The Eco-Friendly Benefits of Choosing a Wood Urn for Human Ashes

As people look toward the future of the planet, methods to reduce our vast carbon footprint are becoming increasingly important. One of the more recent undertakings towards this goal is by moving from burials which use a lot of landmass to less impactful methods such as cremation. One option that sticks out to most in this regard is the adoption of wood urns for the storage and burial of human cremains. This article will go over the eco-friendly benefits of choosing a wood urn over other common urn materials. 

Wood urns compared to traditional urns

When taking an eco-friendly approach, you may find some reasons why you would not want a traditional urn. Common materials used for these urns like aluminium or ceramic are not biodegradable, meaning they will last in the Earth for an almost indefinite amount of time. Burying such urns will mean that the ashes may not be able to reintegrate with the earth for centuries. When you choose a wooden urn, you're choosing to reduce your impact on the planet by leaving a smaller carbon footprint. Here are some more reasons why you would want to choose a wood urn.

Sustainability

One of the key benefits of choosing a wood urn is that wood is a sustainable material. When sourced responsibly, wood can be harvested in a way that doesn't harm the environment or deplete resources. Many wood urns are made from woods such as bamboo, oak or maple which can be sustainably sourced from managed forests.

Biodegradability

When wood urns are buried in the earth they naturally decompose which is a gentle and natural way of returning your loved ones ashes to the Earth. This is unlike more traditional cremation urns which will stay buried intact for a much longer time.

Customisable

Wood urns are also highly customisable. They can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be customised to have inbuilt portrait slots for photographs of the deceased. Wood can also be etched and carved to have an important epigraph or name of the person put on them. There are also some very intricate wood urns that use fractal burning or resin to have a much more elegant look.

Affordability

You might also be pleased to find out that wood urns are also some of the affordable urn materials you can get. This is due to wood being a more widely available material that doesn't require as much processing and manpower to turn into an urn. This means families can opt for the eco-friendly option without breaking the bank.

Some things to consider

One thing you must consider is what way you are planning to use your urn . Will this urn be buried or displayed in your home? Urn burials will require you to ensure the wooden urn is suitable for such an undertaking. You must also follow your local Australian state or federal laws regarding urn burials. A funeral home may be able to help you in this regard. If the urn is to be displayed at your home then you also want to make sure it is something you enjoy the look of. Having an urn at your home can be a beneficial way of processing through grief. Many families elect to bury most of the ashes and keep a small amount in small keepsake urns and there are wooden keepsake options too. The final thing to consider is the size of the wood urn. The urn you purchase should be able to hold all or most of your loved ones' cremated remains . It's not an exact science as to how much ash will be produced after the cremation process so results may vary. The average container needed for a standard adult is generally one with 200 cubic inches, or about 3 litres. 

Overall, choosing a wood urn is a truly sustainable and eco friendly way to store the ashes of your loved ones. With a variety of options and customisations, selecting a wood urn comes with more than just its eco-friendly benefits. As Australia's largest urn store, Eternal Urns has an extensive range of the best quality wood urns available, so check out our range today.