Pre-planning a Meaningful and Environmentally Friendly Farewell with Bios Urn®

Pre-planning may feel like a difficult topic to discuss, but at some point, you’ll need to make decisions about what happens after you pass away. This includes arranging your burial, memorial service, and other details in advance. Pre-planning ensures you’ll have the send-off you want while easing the burdens for the people close to you during a challenging time.

This post covers considerations for pre-planning and how you can include the Bios Urn® in your arrangements. At the end, you can download the Bios Urn® Pre-Planning form to help document your wishes.

 

Why Pre-Planning Matters

Deciding what happens after you pass away is a deeply personal process. Some people start planning far in advance, while others wait until later in life. There’s no right or wrong time–it all depends on what feels right for you. What’s important, though, is giving yourself the time to explore options that truly reflect your life and personality. 

In recent years, more people have embraced pre-planning, drawn to the comfort of knowing they can leave this world as they see fit. We may not have a choice in how we choose to enter this world, but we do have some semblance of choice in how we would like to leave it. This shift has also led many to include sustainable options, like green burials in their final wishes—eco-friendly ways to honor both the life lived and the environment, even in death—which is making many cemeteries rethink things.

 

How to Include the Bios Urn® In Your Pre-Planning

If you are considering to include Bios Urn® in your plans, here are some things to keep in mind:

Decide What Happens to Your Body

Think about how you want your body to be handled—cremation, aquamation, or another option. The Bios Urn® works with or without ashes, giving you flexibility. For example:

• If you plan to donate your body to science.
• If cremation conflicts with your faith but you love the Bios Urn® concept, you can still use it.

Read more about how Bios Urn® works without ashes.

 

Choose Your Tree or Plant

The Bios Urn® works with any kind of seed or seedling—whether it’s a fruit tree, flower, or evergreen. Choose something that holds personal meaning for you. We recommend selecting native species suited to your area’s climate to support the local environment. A local gardening store or horticulturist can help you find the best options.

 

Select a Planting Spot For Your Bios Urn®

The Bios Urn® can be planted almost anywhere:

• Private properties, backyards, or gardens
• Memorial gardens, green burial grounds, some cemeteries
• Forests, national parks
• In a planter indoors, such as using the Bios Incube® Lite. 

Each country, region, and/or city has its regulations regarding the handling of human remains in public places and on private property, so it’s always important to check. We suggest finding a place that works for you and inquiring about interment rights. Burying cremated remains in the ground is often considered equivalent to “scattering ashes in nature,” so check with local authorities or a local funeral home to confirm what final destinations are permitted for ashes in your area. Read more about safe places to plant your Bios Urn®.

Here are some examples of where others in the Bios community have planted their Bios Urn®:

• Matthieu planted his in a forest
• Susan planted hers in her front yard
• Jay planted his on his family’s land
• Sumi planted hers in a garden planter
• Tomas planted his in a park

 

Plan for the Best Planting Season

To give your tree the best chance to thrive, plant it during the appropriate season. In the Northern Hemisphere, fall, the milder parts of winter, and spring are generally ideal. Read more about the best planting seasons for your Bios Urn® trees.

 

Pre-Planning With the Bios Urn®

Many people think the Bios Urn® is only purchased when a loved one or a pet passes away. However, more people are ordering it for themselves in advance as part of pre-planning—or, as we like to call it, pre-planting.

Since the Bios Urn® doesn’t have an expiration date, you store it indefinitely, even with ashes inside. Just keep it in a dry place, away from extreme heat or humidity. It’s best to obtain seeds or seedlings at the time of planting, as the urn begins to break down only after it’s planted and exposed to moisture. Read more about how to add the Bios Urn® to your end-of-life plans.

 

Sharing Your Plans

Pre-planning also involves sharing your decisions with those close to you. Some prefer to involve family and friends in the process, while others plan privately. Either way, it’s important to document your wishes clearly in writing so they are known, including your preferred ceremony, music, food, flowers, donations, tree choice, planting location, or a timeline for planting your biodegradable tree urn. You can download and use the Bios Urn® Pre-Planning form below to help you share your plans.

Pre-planning eases the emotional and logistical burden on your loved ones. By making these decisions in advance, you can help them navigate the stress and emotional toll of losing someone dear, rather than scrambling to arrange a service, funeral, and burial specifics. This way, they’ll be able to celebrate your life in a meaningful way and honor your final wishes—even during a difficult time.

 

Download this pre-planning form to put in writing your end-of-life-wishes

 

 

Have you thought about pre-planning your own journey? We would love to hear from you in the Comments section below!

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