Tree Casket vs Biodegradable Burial Pod? Locations, Costs, Laws

Cemeteries are gradually changing as more people embrace concepts like a tree casket, biodegradable burial pod options and tree pod burial. Instead of cold tombstones, you can grow magnificent trees that help afforestation efforts and landscaping, all while attaching special memories to them.

If you are keen on natural burials and understand the environmental effects of traditional funerals, you may opt for a tree casket or tree pod burial.⁷ This complete guide explains the cost, laws and locations of green burials.

How Much Does a Tree Casket Cost? Is Biodegradable Casket Too Expensive?

The tree casket idea is complex and needs more research and analysis before implementation. For now, there is no clear price tag, and no one has used it yet; the developers need more time to guarantee its perfection when it reaches the market.

However, the Capsula Mundi designers state that the caskets will cost more than their organic pod counterparts since it needs more resources to create. Unlike the small capsules, the tree casket holds the human body intact, not the ashes.

It becomes an eco-friendlier option, but it may take a while before it is available to the public. If the final product creation stages are successful, the gas emissions levels will decline since cremation and manufacturing coffins will reduce.

Is the Tree Pod Burial Cost for Pets Cheaper?

Some companies design burial pods for pets, which are usually cheaper, given the difference in size. Pet burial pods are similar to human versions and have the same working principles.

You can look for them online from your favorite shop if you need one because some companies don’t create special options and give your pet the best sendoff.

Best Memorial Trees for Deceased Loved Ones

The Living Urn not only provides stylish pots to hold your loved one’s ashes, but biodegradable options are available for you to plant a tree with the ashes inside.

A purchase comes with a 2-4 ft tall tree, and you can pick one from the several available.⁵

Most people pick symbolic options depicting their lives and how they want to be remembered. Others also go for giant, healthy trees that they are certain will stay standing for decades after planting.

You can easily find one that will bloom into a stunning tree that serves as shade or be great for landscaping. Also, remember to point out where it should stand, ensuring that there will be enough room to grow and thrive in favorable conditions.

Living Urn Tree Options: Most Common Tree Selections

With over forty tree types to choose from in The Living Urn, it can be overwhelming to settle on one though you can narrow it down by considering looks as well as what you want it to represent. Your best bet may be a magnificent, sturdy, and striking tree that lasts a long time.

If unsure of your choice, the following are the most popular from The Living Urn.⁵

• The Red Maple tree: It is hardy, grows in most parts of the United States, and will thrive wherever you plant it.
• The Red and White Oak tree: No other tree signifies endurance more than the Oak, and it is a top choice for most buyers because it lasts decades.
• White and Pink Dogwood tree: It is the perfect tree for landscaping and features attractive blossoms, especially in Spring.
• Weeping Willow tree: A beauty that brings a sense of peace and calm.
• Japanese Maple tree: Ideal when you have less room for planting and don’t want it to grow too big. It is also hardy and takes an amazing color in Fall.
• Sugar Maple tree: This is a state tree for New York, Wisconsin, and other regions; you will identify it by the bright yellow, red, and orange blooms.
• Flowering Cherry tree: It has pink and white blossoms that look incredible during Spring.
• Crape Myrtle tree: This is a small but beautiful tree suitable to plant in a small backyard.
• Sycamore tree: It is famous for its shade thanks to the dense canopy, and a plus is that it lives long.

Different Ways To Plant a Tree for Someone Who Has Died

Planting a tree for someone who has died is a sentimental and thoughtful way to remember them because they are different life forms. There are two ways to plant a tree in honor of a deceased friend or family.

You can plant one after the funeral as a personal reminder of their life or ensure that there is a more direct connection where the tree emerges from the ashes. You can use tree caskets or organic burial pods, directly making the tree grow from the nutrients.

Alternatively, you can scatter the ashes in a forest or park they frequently visited but remember to seek approval from local authorities first.

Where To Find Trees for Funerals and a Tree Casket

Companies providing biodegradable urns also sell trees to families upon request at an extra charge. You only have to pick your favorite, and they will send it to you for replanting with the deceased’s ashes.

