D+D Series: Human Composting and Returning to Nature – A Revolution in Death Care with the First Human Composting Company, Recompose

At Âme Atendre, our commitment to fostering deeper, more meaningful connections extends to every aspect of life, including how we honor and remember those who have passed. This philosophy is beautifully reflected in the latest episode of On the Table with Ashley, where Ashley hosts Laura Sullivan Cassidy, Client Experience Lead at Recompose. Laura shares her journey to Recompose, client stories, and how their innovative approach to death care aligns with our values at Âme Atendre.

Recompose: Pioneering Sustainable Death Care

Recompose is at the forefront of a revolution in how we approach death care. Founded by Katrina Spade, Recompose transforms human remains into nutrient-rich soil through a process called natural organic reduction. This eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial and cremation not only reduces carbon emissions but also avoids the use of harmful chemicals. Laura Sullivan Cassidy joined Recompose with a passion for sustainability and a desire to find a more meaningful way to honor the dead. At Recompose, she helps families create lasting legacies that nourish the planet.

Laura’s Journey to Recompose

Laura’s path to Recompose began in traditional funeral home settings, where she felt a disconnect between her personal values and conventional death care practices. Seeking a more sustainable and compassionate approach, Laura found her way to Recompose. In her conversation with Ashley, Laura discusses how Recompose’s mission resonated with her desire to make a positive environmental impact and provide families with a more meaningful way to honor their loved ones.

Recompose’s Impact on the Environment

Beyond offering families a personalized and respectful way to honor the dead, Recompose is also making a significant impact on the environment. Traditional burial methods contribute to land use and carbon emissions, while cremation releases toxic gases into the atmosphere. Recompose’s natural organic reduction process, however, reduces carbon emissions and conserves resources. It also creates soil that nourishes plants and gardens, supporting rewilding efforts and giving back to the earth in a way that traditional methods cannot.

Why Recompose Matters

In her conversation with Ashley, Laura dives into why Recompose’s work is so important in today’s world. By choosing Recompose, families aren’t just making a sustainable decision for themselves—they are making a difference for future generations. Laura shares how each life that is returned to the earth in this way contributes to rewilding projects and environmental restoration, helping to reverse some of the ecological damage caused by conventional death care methods.

For Laura, the work she does at Recompose is about more than just death care—it’s about supporting families in navigating one of the most difficult moments in life with dignity, respect, and a sense of peace. It’s about ensuring that the process of saying goodbye is as meaningful as the life that came before it.

Join Us for an Inspiring Conversation

This conversation with Laura Sullivan Cassidy is not only about a revolutionary company; it’s about a shift in how we think about life, death, and our impact on the planet. We invite you to tune into this inspiring episode of On the Table with Ashley to learn more about how Recompose is changing the conversation around death care, and how each of us can contribute to a more sustainable and connected world—through life, and even in death.

At Âme Atendre, we celebrate the power of connection, mindfulness, and sustainability in all aspects of life, including how we honor the lives of those we’ve lost. Recompose’s work aligns with our values of creating a more intentional and compassionate world, one step at a time.