There’s a particular moment many families describe after cremation: the calls have slowed down, the paperwork is finally in a folder, and the urgency of the first days eases just enough for a quieter question to arrive, what do we do now with the ashes.
For some families, the answer is a traditional display urn at home, a cemetery placement, or sharing a portion among siblings using keepsake urns. For others, the answer is tied to values: returning to the earth, minimizing long-term footprint, and choosing a memorial that feels gentle rather than permanent. That’s where biodegradable urns, plantable living urn options, and a water urn for scattering come in.
These eco-conscious choices are becoming more common for a simple reason: cremation is now the majority disposition choice in the U.S. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected at 63.4% in 2025. Organizations like the Cremation Association of North America also publish industry statistics that help families and professionals understand how trends shift year to year.
If you’re considering an eco friendly cremation urn, this guide will walk you through what these urns are made of, how they break down over time, what they cost in real-world terms, and how to choose the right one based on burial vs. water placement, travel, durability, and local rules.
What “biodegradable” really means for an urn
A biodegradable urn is designed to break down naturally in the environment, usually in soil or water, without leaving behind metal, plastic, or long-lasting fragments. That doesn’t mean it starts dissolving on your shelf the moment it arrives. Most are made to remain stable while stored indoors and only begin breaking down once placed in the setting they’re designed for.
The question families ask most often, how long do biodegradable urns last, depends less on a single number and more on where the urn is placed and the conditions around it: moisture, temperature, soil composition, water movement, and the urn’s material blend. If you want to compare materials and styles, Funeral.com’s Biodegradable & Eco-Friendly Urns for Ashes collection gives a helpful overview of natural-fiber designs and how different materials match different plans.
The three main types of biodegradable urns families choose
Families usually end up choosing between three paths: an urn meant for soil burial, an urn meant for water, or a plantable system often called a tree urn or living urn that’s intended to create a living memorial.
Plantable living urns and tree memorial kits
A plantable urn for ashes is often described in the language of renewal: ashes, soil, seedling, roots. In practice, many living-urn style products are a system with an inner container for the cremated remains plus planting materials and instructions for combining ashes with soil in a way that supports plant growth. Because cremated remains can be highly alkaline, many kits focus on mixing and spacing rather than placing all ashes directly at the root zone.
Families often love the symbolism because it turns a difficult question into a gentle ritual: choosing a tree, finding the right location, and creating a place you can return to. A living memorial can also feel like a bridge between generations, something children can visit as they grow.
Expectations matter, too. A living urn can be meaningful even without a large backyard. Some families plant at a relative’s home, in a memorial garden, or in a permitted natural burial ground. Others choose a small tree in a large container and transplant later when the time is right. And if the timing isn’t right at all, there’s nothing wrong with keeping ashes at home while you decide, and Funeral.com’s guide on keeping ashes at home can help you do that safely and respectfully.
Paper, sand, salt, and natural-fiber urns for earth burial
If a plantable system feels too complex, many families choose simpler biodegradable urns made from paper composites, sand-and-binder blends, salt-based materials, or woven natural fibers. These are often chosen as a green burial urn option when a cemetery or natural burial ground allows urn burial, or when a family is placing the urn in a private location where it’s legal and appropriate.
A key practical point is durability before burial. Some eco urns are surprisingly sturdy, especially woven fiber designs, while paper-based scattering vessels are often designed for short-term handling and then placement or release. If the urn will be shipped, carried long distances, or handled by several people during a ceremony, sturdier construction can make the experience feel calmer.
If you’d like a broader baseline for comparison, Funeral.com’s Cremation Urns for Ashes collection provides context on styles and materials, then it’s easier to return to eco options with a clearer sense of what’s different and why.
Water urns for scattering and water burial ceremonies
A water urn for scattering, sometimes called a dissolving urn, is designed specifically for a ceremony on the ocean, a lake, or another body of water. Many are intended to float briefly to allow a pause for a reading, prayer, or silence, then dissolve or open and sink so the ashes are released in a controlled way rather than all at once.
Because water ceremonies often raise legal questions, it helps to start with reliable guidance. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains how burial at sea of cremated remains is authorized under a general permit and outlines core requirements, including distance-from-shore rules in federal ocean waters.
For the emotional, practical flow of the day, Funeral.com’s guide on what happens during a water burial ceremony walks through what families commonly experience and how to plan the moment.
How to choose the right option for your plans
Most families don’t choose an urn by material first. They choose it by story: where the person loved to be, how the family gathers, what feels respectful, and what is realistic right now.
