How to Choose the Right Biodegradable Urn for a Water Ceremony

How to Choose the Right Biodegradable Urn for a Water Ceremony

(A calm guide for families planning a farewell guided by water)

A farewell that flows with love

When families tell us, “They loved the water—can we say goodbye there?” the answer is yes, and it’s one of the most meaningful farewells you can hold.

A water ceremony creates space for stillness and connection, allowing nature to hold what words cannot. Choosing the right biodegradable urn helps that moment unfold with ease — gently, naturally, and in harmony with the place you’ve chosen.

Below, you’ll find a calm, clear guide to choosing the urn that best fits your water farewell.

Understand how biodegradable urns behave in water

All Pachamama water urns are made to float briefly — usually 30 seconds to 2 minutes — before gracefully sinking and dissolving.

This float time allows families to speak a few words, release petals, or simply watch the urn drift before it disappears into the current.

Tip:

  • In lakes or calm bays, a slower-sinking urn creates a reflective moment.

  • In the open sea or with waves, a quicker-sinking urn helps ensure a steady, natural release.

🌿 Each urn’s shape and weight are designed to balance beauty, buoyancy, and biodegradability.

Match the urn to your ceremony setting

The type of water and ceremony you’re planning makes a difference:

If you’re traveling to the ceremony by air, always carry the ashes in a temporary TSA-compliant container, and transfer them into the biodegradable urn once you arrive.

Materials that truly return to nature

Pachamama urns are crafted from plant-based, biodegradable materials — no plastics, resins, or synthetic coatings.

Each is designed to dissolve completely within about a week, leaving no residue and no harm to aquatic life.

We include:

  • A biodegradable ashes bag inside each urn.

  • Optional biodegradable petals for the farewell moment.

  •  A biodegradability certificate, accepted by major cruise lines and eco charter services.

Consider the size and meaning of your ceremony

For private or family-only farewells, one medium urn is often perfect.

For shared ceremonies, you may wish to divide ashes among smaller urns — allowing each family member to release a part of love’s memory into the water.

Suggested combinations:

  • 1 large urn + 2–3 small urns (shared ceremony)

  • 1 medium urn (intimate farewell)

 Make the moment your own

A water ceremony can be as simple or as symbolic as you wish. Many families:

  • Scatter petals as the urn floats.

  • Read a short poem or blessing.

  • Play gentle music (even from our Spotify remembrance playlists).

  • Take one slow breath together before release.

💧 There’s no right way — only what feels true for your family.

After the ceremony: honoring the moment

If your farewell takes place in U.S. ocean waters, remember to file the EPA Burial-at-Sea report within 30 days.

You can download our free worksheet to make this step simple:

👉 Download the EPA Burial-at-Sea Worksheet for Families (PDF)

A reflection for your heart

The water ceremony isn’t only about saying goodbye — it’s about remembering how love moves.

Just as water takes on every shape it touches, so does love: it becomes air, light, memory, and the rhythm of the tide.

Whether you release an urn into a lake, a river, or the open ocean, what you’re really doing is returning love to its natural flow — where it began, and where it continues.

May every farewell be gentle. May every return feel like home.

 

FAQ – Choosing the Right Biodegradable Water Urn

How long do Pachamama urns float?

Between 30 seconds and 2 minutes, depending on size and conditions.

Are Pachamama urns approved for cruise burials?

Yes — our urns include a biodegradability certificate accepted by major cruise lines.

Can I bring the urn on a plane?

Yes, but carry ashes in a TSA-approved temporary container and transfer them upon arrival.

How quickly do urns dissolve?

Most dissolve fully within a week, often sooner in moving water.

What makes an urn eco-friendly?

All materials are plant-based, non-toxic, and designed to nourish the environment as they return to nature.

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