However, if your chosen service doesn’t offer it, you will have to outsource from another company after buying the urn or pod.

(Image: Anna Shvets¹²)

You only need a small seedling of your ideal plant or get a bigger one that won’t take long to grow fully.

It can be rewarding to plant trees to benefit the environment, and one of the things that would be beneficial to know is how many trees to offset 1 ton of CO₂. You will be surprised at how big of an impact is created by just simply looking for green funeral solutions.

Read More About: 10 of the Best & Most Popular Carbon Offset Providers of 2022

Become a Tree After Death: Impact of Being a Tree After Death

Many assume they will either be cremated or buried when they die, but some aspects are gradually changing thanks to technology and eco-conscious companies. Burial plots are getting harder to come by, and you need a third option, particularly tree caskets and tree pod burials which can be ways for departed loved ones to become a tree after death.

Directly turning into a tree after death is kinder to the planet because the soil absorbs the remains and uses them as fertilizer. The pods are biodegradable plastic materials that easily break down with time, releasing the enclosed matter and allowing the dead to be “reborn” as trees.^4,8

The impact is less waste in the environment, and the families can be comforted that the ashes led to another life form. It is sentimental and eco-friendly, a way to convert a gray moment into a beautiful memory.

To fully understand the effects of your actions on the environment, use the carbon emissions calculator and be informed of the factors that have contributed negatively to our ecology.

Is Planting a Tree for Someone Who Has Died a Great Idea?

Green and tree pod burial are getting more popular as many are trying to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Planting a tree from a burial pod or tree casket is an eco-friendly option because the ashes decompose faster, and trees help heal the environment.

(Image: Gilly Stewart¹³)

Besides, planting a tree from a biodegradable urn is comforting because it will symbolize the evolution of your loved one from one life form to another. It will be a constant reminder of them, especially when the tree is near your home.

How Are Ashes Turned Into a Tree After Death?

Ashes can’t convert into trees independently, and you need help from specially manufactured urns to do it. When you receive the ashes and place them in a biodegradable container, you must bury them with all the contents inside and plant a tree above them.

Gradually, the ashes dissolve in the soil and provide the plant’s nutrients. Therefore, it is one of the direct ways to turn ashes into a tree, unless you go for a tree casket where the entire body is buried as it decomposes into the ground to feed the tree.

What Is a Capsula Mundi Tree Urn?

The Capsula Mundi translates to “capsule,” a project curated by two Italian designers to revolutionize traditional burials. Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretzel started it in the early 2000s, creating tree pods for burial.³

The pods are egg-shaped and utilize the concept of body decomposition to help grow a tree.⁹ The goal was to change the notion that death is final and make people understand that reverting to nature is like the beginning of another life form.

Capsula Mundi Urns are biodegradable polymer material that facilitates the ashes’ absorption into the ground.

The remains are placed in the urn by detaching the bottom part and burying it in a sizable hole.

Next, you place the tree at the top and fill the hole, checking that there is sufficient room for the roots at the bottom. The soil bacteria will gradually break down the plastic and release the ashes facilitating plant growth.

Tree Burial Pod: The Capsula Mundi Tree Pod Burial Cost

The Capsula Mundi burial pods are not yet available to the public for purchase as it is still undergoing research and redesigning. Luckily, the company sells tree pod urns that allow you to bury your loved one’s ashes as the remains help grow a tree.

You can find them online for around $370 without shipping costs from any location.³ The pods come in two shades, brown and white, where brown looks more natural while the shiny white resembles an egg.

The pod is bioplastic like other urns on the market, but each type is made in Italy with worldwide shipping. Also, note that it doesn’t come with a tree; you can purchase one separately from local stores.

How Much Does a Tree Pod Burial Cost?

Tree pod burial costs usually depend on the company you contract for the service and whether you need anything extra. Some people are even curious to know about the cocoon tree pod burial cost. Generally, you will part with $99-$500 to get a biodegradable pod from a trusted source, but they charge separately for the tree.

