Meine Erde
2 known investors
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MEINE ERDE offers "Reerdigung", an ecological burial method that transforms a human body into fertile soil within 40 days using microorganisms. The company provides this natural burial form and related prearrangement services to individuals and funeral directors in Germany.
Also known as Circulum Vitae GmbH · MEINE ERDE · Meine Erde – Circulum Vitae GmbH
Investors · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026MEINE ERDE, operating under the legal entity Circulum Vitae GmbH and based in Berlin, offers "Reerdigung" (also described as human composting), a burial form in which a deceased person's body is transformed into fertile soil within 40 days by naturally occurring microorganisms. The deceased is placed in a coffin-like container called a cocoon and bedded in plant material such as hay, straw and alfalfa; the sealed cocoon is monitored with sensors while the transformation takes place. Cocoons are housed in facilities the company calls "Alvarien" (alvariums), for which it offers guided tours. The resulting soil is described as nutrient-rich and is subsequently placed in a cemetery.
The company positions Reerdigung as an alternative to the two burial forms previously available in Germany, cremation and ground burial. According to its investor byFounders, the process avoids fossil fuels, binds carbon contained in the body and uses roughly 90% less energy than crematoria, with the cocoon made almost entirely of recycled materials. MEINE ERDE states that it operates its alvariums with renewable energy where possible, sources its plant substrate from farmers in Brandenburg, and works with ClimatePartner on measuring its CO2 footprint and funding a peatland protection project in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Alongside the burial service itself, MEINE ERDE sells prearrangement (Vorsorge) options that let individuals arrange and pay for their own Reerdigung in advance, and a commemorative tree offering ("Mein Baum"). It works with funeral homes, cemeteries and hospices through a dedicated partner management function.
Founding story
The company was co-founded by Max Hüsch and Pablo Metz. According to investor byFounders, Hüsch previously restructured offline retail shops and worked in business development at Circ and Finleap, and was introduced to Metz, a repeat founder, in 2020. The founders describe motivation from conversations with their grandparents about how people wish to approach their own death and from the desire to reduce the environmental impact of burials.
Business model
MEINE ERDE sells Reerdigung as a complete package to individuals, offered from EUR 4,250, and also sells prearrangement contracts for people who want to organise their own burial in advance, plus an add-on memorial tree product. Distribution runs partly through cooperating funeral homes, cemeteries and hospices, which the company supports via a partner management team. The company builds and operates the alvarium facilities in which the cocoons stand.
Fees paid for individual Reerdigung services (complete package advertised from EUR 4,250) and for prearrangement/Vorsorge agreements, plus additional offerings such as the memorial tree.
Traction
Company milestones listed on its site: first Reerdigung in Europe completed in Mölln, Schleswig-Holstein (March 2022); first placement of the new soil in Hamburg at Ohlsdorf park cemetery (August 2022); opening of a second alvarium in Kiel (August 2023); amendment of the Schleswig-Holstein burial law permitting trials of new burial forms (January 2024); start of the statutory trial phase in Schleswig-Holstein (June 2024); first placement of new soil in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern at Penkun cemetery (January 2025); and legal admission of Reerdigung as a third burial form in Schleswig-Holstein (June 2026).
Latest developments
First placement of the new soil in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern at Penkun cemetery in January 2025, following the June 2024 start of the statutory trial phase in Schleswig-Holstein; the company lists June 2026 for legal admission of Reerdigung as a third burial form in Schleswig-Holstein. The company continues to recruit partner funeral homes and offers alvarium tours.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Described by the partner network Bohana and by investor byFounders as the first European provider of Reerdigung/human composting. Until 2022 only cremation and ground burial were available in Germany; MEINE ERDE completed the first Reerdigung in Europe in March 2022 and worked with the government of Schleswig-Holstein on a change to the state burial law.
