How do I choose the right urn for my loved one's ashes?

When choosing an urn, consider the intended use of the ashes (burial, scattering, display), the size needed to fit the ashes, whether you're dividing the ashes, and if you have an existing item that could serve as an urn.

What size urn do I need for ashes?

For flame cremated remains, use the rule of one square inch of remains per pound of the person's weight. For alkaline hydrolysis (green cremation) remains, which have about 20% more volume, multiply the person’s weight by 1.2 to calculate the needed volume in square inches.

What is the best type of urn for ashes?

The best urn for ashes should accommodate your chosen disposition method, have enough space for all the ashes, and offer aesthetic, sentimental, or ecological significance.

How much are urns for ashes?

Green burial urns generally range from $50 to $500. Alternatively, you can use a personal item of appropriate size, such as a toolbox, cookie jar, tacklebox, ski boot, antique lunchbox, or birdhouse.

How do I choose the right urn for my loved one's ashes?

When choosing an urn, consider the intended use of the ashes (burial, scattering, display), the size needed to fit the ashes, whether you're dividing the ashes, and if you have an existing item that could serve as an urn.

What size urn do I need for ashes?

For flame cremated remains, use the rule of one square inch of remains per pound of the person's weight. For alkaline hydrolysis (green cremation) remains, which have about 20% more volume, multiply the person’s weight by 1.2 to calculate the needed volume in square inches.

What is the best type of urn for ashes?

The best urn for ashes should accommodate your chosen disposition method, have enough space for all the ashes, and offer aesthetic, sentimental, or ecological significance.

How much are urns for ashes?

Green burial urns generally range from $50 to $500. Alternatively, you can use a personal item of appropriate size, such as a toolbox, cookie jar, tacklebox, ski boot, antique lunchbox, or birdhouse.

Are Natural Burials an Option in Minnesota?

Natural burials are an option in Minnesota. The state has several natural and hybrid burial grounds, and Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial is certified by the Green Burial Council to provide this service. Although there was a two-year moratorium issued in 2023 on creating new green cemeteries for further study, natural burials can still be performed. The moratorium results are expected in 2025, when it is set to expire.

What is Flameless Cremation?

Flameless cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis or water cremation, is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional flame cremation. This process uses a combination of water flow, temperature, and alkalinity to accelerate natural tissue disintegration, resulting in cremated remains that can be buried, kept in an urn, placed at a conservation tree, or scattered.

How Does Flameless Cremation Work?

In flameless cremation, the body is placed in a pressure vessel and submerged in a solution of 95% water and 5% potassium hydroxide and/or sodium hydroxide. The vessel is heated to 200-300 degrees Fahrenheit, which is lower than the temperatures used in traditional flame cremations.

Is Flameless Cremation Environmentally Friendly?

Flameless cremation is significantly more environmentally friendly than traditional methods. It uses lower temperatures, does not burn propane or natural gas, and reduces carbon emissions.

Is Flameless Cremation Safe and Legal?

Flameless cremation is both safe and legal. It ensures environmentally responsible handling of remains, allows for the extraction and recycling of medical implants, and has been legal in Minnesota since its endorsement by the Mayo Clinic for its ecological benefits and efficient handling of medical implants.

How Much Does Flameless Cremation Cost?

The cost of flameless cremation varies by location and funeral home but is generally comparable to or slightly higher than traditional cremation. The specialized equipment and reduced environmental impact often justify the cost for many families.

What is a Natural Burial?

A natural burial is an eco-friendly funeral practice that allows the body to return to the earth in an environmentally conscious manner. It minimizes the use of chemicals, like embalming fluids, and avoids materials like concrete used in traditional burial vaults. By forgoing these practices, natural burial conserves resources, prevents pollution, and reduces carbon footprint.

What is a Natural Burial Option?

Natural burial options include choices for an eco-friendly burial, such as using natural burial caskets, selecting a green burial site, or integrating cremated remains into natural burial grounds.

What is a Natural Burial Cemetery?

A natural burial cemetery, like Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, is specifically designed for natural burials. These cemeteries have minimal environmental impact and often resemble natural landscapes rather than traditional cemeteries.

How Many Burials Do Not Involve Embalming?

This leaves 885,320 burials with possible embalming. According to former Green Burial Council President, Ed Bixby it’s estimated that 8% of people choose green burials. (3) Whether that includes those people buried without embalming in the Jewish and Muslim traditions, he did not specify, but if we’re generous and say it is 8% of people already choosing burial and are in addition to Jewish and Muslim burials, that would subtract another 70,825 from annual embalmings. This would mean, in the United States there are an estimated 814,500 burials with embalming per year.

How Many Gallons Of Embalming Fluid Are Used Per Person?

