Potential Future Trend?
Humusation, or the controlled transformation of a body into humus, is gaining attention as a sustainable alternative to traditional funerary practices. According to the association humusation.ch, the process involves wrapping the deceased in a biodegradable shroud and placing them on a 20-centimeter bed of organic matter. The body is then covered with two cubic meters of wood and organic material, allowing micro-organisms to break the remains down into approximately 1.5 cubic meters of fertile soil within one year.
Supporters, including Christophe Clivaz, contend that the process eliminates toxic emissions associated with cremation and avoids the land-use requirements of traditional cemeteries. By removing the need for caskets, embalming chemicals, and long-term grave maintenance, advocates argue the method is both environmentally and economically viable.
How Does Switzerland’s Approach Compare to International Standards?
While the Swiss federal government has stalled on national legislation, experimental work is already underway. The Swiss Human Institute of Forensic Taphonomy (SHIFT) is currently conducting secret, open-air trials in the canton of Vaud. Professor Vincent Varlet, a taphonomy expert at the University of Lausanne, stated in a February interview with RTS that the primary objective of these trials is to verify that the resulting compost is physically and chemically safe, ensuring no toxicological risks remain.
The international landscape shows a fragmented regulatory environment:
- Sweden: Authorized “promession,” which involves freezing the body with liquid nitrogen and reducing it to powder before natural decomposition.
- United States: Several states have legalized human composting, allowing the practice to move from experimental to commercial offerings.
- Germany: Pilot projects for “Reerdigung” (return to the earth) are testing a 40-day transformation process inside specialized containers.
- Belgium and France: Both nations are currently engaged in ongoing research and legislative debates regarding the feasibility of human composting.
Unlike traditional burial, which can take decades to decompose a body depending on soil conditions and casket materials, humusation aims to complete the biological cycle in roughly 12 months.
What Are the Primary Obstacles to Federal Legalization?
The Federal Council’s opposition rests on the principle of subsidiarity. Guy Parmelin, representing the Federal Council, noted that maintaining local control allows cantons and communes to tailor funeral regulations to the specific cultural and religious expectations of their residents. Critics of a federal mandate argue that imposing a single, nationwide process would override local democratic preferences and complicate the existing, decentralized funeral industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is human composting currently legal in Switzerland?
No. While experiments are being conducted by research institutes like SHIFT, there is no federal law authorizing the practice, and the National Council recently rejected a motion to study its national implementation.
How does humusation differ from cremation?
Cremation uses high heat to reduce remains to ash, consuming fossil fuels and potentially releasing emissions. Humusation uses natural micro-organisms to turn remains into fertile soil without energy consumption or toxic output.
What happens to the soil produced by the process?
The primary goal of projects like those in the canton of Vaud is to ensure the final product is “healthy and fertile.” Regulations regarding the disposal or use of this soil remain part of the broader ethical and legal debate.
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