Biodegradable Urns & Scattering Tubes

Choosing what will happen to a loved one's ashes is deeply personal. Some families want to return the ashes to a meaningful place in nature. Others are planning a water burial, a natural burial or a scattering ceremony somewhere connected to the person they are remembering.

Our collection of biodegradable urns, scattering urns and scattering tubes for ashes brings together options designed for these kinds of farewells.

A Memorial Connected to Nature

For someone who loved the outdoors, the ocean or simply wanted a less permanent final resting place, a biodegradable cremation urn can offer a meaningful way to honor those wishes.

Depending on the design, biodegradable urns may be intended for burial in the earth, placement in water or use as part of a scattering ceremony. Materials range from paper and plant fibers to palm leaf, rattan, seagrass and other natural or recycled materials.

For a water ceremony, explore options specifically designed as biodegradable urns for water burial. For a memorial on land, biodegradable burial options allow the urn to gradually return to the earth over time.

A Personal Place to Say Goodbye

Scattering ashes can make the location itself part of the memorial. It might be a favorite shoreline, a place your family visited together, a landscape they loved or somewhere that simply feels like them.

A scattering urn or scattering tube can make it easier to safely carry the ashes to that place and release them when the time comes. Some families choose a simple scattering tube for the ceremony, while others prefer a more decorative scattering urn that can be kept afterward as a remembrance.

If you are still deciding what kind of memorial feels right, our guide to choosing a cremation urn explains the differences between urns intended for scattering, burial, display and other uses.

Every family approaches this choice differently. Browse our full collection to find an urn for ashes that feels right for the person you remember.

Planning a Scattering Ceremony

A scattering ceremony can be as simple or as ceremonial as you want it to be. Some families gather together, share memories or read a few words before releasing the ashes. Others choose a quiet, private moment.

Before choosing the location, research any rules that may apply. Requirements can differ for private property, parks, waterways and other public places. Our ash scattering regulations guide can help you understand some of the considerations, while our guide to planning an ash scattering memorial offers ideas for creating a meaningful ceremony.

If you plan to scatter most of the ashes but keep a small portion close, you may also want to explore our cremation keepsake urns, which are designed to hold a smaller amount of cremated remains.

For a pet, our collection of pet urns and memorials includes additional options created specifically for remembering a beloved companion.

There is no single right way to say goodbye. Whether you are planning a water burial, natural burial or scattering ceremony, the right choice is the one that feels meaningful to you and true to the person or pet you are remembering.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a biodegradable urn?

A biodegradable urn is a cremation urn made from materials intended to break down naturally over time rather than remain permanently intact. Depending on the design, biodegradable urns may be made from paper, plant fibers, palm leaf, rattan, seagrass, salt or other biodegradable materials.

Some are designed for ground burial, some for water burial and others can be used as part of a scattering ceremony. Check the intended use listed on the individual product before choosing an urn.

What is a scattering urn or scattering tube for ashes?

A scattering urn is designed to hold cremated ashes securely until you are ready to release them during a scattering ceremony.

Scattering tubes for ashes are typically lightweight and easy to handle, which can make them convenient for carrying ashes to a meaningful location. Decorative scattering urns may serve the same purpose while offering a more traditional memorial design.

Some scattering urns are biodegradable, while others are made from wood, metal or other durable materials.

What do you do with an urn after scattering ashes?

What happens to the urn afterward depends on the type you choose.

A decorative scattering urn made from wood, metal or another durable material can be kept at home as a memorial or used to hold meaningful mementos. A paper scattering tube may be kept as a remembrance or disposed of according to the material and product instructions.

Some biodegradable urns are designed to be buried or placed in water along with the ashes instead of being retained afterward. Check the instructions for the individual urn before the ceremony so you know how it is intended to be used.

Are scattering urns biodegradable?

Some are, but not all.

Biodegradable scattering urns may be made from paper, palm leaf, rattan, seagrass or other materials designed to break down naturally. Other scattering urns are made from wood, stainless steel or similar materials and are intended primarily to make transporting and releasing the ashes easier.

If biodegradability is important to your memorial plans, choose a product specifically identified as biodegradable rather than assuming all scattering urns are.

How do I choose a biodegradable urn for water burial?

Choose an urn specifically identified as suitable for water burial.

Biodegradable materials can behave differently once placed in water. Depending on its construction, a water burial urn may float for a period of time, sink or begin to break down in a particular way.

Review the individual product description and instructions before the ceremony so you understand how the urn is intended to be used.

Can a biodegradable urn be buried in the ground?

Many biodegradable urns are designed for burial in the earth, but not every biodegradable urn is intended for the same purpose.

Check the product details to confirm that the urn is appropriate for ground burial. If you are planning a cemetery burial or using a memorial garden, also ask whether the location has specific requirements for urn materials or burial containers.

Can you scatter ashes anywhere?

No. Rules depend on where you plan to scatter the ashes.

Private property may require the owner's permission, while parks, public lands and waterways may have their own regulations or permit requirements. Before finalizing the ceremony, check with the property owner or appropriate local or government authority.

Our ash scattering regulations guide provides more information to help you begin planning.

What size scattering urn or biodegradable urn do I need?

Choose an urn based on its capacity, not only its physical dimensions.

A commonly used guideline is approximately one cubic inch of urn capacity for each pound of body weight before cremation, although the amount of cremated remains can vary. If you are unsure, choosing slightly more capacity can make transferring and handling the ashes easier.