MEINE ERDE presents itself as the first European provider of the method and as the only innovator to have worked with a German state government to change burial legislation. Its process is described as avoiding natural gas, using renewable energy where possible, using recycled-plastic cocoons and locally sourced plant substrate, and yielding nutrient-rich soil rather than ashes, at a price point positioned as affordable (packages from EUR 4,250).
Technology
The process places the body in a cocoon-shaped, coffin-like container filled with plant cuttings (hay, straw, alfalfa). Naturally occurring microorganisms convert the organic matter into soil over 40 days under sealed, sensor-monitored conditions; the company describes optimising conditions for this natural process. Cocoons are made from recycled plastic with many recyclable components, and are housed in facilities called alvariums. The company describes an internal Tech & Science team covering the biological process and its platform technologies. Investor material states the process is fossil-fuel free and uses about 90% less energy than crematoria.
Go-to-market
Direct-to-consumer through its website, newsletter, brochure, and prearrangement funnel, combined with a partner channel of funeral homes, cemeteries and hospices supported by a partner management team. The company runs public alvarium tours, maintains Instagram, Facebook and YouTube channels, participates in the Bohana network for funeral culture, and pursues press coverage; regulatory engagement with state governments is a central part of market access.
Private individuals in Germany planning their own burial or arranging one for a deceased relative, plus institutional partners such as funeral homes (e.g. Bestattungsinstitut Hopster in Rheine), cemeteries and hospices; church representatives have also publicly supported the pilot.
Geography
Headquartered in Berlin, Germany. Operations centre on Schleswig-Holstein, with the first European Reerdigung completed in Mölln and a second alvarium opened in Kiel. New soil has been placed at Ohlsdorf park cemetery in Hamburg and at the Penkun cemetery in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern; plant substrate is sourced from Brandenburg.
History
Operating as Circulum Vitae GmbH under the MEINE ERDE brand, the company completed Europe's first Reerdigung in Mölln in March 2022 and placed the resulting soil at Hamburg's Ohlsdorf park cemetery in August 2022. A second alvarium opened in Kiel in August 2023. byFounders invested at seed stage in 2022 and published its investment rationale in January 2024. In January 2024 Schleswig-Holstein amended its burial law to allow trials of new burial forms; the statutory trial phase started in June 2024. In January 2025 soil was placed for the first time in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Penkun cemetery), and the company records June 2026 for the legal admission of Reerdigung as a third burial form in Schleswig-Holstein.
Risks & controversies
The service depends on burial legislation: until 2022 German law recognised only cremation and ground burial, and MEINE ERDE's operations in Schleswig-Holstein have proceeded under a legal trial phase enabled by a January 2024 amendment, meaning availability in other states is not established. Investor commentary notes that discussion of death remains socially taboo, which the company addresses as part of its mission.
Compiled by commissioned research from 7 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 8
launches, deals, and filingsMilestone listed by the company for the legal recognition of Reerdigung as a third burial type in Schleswig-Holstein.
The soil was placed for the first time in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, at the Penkun cemetery.
The legally defined trial phase for Reerdigung began in Schleswig-Holstein.
Together with ClimatePartner the company assessed its CO2 footprint and supports a peatland protection project in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with a financial climate contribution.
An amendment of the burial law in Schleswig-Holstein allowed the testing of new burial types; byFounders states the state legalized 'Reerdigung'/human composting after MEINE ERDE worked with the local government on regulation.
MEINE ERDE opened its second alvarium facility in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein.
The soil produced by the process was placed for the first time at the Ohlsdorf park cemetery in Hamburg.
MEINE ERDE completed what it describes as Europe's first Reerdigung, in Mölln, Schleswig-Holstein.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 7
primary sources listed
- Meine Erdemeine-erde.de · web
7 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Meine Erde do?
- German provider of "Reerdigung", a burial method that turns a human body into soil in 40 days using microorganisms.
- Who are Meine Erde's investors?
- Meine Erde's investors include BLN Capital, byFounders.