A sapling rates about $55 based on your chosen species, and cremation typically costs $1000-$4000. Eventually, you may pay $1100-$4500 for the entire burial ceremony.

Become a Tree When You Die: Cost Implications

There are various ways to become a tree after death, each with unique charges. For instance, the Capsula Mundi will cost you approximately $370, solely the urn’s cost. You will pay more for the cremation and burial, a number that can rise to thousands.

On the other hand, cheaper versions like the Bio Urn costs about $200, although you will also pay additional costs to bury the remains in conservation cemeteries, which can cost up to $4,000.⁶

Note that most eco-friendly burials can be pricey, but they are cheaper than many traditional casket burials. Besides, they have the advantage of converting your remains back to nature.

How Does a Biodegradable Burial Pod Tree Affect the Environment?

Making use of sustainable products has a number of benefits. The ecology can be greatly improved by making even simple changes, such as switching to biodegradable soap or organic bamboo washcloths. However, some environmentally harmful outcomes are still possible with some sustainable solutions.

Funerals release toxins into the environment in several ways. For one, coffins are made of metals, wood, and other fabrics, only for the parts to be buried immediately.

Green burial methods are innovative alternatives where the body is cremated and the ashes encapsulated and buried under a tree.¹⁰ The urn decomposes, mixing the ash with the ground and nourishing the plant above.

The one challenge with this system is that it doesn’t eliminate the negative effects of cremation and the ecosystem is still under threat. Still, it is a giant leap to a more sustainable future, especially now that it paves the way for tree caskets.

Biodegradable Burial Pod Options

Several types of burial pods in the market make natural interment more popular. You can choose your ideal option, but the following are the most common.

The Capsula Mundi

It is a biodegradable urn in two color options (white and brown) of polymer material that easily breaks down in the soil. You have to purchase the seedling separately, unlike other pods.

The Living Urn

This organic pod consists of recycled plant materials and doesn’t have any chemicals. You can buy a sapling at an extra cost or find one that fits.

The Bios Urn

This pod is similar to the other two as it is made of biodegradable matter. It comes in two sizes, pet-sized and standard, but doesn’t come with a tree; you will have to buy one separately.

Buried as a Tree: The Best Places To Bury a Biodegradable Burial Pod

Land laws are the essential factors guiding you on where to plant a burial pod. These rules usually change based on the state, and it is best to confirm first, even before you buy an urn.

A common go-to for most people is private property, where the tree will grow near the house and is easier to access and care for.

(Image: Creative Vix¹⁴)

Some laws are strict on burying cremated remains, and it is imperative to investigate your region’s rules.¹

The urn can also be in a planter at home, indoors or outdoors, depending on the species and how long it can stay in an enclosed container. Some options allow you to replant when the tree starts growing since the urn will gradually decompose and let the roots grow in the ground. It’s amazing to know how tree planting for carbon offsetting helps the environment and, in a way, allows us to be with our loved ones at the same time.

What Is Green Burial?

Green burials are excellent alternatives to traditional funerals if you or your loved one is conscious of the environment. They are performed 48 hours after death to avoid using formaldehyde for preservation, making them safe for the environment.²

These eco-friendly options don’t use chemicals for embalming, ensuring the burial place is free of toxins. Burial shrouds and more sustainable, biodegradable materials are used instead of caskets, allowing decomposition to enrich the land around the specific site.

Depending on your location, you can consult local cemeteries, city councils, or land conservancies and tell them about your plans for a green burial. They will offer you all the available options, and you can pick a perfect place with friendly rates.

What Is a Forest Burial?

A forest burial is any interment form involving trees growing from the deceased’s ashes. You can bury a cremation tree pod with your loved one’s remains and plant a tree at the top, where the ashes will convert to fertilizer for nourishment.

Forest burials are green alternatives to conventional funerals, and it is the go-to for people who are keen on reducing the carbon footprint and making the planet safer. Going back to nature is gradually being accepted in various forms, and you can also embrace it for yourself and your friends and family.

Burial Laws (50 States)

(Image: brainman¹⁶)