Eco-Friendly Tree Pod Burials: Cost, Process & Impact

Imagine that when you died you didn’t get buried in a coffin six feet under the ground. Instead, you opted for natural burial and your body serves to nourish the soil around you. And in that very same spot, a young tree is planted and begins to flourish and grow. This is what a tree pod burial accomplishes.

Jump ahead to these sections: 

• What is a Tree Pod Burial?
• How Much Does a Tree Pod Burial cost?
• What Happens During a Tree Pod Burial?
• Where Are Tree Pod Burials Legal?
• Can You Have a Tree Pod Burial in the US?
• Alternatives to Tree Pod Burials
• Tree Pod Burial FAQs

Thanks to the innovative work of two Italian designers and their project called Capsula Mundi, tree pod burials are quickly becoming a reality. Now, instead of a traditional burial, your remains can contribute to the earth by growing a tree.

We'll take a look at this unique burial alternative, answer how much a tree pod burial costs, and provide everything you need to know to complete this burial for yourself for a loved one. 

What is Tree Pod Burial?

The Capsula Mundi project was started, in part, as a way to remove the taboo around discussing death. Humans have an aversion to facing our mortality, especially when young. Funerals often have stiff, formal ceremonies and dark, claustrophobia-inducing coffins; without these trappings, you can begin to look at death as a return to nature. 

In a tree pod burial, a small or large vessel is buried under the earth. The Capsula Mundi project has two options for burial, one of which is still theoretical. The more concrete part of the project is the smaller vessel. This is a biodegradable urn meant to hold cremated remains.  

In the theoretical phase of the Capsula Mundi project, a whole body will be placed in the fetal position and wrapped in natural fibers before being buried. This process will be done with the large vessel. 

Green burials are illegal in Italy where this project is headquartered, which is a large part of why the large vessel only exists in concept, but not in practice. However, the people behind the Capsula Mundi project hope to one day effect a change in those laws by challenging the way people think about death and dying.  

The environmental impact of tree pod burials cannot be overstated. Traditional burials fill the earth with nonbiodegradable hardwood and steel, and bodies are pumped full of toxic embalming fluid. Natural burial options like tree pod burials will have a huge impact on the environment as the practice becomes more widespread.

People who gravitate toward green burial options are largely very eco-conscious and attuned to the current worldwide dilemmas stemming from climate change. Creative people also tend to flock to unique concepts like burial pods and cremation diamonds because they find the non-traditional approach refreshing. 

How Much Does Tree Pod Burial Cost?

Because Capsula Mundi is the brainchild of two designers, it should come as no surprise that they have designed this item with consideration of form and function. The shape of a coffin is not one that occurs in nature. It is bulky and unwieldy. The egg shape of the pod is symmetrical in a pleasing way. It also carries a lot of symbolism, as eggs are the starting point for many life forms. 

The small egg-shaped vessel that is Capsula Mundi’s biodegradable urn looks simple, but a lot of thought has gone into its size and shape. There’s also a good deal of engineering that goes into ensuring that the vessels are completely biodegradable. The designers are able to make interventions in the production process that allow them to add unique handcrafted flourishes so every urn is unique.

This level of design and style doesn’t come cheap. The biodegradable urns cost $457, and that doesn’t factor in the cost of cremation or burial plots. The average cost of direct human cremation is $1,100. However, you may be able to find similar urn options like this BioUrn for less than $200.

If you own land, it may be a perfect place to plant a tree burial pod. Be sure to check your local laws though, as not every jurisdiction allows for human remains to be buried on private property, even if it’s in the form of ashes. Also note that if you ever decide to move it may be quite challenging to relocate the planted tree, which could be distressing for your family. Many people have been opting for a conservation burial to avoid this dilemma. 

In a conservation burial, burial fees are paid to an entity that uses those funds to acquire land and protect it in perpetuity. The burial fees for a conservation cemetery or natural burial preserve can cost anywhere between $1,000 and $4,000. 

While this isn’t a small price tag, it goes to a worthy cause, protecting land for years to come. It also enables you to continue tending to your loved one’s tree even if you end up moving.

What Happens During a Tree Pod Burial?

A tree pod burial is sure to be unlike any other funeral you’ve ever experienced. While some green burial practices are becoming more widespread, tree pod burials are relatively new and quite niche. Here’s a small preview of what you may expect: 

Before the burial

Before a person dies, they will select a tree to be planted upon their death. This choice can be made by terminally ill people who know they will die soon. Or, it could be done by a healthy person to ensure their wishes are followed at the time of their death. 

During the burial 

Ashes are placed in the hollow center of the urn and closed up with a conical screw-on top. The urn is then buried in a place of significance and meaning to the deceased and their friends and family.

