As costs for traditional funeral services continue to rise across the U.S., seniors are seeking alternative memorials to reduce high costs. Eco-friendly seniors are turning to green burial options, and one type is trending more than others: tree pod burial.
This eco-friendly alternative to traditional burials allows your remains to nourish a living tree. Like other green burials, tree pod burials are significantly less expensive than traditional funerals, but face challenges with legality and accessibility.
Final Expense Benefits is here to help you understand how tree pod burial works, its costs, and how to cover them. As a leading burial insurance brokerage, we help connect seniors to affordable and accessible funeral cost coverage from over 20 of the best life insurance companies. We are here to help you find a burial insurance policy ideal for covering your end-of-life expenses, whether you choose an eco-friendly memorial or a more traditional service.
To learn more about burial insurance and how it can help cover costs for green funerals, like a tree pod burial, call Final Expense Benefits at (866) 786-0725. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. To see how much coverage you may need to cover your memorial or how much it could cost, check our free online funeral cost calculator and personalized pricing tool.
Key takeaways
- Tree pod burials are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional funeral services.
- Tree pod burial and other green burial practices cost significantly less than traditional funerals.
- The cost of a tree pod burial varies by burial location and desired services, but will likely cost at least $2,322.
- Burial insurance is a reliable, low-cost way for seniors to cover the cost of their tree memorial or green burial ahead of time.
What is a Tree Pod Burial?
A tree pod burial is a type of green burial where remains are placed in a biodegradable pod that is buried underground, instead of a casket. A tree sapling is then planted above the pod. Over time, the pod breaks down, and the remains enrich the surrounding soil, nourishing the tree growing above.
Capsula Mundi, Bios Urn, and The Living Urn have pioneered the tree pod burials.
They’re all early adopters of the tree pod burial, though it’s unclear who came up with the idea first. What’s clear is that they each designed the tree pod burial to challenge traditional funeral practices and provide a way to return to nature in death.
Currently, they each offer only one type of burial pod: a biodegradable pod that holds cremated ashes. However, the Italian design company Capsula Mundi gained media and public attention with their plans to offer a larger pod that can contain an entire body, rather than just cremated ashes.
Their efforts to create a large, whole-body tree pod have thus far borne little fruit. It’s unclear whether it’s due to issues with navigating legality, a lack of public interest, or both. However, they continue to offer the cremation tree burial pod. Here’s more information about each of their burial pods:
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Cremation Pods
Cremation pods are the most accessible type of tree burial pod. Ashes are placed inside the cremation pod, which is a biodegradable urn with chemicals that support healthy tree growth. These eco-friendly urns are often made using materials that neutralize the harmful chemicals contained in cremated remains.
Capsula Mundi, The Living Urn, and Bio Urn all offer cremation tree burial pods. None currently offers a whole-body pod.
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Whole-Body Pods
Capsula Mundi’s concept for a whole-body tree burial pod is essentially the same as the cremation pod, just scaled up in size. An egg-shaped biodegradable container, the whole-body pod is large enough to contain an entire body. This concept offers an alternative to the environmental impacts and costs of cremation.
Though this version of tree burial pods captured public opinion when it was unveiled, whole-body pods aren’t yet available for purchase in most countries, including the United States.
If you’re considering a tree pod burial, the cremation pod is currently your only option, though it’s far from your only choice for a green burial.
Seniors seeking an eco-friendly memorial can cover costs with burial insurance. Call Final Expense Benefits or check our online quoting tool to see how much a great policy that could cover your green burial expenses could cost.
How Much Does A Tree Pod Burial Cost?
Most tree pod burial options offer a similar biodegradable urn. Some also provide tree seeds or saplings as part of the service.
