Cremation Urns for Ashes – Which One Is Right for Me?
There are hundreds of cremation urns for ashes available in the market today and many more are coming online as cremation surges in popularity. According to the National Funeral Director’s Association, cremation surpassed burial for the first time in 2015 and is expected to jump to over seventy percent of the population by 2030, up from just twenty-five percent in 1999. Two main reasons for this drastic shift in preference can be attributed to cremation cost (which is typically much less than a burial) and people who are less “traditional”.
I want to choose cremation, but which cremation urn is right for me? With so many choices available today, this is a common question asked to funeral directors. There are no ‘right’ answers and it really depends on your budget and personal preference. There are simple, low cost urns that are meant to be placed on the mantle like generations have done through time. Then, there are custom artistic urns now available that serve as pieces of art containing cremated remains within a home, yet these can cost thousands of dollars each. There is also the option to be included in glass art, or in a diamond. However, for most people, affordable urns that provide something memorable are the most appealing, like scattering urns that gives family or friends the ability to scatter your ashes at your favorite place, or bio urns that grow into tree memorials.
If you want to be scattered at your favorite lake, park, garden, ocean, mountain, hiking trail, fishing spot, etc. there is a new line of scattering urns that Element Urns introduced last year called Eco-Scattering. These attractive urns for scattering ashes are eco-friendly (made from bamboo) and have a unique locking mechanism to make transporting the remains easy and even allow for scattering at multiple locations (as the top of the urn can be opened and closed as needed). These retail for less than $100 and can be found at your local funeral home.
If you want to grow into a tree memorial that current and future generations can enjoy, then consider The Living Urn. This unique bio urn and planting system is quickly growing in popularity and is currently being offered by over 400 U.S. funeral homes. It is the only bio urn that was designed to be used with a tree seedling, or baby tree. They have outstanding reviews from customers and many families are electing to hold ceremonies with the planting of the urn containing the ashes and baby tree. They’ve also partnered up with the Arbor Day Foundation, who provides all of their trees. Upon ordering The Living Urn, a family can select from a wide variety of tree options that have been hand-picked by arborists as being suitable for each particular growing area. At less than $200 each, this is also an affordable memorial option for most families.
