The Problem with Biodegradable Urns for Sea Burial
- The Duchess Yacht
- Oct 16
- 3 min read
If you're planning to scatter ashes at sea, a funeral home has probably offered to sell you a biodegradable urn for a substantial amount of money. While these urns sound perfect in theory - designed to float briefly before sinking or to sink immediately—the reality is very different.
After conducting hundreds of ocean ash scattering ceremonies, we strongly recommend NOT purchasing biodegradable urns for sea burial. Here's why.
Why Biodegradable Urns Fail at Sea
Biodegradable urns are unpredictable. Despite manufacturer claims, they rarely perform as advertised:
Urns that should float for 5 minutes before sinking:
Often don't sink at all
May float indefinitely, creating an awkward situation
Sometimes sink immediately instead of floating
Urns that should sink right away:
Frequently float instead
May float away before finally sinking
Can take 20+ minutes to sink when they should sink instantly, or never sink.
The Embarrassing Reality
We've had to retrieve biodegradable urns from the ocean multiple times during ceremonies and puncture holes in them to get them to take on water and sink properly.
Imagine being at your loved one's memorial service and watching the urn float away in the wrong direction, or refuse to sink at all. This creates stress and awkwardness during what should be a peaceful, meaningful moment.
Why Do Funeral Homes Sell Them?
Funeral homes want to sell products. A biodegradable urn sold at any price has a good profit margin. Funeral directors may genuinely believe they work well, or they may simply be focused on the sale rather than the actual at-sea performance.
Once you've purchased one, you're stuck with it. Most families don't discover the urn won't perform correctly until they're already at sea for the ceremony.
The Better Method: Reusable Scattering Baskets
Professional ocean scattering services use a much more reliable approach:
How the Basket Method Works
Bring the ashes in the original container from the funeral home (a simple plastic box or temporary urn)
We transfer the ashes into a beautiful basket lined with plastic
Fresh flowers, ( provided by the family ) are arranged on top of the ashes, creating a dignified, lovely presentation
The basket is lowered to the water's surface on a line
Family members (or our staff) pull the line attached to the bottom of the basket, gently tipping the ashes and flowers onto the ocean
The basket comes back up to the vessel to be used again
Why the Basket Method is Superior
100% reliable: The basket tips the ashes exactly when you're ready—no waiting, no surprises, no floating away.
More beautiful: Fresh flowers arranged on top of the ashes create a more visually stunning presentation than any urn.
More meaningful: Family members can participate in releasing the ashes by pulling the line themselves, creating a hands-on moment of closure.
Environmentally responsible: The basket is reused for hundreds of ceremonies. Only the ashes and fresh flowers (both fully biodegradable) enter the ocean.
No waste of money: You don't spend extra money on an urn that doesn't work.
What If You Already Bought a Biodegradable Urn?
Don't panic. Bring it anyway. We'll work with you to make sure everything goes smoothly.
We can:
Remove the ashes from the biodegradable urn and use our basket method instead
Attempt to use the urn if you prefer, with backup plans if it doesn't perform correctly
Ensure your ceremony proceeds with dignity regardless of the urn's performance
What About Regulations?
Some families worry that bringing ashes in a non-biodegradable container violates laws. This is a misunderstanding.
Regulations require: Everything that goes into the ocean must be biodegradable.
This means:
Fresh flowers ✓
Cremated remains (ashes) ✓
Biodegradable materials ✓
You do NOT have to:
Transport the ashes in a biodegradable container
Use a biodegradable urn
Put any urn into the ocean at all
The basket method fully complies with all Federal and State regulations because only biodegradable materials (ashes and flowers) enter the water. The basket itself never enters the ocean—it stays on the vessel.
Save Your Money, Get Better Results
Skip the expensive biodegradable urn. Bring your loved one's ashes in whatever container the crematory provides.
Professional ocean scattering services have developed the basket method. After hundreds of ceremonies and years of experience, we know what works—and what doesn't.
Your loved one's memorial deserves a method that's beautiful, reliable, and creates the peaceful closure your family wants and needs.
Questions About Scattering Methods?
If a funeral home is pressuring you to purchase a biodegradable urn, feel free to contact us first. We're happy to explain exactly how the ceremony works and what you actually need (and don't need) to bring.
Call us: 310-710-8544 or 800-842-4818
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