Costs for these biodegradable burial pods vary by the provider, though they are all intended to be used to hold cremated remains:
- Capsula Mundi: $370 (doesn’t include a tree sapling)
- The Living Urn: Starts at $135 (plus a $35 tree sapling fee)
- Bios Urn: $145 (includes tree seeds)
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Other Tree Pod Burial Costs
Those prices only include the cost of the tree burial pod. Other tree pod burial expenses include:
- Burial location
You can have your tree pod burial on private land, in a designated memorial forest, or in a special green burial area in a cemetery. Costs vary by your selected location, and you’ll likely need to pay fees for burial permits.
- Memorial or planting ceremony
Costs for memorial ceremonies vary, but will be significantly higher if your funeral requires an officiant or catered gathering.
- Pod delivery
Tree pods are delicate products that may require high shipping costs, especially for international options like Capsula Mundi.
- Type of tree used
The type of tree used may affect costs. Popular trees for burial pods include red maple, dogwood, flowering cherry, sycamore, and crape myrtle. Remember that saplings don’t adapt well to replanting. Choose your burial location carefully to increase the odds of a successful tree pod burial.
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Tree Pod Costs vs. Traditional Funeral Costs
According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the average price for traditional burials with a funeral service is nearly $10,000, with costs increasing yearly. The total cost of a tree pod burial varies based on the cost of the pod and cremation service.
According to Funeralocity, the average direct cremation (cremation without a memorial service) cost in the United States is $2,202. The average price of a tree pod and sapling from a burial pod provider is around $220. Therefore, the average total cost of a tree pod burial with cremation included is $2,422.
However, this price doesn’t include expenses for your preferred burial location, related permits, ceremony, or burial pod delivery.
To see how much your eco-friendly memorial could cost, check our free online funeral cost calculator. For cost estimates on a quality burial insurance policy, call us at (866) 786-0725 or try our quoting tool for personalized pricing estimates.
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Where Can You Be Buried in a Tree Pod?
Tree pod burials are legal in the United States; however, each state has green burial regulations. These laws may place restrictions on where you can be buried in a tree pod, but here are some of the most popular locations for green burials:
- Private property
You can host a green burial on your own property, and it’s usually the most flexible and inexpensive option, especially if you or your family already own the land. However, you’ll need to check local laws and secure permits before doing so. - Certified natural burial grounds
Certain spaces are specifically designated for green burials. They typically do not allow embalmed bodies or burial vaults, which are typical practices for traditional funerals. Natural burial grounds are ideal for natural burials, like tree pod burials. However, they may be difficult to find. Resources like the Green Burial Council can help seniors and funeral planners find natural burial spaces. - Memorial forests
Memorial forests are popular green burial locations, with specific trees designated in memory of the deceased. Some allow tree pod burials, but you would have to contact your preferred memorial forest to learn more. - Traditional cemeteries that allow green burial
Some conventional cemeteries now reserve sections for natural burials. Most of these cemeteries will likely allow biodegradable tree pods, though you’d need to contact the cemetery to check.
Are Tree Pod Burials Environmentally Friendly?
Tree pod burial is generally considered to be a type of green burial, deeply rooted in sustainability.
However, all currently available tree burial pods require cremated remains.
According to the Earth Funeral Group, cremation releases approximately 535 pounds of CO2 per person, a noticeable environmental impact.
Planting a tree offsets much of that impact. However, with whole-body pods still potentially years away, eco-friendly seniors may be seeking a green burial option with a smaller carbon footprint. Other green funeral options include:
- Natural, direct green burial
Typical green burials are performed in eco-friendly, designated cemeteries and don’t involve embalming, a burial vault, or a casket. - Water cremation
Also known as aquamation, water cremation uses water, an acidic solution, heat, and pressure to disintegrate a body, leaving remains similar to those of a typical cremation. Remains from a water cremation can be used for a tree pod burial; contact your preferred tree burial pod provider to check. - Human composting
This green burial practice involves placing the body in a steel container, where it’s mixed with natural materials like woodchips, straw, and alfalfa. It’s then exposed to oxygen and heat, speeding up the decomposition process. - Donating a body to science
Though donating your body to scientific studies can be free and environmentally friendly, the requirements are complicated.