Roughly three gallons are used. What percentage of that is formaldehyde depends on the practitioner and what someone considers “embalming fluid”. Rarely, practitioners will use undiluted embalming solution, but the vast majority use a diluted solution.

What Is Embalming Fluid Made Of?

There are generally 16oz of concentrated embalming solution diluted with 112 oz of water to create one gallon of usable embalming fluid. So, each gallon of commonly used embalming fluid is more than 87.5% water. Each manufacturer has a proprietary formula to their 16oz concentrated embalming solution, but according to manufacturer, Dodge’s Safety Data Sheet (10) for their commonly used Metasyn Normal concentrated embalming solution, 1.6-4 oz. (10-25%) is formaldehyde, a regulated carcinogen. Other regulated substances included are up to 0.8 oz each of methanol and propylene glycol, neither of which is a regulated carcinogen.

How Much Embalming Fluid Is Used Per Body?

There is a broad rule of thumb that one gallon of embalming fluid is used per 50 pounds of body weight. But the amount of embalming fluid used also depends on the size of the person. In practice, it generally works out to an average of about 3 gallons of embalming fluid per body, of which up to 12 oz is formaldehyde.

How Many Gallons Of Embalming Fluid Are Buried Each Year In The US?

Each year an estimated 2,443,500 gallons of embalming fluid are buried in the United States. This amount is reached from an estimated 814,500 burials with embalming per year, times three gallons per body. Of those 2,443,500 gallons of embalming fluid used, there are generally up to 4 oz of formaldehyde per gallon, which means roughly 97,740 gallons of formaldehyde are buried with embalmed bodies in the US each year.

Is Green Burial Legal in Minnesota?

Yes, green burial in Minnesota is legal. The state allows for natural burials, where the body is not embalmed and can be buried in a biodegradable coffin or shroud. Minnesota hosts several green cemeteries and allows hybrid cemeteries, which accommodate both traditional and green burials.

Is Green Burial Legal in Arizona?

Snow birds might like to know that Arizona also permits green burials. The state's regulations support eco-friendly burial practices, including the use of biodegradable materials and the option to forgo embalming. This makes Arizona an accommodating place for those wishing to opt for a green burial.

Is Green Burial Illegal in Minnesota Now?

Because of a green burial law that passed in Minnesota in 2022 some people think that green burial is illegal in MN, which is incorrect. As part of the Omnibus bill that passed in 2023 there was a small piece of legislation with a bigger impact, but it did not make green burial illegal in Minnesota. What it did do is create a moratorium on new green burial cemeteries through 2025 when the law is set to expire.

Why Did the Moratorium Happen?

A small group of citizens in Northern Minnesota were upset about a green burial cemetery being established in their community and their concerns turned into legislation requiring the state to fund and study the impact of all-natural burial. It also prohibited any new green cemeteries or conservation burial grounds until July 2025. Being that green burial was the form of disposition for every interred human in history until embalming became popularized during the Civil War, we’re confident that allowing a body to naturally return to the Earth will be found to be safe.

Can I Bury Someone In My Yard?

It depends on local ordinances and how much work you’re willing to do. In Minnesota, if you want to bury a human body on private land, that land has to be identified as cemetery property in perpetuity. This also means that cemetery land would need to a permitted land use in your city’s code and also that specific funding needs to be set aside to maintain that cemetery land in perpetuity.

What is Body Composting?

Body composting, or human composting, is a process that transforms human remains into highly regenerative soil, often used in tree planting, conservation projects, gardens, or woodlands. It's part of a broader movement towards green burial services, including natural burials and other ecological burial practices. Unlike traditional burials, body composting is an environmentally friendly method that avoids the use of embalming fluids, metal caskets, concrete burial vaults, and perpetual land use.

How Does Body Composting Work?

The human composting process, scientifically referred to as natural organic reduction (NOR), involves placing the human body in a vessel with organic materials like wood chips, straw, and alfalfa. Over a span of several weeks, natural microbial activity breaks down the tissue, transforming it into a cubic yard of nutrient dense compost. This method mirrors the natural aerobic (oxygen using) decomposition process but occurs in a controlled environment. Though each NOR provider has their own specific method, Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, chair of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Washington State University, has worked with NOR advocate Katrina Spade pioneering the development and refinement the human composting process. The body, along with the organic materials and air flow, undergoes a natural, heat-producing process that accelerates decomposition while eliminating pathogens and capturing the body’s carbon. The end product is a nutrient-rich soil that can support plant growth, allowing the deceased to be returned to the earth in a meaningful way.

Is Body Composting Legal?

The legality of body composting varies by location. In the United States, it was first legalized in Washington state, setting a precedent for other states to follow. Since then, other states have been considering or have passed legislation to allow this process as a part of green burials.

