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As Seen In TODAY: Martha Stewart Says She Wants to Be Composted
TODAY
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December 5, 2025
TODAY covers Martha Stewart’s on-air announcement that she plans to be composted, introducing millions of viewers to Natural Organic Reduction and highlighting expert insight from Earth Funeral.
During an interview on the “50+ & Unfiltered” podcast, host Shawn Killinger asked Stewart whether she preferred burial or cremation. Stewart replied instantly, “Oh, I’m going to be composted,” adding that traditional options don’t appeal to her: “These coffin things and all that stuff? No way.”
Stewart described wanting a simple, natural return to the land. Her comments triggered widespread attention online, with fans praising her environmental values and calling human composting “beautiful” and “thoughtful.”
TODAY explains that the regulated version of the process, known as Natural Organic Reduction or Soil Transformation, is now legal in 14 states. The piece outlines how the process works, how long it takes, and why more Americans are choosing it as an alternative to flame cremation or conventional burial.
The piece also features expert commentary from Earth Funeral co-founder Tom Harries, who told NBC 7 San Diego: “The idea of a gentle, natural process that doesn’t produce any man-made CO₂ and that returns you to nature resonated with me a lot.” He added that, "The beauty of this process is what you can do with the soil. You can keep it, you can scatter it in a meaningful place or places, and you can plant things with it."
Return to nature through soil transformation
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Takeaways
- Celebrity Awareness: Martha Stewart publicly endorses human composting, elevating national visibility for Natural Organic Reduction.
- Legal Expansion: TODAY highlights that human composting is now legal in 14 states, with more considering it as demand grows.
- Expert Insight: Earth Funeral co-founder Tom Harries explains the ecological benefits and meaningful outcomes families experience with soil transformation.
- Cultural Shift: Audience reaction and national data show rising interest in green funeral options, increasing from 55.7% to 61.4% in recent years.
Read the article on TODAY
"I'm going to be composted. These coffin things and all that stuff, no way."