Can You Use Burial Insurance to Cover Tree Pod Burial?
The tax-free benefit payout from a burial insurance policy can be used for whatever your beneficiaries need, including costs for tree pod burials. In fact, burial insurance payouts are used to cover funeral expenses. The average burial insurance death benefits range from $5,000 to $50,000, plenty to cover an eco-friendly memorial or other traditional funeral services.
Burial insurance is a type of whole life insurance that provides lifelong coverage, affordable rates locked in at the beginning, and cash value growth.
These plans have simplified medical underwriting requirements, which means seniors with pre-existing health concerns qualify for coverage.
Final Expense Benefits works with over 20 of the top burial insurance providers, including:
How Much Does Burial Insurance Cost?
Burial insurance works well for seniors because it’s not just accessible, it’s also affordable. Here are sample rates from some of our top partner burial insurance providers for a typical $10,000 policy:
| Company |
Male 50y/o |
Female 50y/o |
Male 60y/o |
Female 60y/o |
Male 70y/o |
Female 70y/o |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$34 |
$27 |
$50 |
$40 |
$70 |
$56 |
|
|
$31 |
$26 |
$43 |
$35 |
$71 |
$53 |
|
|
$31 |
$24 |
$44 |
$33 |
$75 |
$53 |
|
|
$34 |
$29 |
$45 |
$35 |
$79 |
$59 |
|
|
$33 |
$26 |
$48 |
$36 |
$82 |
$58 |
These rates are calculated for a $10,000 burial insurance policy, using a non-smoking applicant with no pre-existing health conditions.
To learn more about how burial insurance can help you cover your green burial costs, call Final Expense Benefits at (866) 786–0725, or check our free online quoting tool for a personalized pricing estimate.
Final Thoughts
Tree pod burials are a great way for eco-friendly seniors to secure a sustainable memorial. However, costs and legal issues may be challenging. Take care of cost uncertainty with burial insurance. It offers great coverage at low rates and is available to most seniors without the inconvenience of a medical exam.
If you’re interested in burial insurance to cover a tree pod burial or green funeral, you’re in the right place.
Final Expense Benefits is a leading burial insurance brokerage and can help you find a great policy, regardless of your health or budget concerns. To learn more about your burial insurance options or to start your application, call us at (866) 786-0725 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. If you’d like to see how much coverage you may need to cover your green burial and how much it could cost, try our free online funeral cost calculator and personalized quoting tool.
FAQ
Are tree pod burials real?
Tree pod burials are available from several companies and are a great way to secure a sustainable, lasting memorial.
What is a tree pod burial?
Tree pod burials are a type of green burial practice where remains are placed in a biodegradable container and buried below a tree. Nutrients from the remains and the container seep into surrounding soil, nourishing the tree.
What states allow tree pod burial?
Tree pod burial using a cremation pod is currently legal nationwide, but full-body tree burial pods currently face questions and concerns with legality.
How much is a tree pod burial?
Total costs for a tree pod burial vary by burial location, selected optional services, and more. Our estimate for an average-cost tree pod burial (without costs for burial location and other optional services) is $2,422. Check our free online funeral cost calculator to see how much your green funeral could cost.
What is burial insurance?
Burial insurance is a low-cost type of whole life insurance designed to be affordable and accessible for seniors. Average benefit payouts range from $5,000 to $50,000, plenty to cover the cost of a tree pod burial and other green burial services.
Can I use burial insurance for a tree pod burial?
Burial insurance payouts can be used for whatever your designated beneficiary needs, including tree pod burial and other green burial options.
How much does burial insurance cost?
Burial insurance isn’t just reliable for seniors, it’s affordable. Monthly costs for a typical $10,000 policy range from around $25 to $150 for seniors ages 50 through 80. Check our online quoting tool for free, personalized pricing estimates.