What are the Benefits of Body Composting?

Body composting offers several benefits over conventional burial and cremation methods: Environmental Impact: Traditional burials often involve embalming fluids, and the manufacturing and transportation of caskets and vaults which carry a carbon footprint. Cremation consumes fuel and releases greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, local body composting produces no direct carbon emissions, sequesters the carbon from the body in the soil keeping it from entering the atmosphere, and requires significantly fewer consumable resources. Conservation: The process transforms human remains into soil that can be used to nourish the earth. It's a way of giving back to the environment, contributing to the growth of plants and the conservation of natural spaces. Cost-Effective: The human composting cost can be lower than traditional burials or cremations. While prices vary, local NOR providers are often considered a more affordable green funeral option. Emotional and Spiritual Benefits: For many, the idea of being laid to rest in a natural and meaningful way is comforting, helping to create a positive outcome from the end of their life. The process of human composting aligns with the beliefs of those who seek the continuity of simply returning to the earth. Space Conservation: In areas where burial space is limited or land is scarce, body composting offers a space-efficient alternative whole-body burial. The composted remains can return to the earth without requiring that land be designated, in perpetuity, as cemetery land.

Why Support Body Composting?

Natural organic reduction not only aligns with the principles of environmental stewardship but also offers a deeply personal and meaningful option for being laid to rest. The transformation of human remains into soil is a profound process, symbolizing the cycle of life in a tangible way. As we continue to seek sustainable and meaningful ways to say goodbye to our loved ones, body composting stands out as a beacon of hope, offering a choice that is both respectful to the departed and kind to the planet.

How Does Water Cremation Work?

In water cremation, the body is placed in a vessel filled with a water and alkali solution. The liquid in the vessel is then heated, but at a drastically lower heat than used in flame cremation. The combination of the heat, fluid movement, water, and alkali breaks down the soft tissue, leaving behind the bone material and a sterile liquid.

What is Water Cremation and How Does It Differ from Flame Cremation?

Water cremation reduces a body using water and alkali, whereas flame cremation uses combustible fossil fuels. Flame cremation involves reducing the body at very high temperatures, and water cremation uses roughly five times less heat, but both result in processed bone material or “ashes,” being returned to the family in an urn or receptacle.

Is Water Cremation More Environmentally Friendly than Flame Cremation?

Water cremation is generally considered more environmentally friendly than traditional flame cremation. It uses electricity to heat the solution and doesn’t directly emit fossil fuel exhaust into the atmosphere. Aquamation also captures the carbon from the body in the solution producing a sterile liquid that can safely be returned to the wastewater system.

Is Water Cremation More Expensive than Flame Cremation?

The cost of water cremation can vary depending on location and provider. In some cases, often it is more costly than traditional flame cremation due to the specialized equipment required and the longer processing time. However, at Interra Green Burial we want to encourage families to use this ecological cremation option, so an aquamation without services is less than Mueller Memorial’s flame cremation.

Cremation Urns

Shop Cremation Urns for Ashes

Cremation Urns for Human Ashes: A Tribute to Your Loved Ones & The Environment

Welcome to the green side of commemorating loved ones. On this page you will explore a wide variety of cremation urns for human ashes that not only celebrate the lives of those we have lost but also prioritize the sustainability of our planet. From custom cremation urns to biodegradable urns, available urn choices cater to different tastes while also adhering to the highest ecological standards.

Alkaline Hydrolysis: An Eco-Friendly Cremation Method

In keeping with our commitment to environmentalism, Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial advocates for alkaline hydrolysis, a cremation method that reduces the body to ashes using water and lye, a much gentler process compared to traditional fire-based cremations. The resulting ashes can be stored in one of our decorative funeral urns for human ashes. Or this process can be paired beautifully with one of our biodegradable urns for a fully eco-friendly end-of-life option.

Do keep in mind that the “ashes” returned after water cremation have about 20% more volume and are brighter white than flame cremation remains. This may mean a larger person’s ashes may not all fit in a traditional urn.

Sizing Your Urn

Selecting the size cremation urn you need is important to consider. The standard industry measure of cremated remains is by cubic inches. It's generally estimated that one pound of body weight will yield about one cubic inch of flame cremated ashes. So, a 200lb individual would require an urn that is approximately 200 cubic inches or larger.

However, if the cremated remains are the product of alkaline hydrolysis, or “water cremation,” expect the volume of the ashes to be 20% greater than that calculation. So for a 200lb individual would produce about 240 cubic inches of hydrolyzed remains. For volume and size reference, there are 231 cubic inches in a gallon of water.