After the burial 

After the urn is buried, a tree will be planted directly above it. Once the tree is planted, the family and friends of the deceased will be able to tend to the tree as a kind of living memorial. 

Beneath the earth, the urn will biodegrade and the soil will reclaim and be nourished by the ashes within. The soil will be richer as a direct result of the ashes and will help the tree above it flourish and grow. Instead of a symbol of death, the tree is a tribute to ongoing life.

Where Are Tree Pod Burials Legal?

Tree pod burials, where ashes are placed in a biodegradable urn and are buried, are legal in most locations that allow for the green or natural burial of human remains. While this is legal in many places around the world, it's important to check with your local government for any regulations that are specific to your location.

Currently, the US and Canada are two countries were green burials are gaining significant headway and are becoming a popular burial method.

Can You Have a Tree Pod Burial in the US?

You can have a tree pod burial with an urn for ashes in the United States. The full-body tree pod burial is still in concept form only and there is no option for this burial method.

Green burial providers can assist with locating a location for a tree pod burial. To find a green burial provider near you, the Green Burial Council has put together an interactive map of green burial providers located in the US and Canada.

Alternatives to Tree Pod Burials

One of the main reasons why people are interested in a tree pod burial is because of it's eco-friendly nature. But what if this option isn't available? Here are a few other alternatives you might consider.

Alkaline hydrolysis

Alkaline hydrolysis is a form of cremation that uses a non-toxic solution and water to break down the body instead of heat and flame. At the end of the process, bones and any metal implants the person had are left behind. The bones are then ground into ashes and are provided to the family. 

This is the most eco-friendly cremation process available and is currently legal in 28 states.

Coral reef burial

A coral reef burial is a unique alternative to burying cremains. in this process, the cremains are mixed with environmentally-safe concrete, which is cast into a 400 to 800-pound hollow ball. The ball is then placed in the ocean with other balls to form a coral reef.

The Reef Ball Foundation is the organization that spearheaded this project and it's popularity, influence, and positive impact on the planet grows every year.

Body donation

While not for everyone, body donation gives you the opportunity to pay it forward for medical science and research. While you'll still be cremated at the end, donation is a key factor in helping medical students learn, science and research to be completed, and medical advancements to be made for the good of humanity.

Once the body donation process is complete, the family will receive their loved one's ashes. They will then have another opportunity to create an eco-friendly tribute.

Green burial

If you want the opportunity to physically bury your loved one, a green burial is a good alternative to a tree pod burial. 

In a green burial, you bury your loved one's body in the ground wrapped in a shroud or an eco-friendly, biodegradable casket. The body is not embalmed or is embalmed using a green embalming solution. 

Green burials can take place in conservation cemeteries, on private property, and in hybrid cemeteries that offer green burial plots.

Burial at sea

Burial at sea is another alternative that is available for both whole-body burial and cremation burials. There are specific regulations to follow, such as the requirement of burying a minimum of three nautical miles away from shore in water that is 600 feet deep. These regulations apply to both whole-body burial and burial of cremains.

Tree Pod Burial FAQs

Still have a few questions about this unique burial method? Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions and their answers.

Do tree pod burials help the planet?

Every tree pod burial corresponds with one newly planted tree. Because of the significant amount of deforestation that has taken place around the world, trees are becoming a threatened resource, and one that desperately needs replenishment.

Planting a tree as part of your loved one's tree pod burial will benefit the earth for years to come.

What's the average cost of a tree pod burial?

There are many factors that go into the cost of a tree pod burial including the purchase of an urn, cremation expenses, plot purchase (if needed), and expenses related to the burial itself such as the opening of the grave and officiant services.

The urn itself will cost around $200, and direct cremation averages around $850. This brings your total to a minimum of around $1,050 without any other add-ons.

Are tree pod burials legal?

Burying a person's ashes in a biodegradable urn is legal anywhere a green burial service is provided. It's best to check with local cemeteries or funeral service providers to determine where these sites are available in your area.

How can I plan a tree pod burial?

Planning a tree pod burial requires some thinking ahead if you want this service for yourself. First, it's important to share these wishes with your loved ones so they know what you want. Second, it could be a good idea to purchase the urn ahead of time. Finally, it's important to determine where this burial can take place depending on your location.

If you want to do this for a loved one, then you'll need to purchase the burial urn, and determine where you can bury it according to local laws and regulations.

Is a Tree Pod Burial Right for You?

Tree pod burials may seem off-putting to people who have never considered nontraditional burial practices. But for some, being part of the soil that nourishes another living thing can a beautiful legacy. Tree pod burials allow you to be reclaimed by nature, while also allowing you to continue to live on in a truly tangible way that goes beyond the spiritual plane.  

Source:

1. “What is Capsula Mundi?” CapsulaMundi.it, Capsula Mundi, 2015, Capsulamundi.it