If you’re burying the urn in soil
Start with the permission question. Cemeteries and natural burial grounds can have specific rules about containers, depth, and materials. If you’re pursuing a dedicated green burial site, ask what they allow as a green burial urn and whether they recommend certain biodegradable materials.
Then think about the hands-on factor. If you want a ceremony where family members can hold the urn and take their time, you’ll likely want something sturdier than a thin paper vessel. Natural-fiber designs in Funeral.com’s biodegradable collection are often chosen for exactly that reason: they’re earth-friendly, but still structured enough to feel secure in your hands.
If you’re planning a water ceremony
For oceans, rivers, and lakes, your plan should include both meaning and logistics: wind, boat access, travel time, and how you’ll carry the urn safely. If your ceremony is in U.S. ocean waters, the EPA burial-at-sea guidance is a helpful foundation. For inland waters, additional state and local rules may apply.
If your family is split across states, a water ceremony can also pair naturally with memorial keepsakes. Some families keep a primary portion in a home urn while placing a symbolic portion in water, or they use cremation jewelry so someone who can’t travel still feels included.
If you’re still in the “we’re not sure” stage
This is more common than most people admit. Grief rarely moves on a shopping timeline. You can choose a temporary container now and decide later, especially if you’re considering a tree memorial but need time to find the right place.
In that waiting period, small cremation urns and keepsake urns can help families share a portion respectfully without forcing a final decision too soon. Funeral.com’s Small Cremation Urns for Ashes collection is designed for partial portions and smaller spaces, and their Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes collection supports families who want multiple people to have a tangible memorial.
Costs and what families actually end up paying
When families ask about cost, they’re usually asking two questions at once: the urn price and the total cost of the plan they’re creating.
Urn price ranges and what affects them
Eco urn pricing varies based on craftsmanship, materials, and size. Some biodegradable options cost about the same as mid-range standard urns; others are more specialized. You’ll see differences when comparing eco designs in Funeral.com’s biodegradable urns collection against traditional cremation urns for ashes in premium materials.
Plantable systems may cost more because they can include multiple components. Water burial urns may also cost more if they’re engineered to float briefly and dissolve or sink in a controlled way.
Total-cost thinking for planning
Families sometimes feel blindsided by how quickly “a simple cremation” becomes a handful of separate decisions: the cremation itself, permits and transport, a memorial service, an urn, keepsakes, engraving, flowers, a reception, or travel.
If you’re trying to map the whole picture, Funeral.com’s guide on how much does cremation cost offers a practical walkthrough of common price ranges and budgeting considerations. And if you’re in the middle of funeral planning, the step-by-step structure in How to Plan a Funeral in 7 Steps can help keep decisions from piling up all at once.
Cremation jewelry, pet urns, and multiple memorials in an eco plan
Eco choices don’t have to be all or nothing. Some families choose a biodegradable placement and keep a small portion close. That’s where cremation jewelry can fit naturally: a small, sealed space for a symbolic amount, worn on hard days and anniversaries, while the majority rests in soil or water.
For a clear overview of how it works, Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry 101 explains materials, filling methods, and who it tends to be right for. If you’re ready to browse styles, Funeral.com’s cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces collections make it easier to compare closures and daily-wear options.
For families choosing eco options after the loss of a pet, the same principles apply, just with different sizing needs. Funeral.com’s pet urns and pet cremation urns for ashes collection includes a wide range of memorial styles for dogs and cats. For families sharing pet ashes among multiple people, Pet Keepsake Urns and Pet Figurine Cremation Urns can feel especially personal.
A quick eco checklist for comparing options and total costs
- Setting soil burial, water burial, or a plantable living urn location and whether the site allows it, with planning anchored by the EPA burial-at-sea guidance when ocean waters are involved
- Timeline immediate ceremony vs waiting a few weeks or months, supported by Funeral.com guidance on keeping ashes at home
- Durability needs shipping, travel, and who will handle the urn, often easier with sturdier natural-fiber designs like those in Funeral.com’s biodegradable urns collection
- Portion plan all ashes in one place or shared among family using small cremation urns and keepsake urns
- Total cost cremation, permits, service, and memorial items, simplified by Funeral.com’s guide on how much does cremation cost
What to expect emotionally when you choose an eco option
Families sometimes worry an eco-friendly plan will feel less official than a traditional urn. In reality, many families find the opposite. A biodegradable placement asks you to slow down long enough to be present: to feel the weight of the urn, to choose words, to listen to water or wind or birds, and to let the goodbye unfold without rushing it.
And if you’re still not sure, that’s okay. You don’t have to decide everything in one day. Many families begin with a secure home arrangement, then move toward a tree memorial or water ceremony once the initial shock of loss has softened into something steadier.