It's always better to err on the side of caution. Most standard urns sold by Interra have enough space to hold the cremated or hydrolyzed remains of an average sized person. But if the person was larger, you may want to anticipate that the remains may not all fit in one urn. In that case we would return any remaining portion to the family in a dignified pouch. We will always return ALL of the cremated remains to the care of the family or at the family’s request hold them until the burial.

Environmentally Friendly Urn Selections

When choosing a cremation urn for ashes, it’s important to consider your ecological footprint. Traditional cremation urns have a significant environmental impact due to their non-degradable materials and manufacturing processes. In contrast, our ecological cremation urns are consciously designed using renewable materials, which will break down over time and return to the Earth naturally.

There is a range of urns for sale from biodegradable urns that dissolve in water to urns that decompose in the ground. Options also include paper urns, which are made from recycled paper and can be personalized with eco-friendly inks.

In addition to paper urns, salt urns are available which dissolve quickly when placed in large bodies of water, leaving no trace behind. Crafted from salt crystals, these urns are perfect for those looking to bury ashes at sea or in a large lake, transforming the process into a gentle return to nature.

Growing a Tree from Ashes

Cremated remains contain a large amount of salt and are non-nutrient so you cannot plant a tree or flower directly into untreated cremated or hydrolyzed remains and expect it to survive. However a company called The Living Urn has a patented system which allows for the remains to be safely incorporated with a planting of your choosing.

Custom and Specialty Urns

Also available are a range of custom cremation urns, allowing you to tailor your loved one's final resting place to their personality, passions, or favorite places. Whether it's a hand-painted scene, a laser-engraved quote, or a picture transferred onto the urn, we are here to help you create a unique and personalized tribute.

Additionally, if you're looking for something you can keep close, you might consider cremation jewelry. These pieces can hold a small amount of ashes, allowing your loved one to always be near, whether that's in a necklace, bracelet, or ring. At Interra, instead of this type of cremation jewelry we offer fingerprint jewelry and keepsakes that incorporate a cast of your loved one’s unique fingerprint.

Do I Even Need an Urn?

After cremation or aquamation, if an urn is not selected, the cremated remains or “ashes” are returned to the family in a respectable black plastic box. The cremated remains are inside of that box but as an extra layer of protection they are first collected in a clear plastic bag. (We have yet to find a biodegradable bag that meets our needs to replace the plastic bag, but we are looking.) This presentation is suitable for taking your person’s remains back into your care.

If you have an item of personal significance that you would like to use as an urn and keep at your home you certainly can do that. We have seen people use a birdhouse, a tool box and ski boot as a meaningful urn. You are under no obligation to buy an urn from Interra or anyone else.

Finding the Right Urn

Choosing an urn for human ashes can be a daunting task, especially during a time of grief. We are here to make the process as simple and meaningful as possible. Our wide array of cremation urns for sale and knowledgeable staff will assist you in finding the perfect funeral urns to commemorate your loved one and help safeguard the planet they called home.

Our memorial urns for human ashes stand as testaments to the lives of your loved ones and their love for the Earth. By choosing our ecological cremation urns, you are participating in a sustainable farewell that respects both the departed and the world they leave behind. Browse our selections today and take the first step towards an environmentally conscious goodbye.

Common Questions

How do I choose the right urn for my loved one's ashes?

There are several factors to consider when choosing an urn for ashes, most importantly; What are you going to do with the ashes–bury, scatter, display at home? Will the ashes fit in the urn? Are you dividing the ashes? Do you already have an item of significance that could be used as an urn?
What size urn do I need for ashes?

For flame cremated remains the rule of thumb is there will be about one square inch of cremated remains per pound the person weighed. However, the remains resulting from alkaline hydrolysis, or green cremation, have about 20% more volume, so multiply the person’s weight by 1.2 to get the volume of hydrolyzed remains in square inches.
What is the best type of urn for ashes?

The best urn for ashes will provide for the disposition method you are choosing–scattering, green burial, display at home, etc. It will also have enough space to house all of the ashes, and will offer aesthetic, sentimental, or ecological significance.
How much are urns for ashes?

Green burial urns for ashes generally range from $50 to $500. However if you have a personal item that is the appropriate size, you could use something from your home, a toolbox, cookie jar, tacklebox, ski boot, antique lunchbox, birdhouse…

Call Us 651-774-9797

About Us

Our Locations

Obituaries

Services

St. Paul:

835 Johnson Pkwy Ste B
St. Paul, MN 55016, USA

Phone: 651-774-9797

Fax: 651-778-9677

White Bear Lake:

4738 Bald Eagle Ave Ste B, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, USA

Phone: 651-429-4944

Fax: 651-429-7748

Mueller Memorial:

muellermemorial.com

651-774-9797

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