PlantUrn
A Living Legacy
THROUGH A LIGHTER PAWPRINT
It's the right thing to do
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A Living Legacy Through a Lighter Pawprint
In the U.S., the carbon footprint of our cats and dogs is roughly 80 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually, comparable to the emissions of over 16 million cars.
An Opportunity: The number of pet cremations in the U.S. is about 9 million annually, with an annual growth rate of +/- 5% .
A Solution: We resolve current industry standard design flaws for pet cremains burial urns with our patent-pending “PlantUrn” design to promote tree and plant memorials to our pets.
Planturn reduces a pet’s carbon pawprint with a completely biodegradable PHA/Chipboard container for a pet’s cremains that fosters the growth of tree saplings when planted in concert.
For every PlantUrn sold, we can fund a minimum of two new trees through the National Forestry Foundation, the official non-profit partner of the United States Forest Service.
Over their lifespan, those trees can sequester more CO2 than the pet produced in theirs…. thus reducing a pet’s lifetime carbon footprint to zero.
It is not just a “nice thing to do” ... it is the “right thing”.
FAQS
Q. Why does PlantUrn matter? A. PlantUrn offers pet families a way to turn loss into new life. It honors the love shared with a pet, supports the growth of trees and plants, and helps make a positive environmental impact. It is not just a nice thing to do—it is the right thing to do.
Q: What are cremains? A. Cremains (short for "cremated remains") refers to the remains of a body after it has undergone cremation.
Q: How are pet cremains urns buried? A. A deceased pet’s cremains are placed into a container, which is then permanently placed in the pet owner-partner’s ground, a cremation garden or cemetery.
Q. Why choose a planting memorial instead of a traditional urn? A. A plant memorial creates a living tribute to your pet. Instead of keeping cremains in a traditional container or cemetery, a plantable urn allows you to grow something beautiful in your pet’s memory.
Q. What is PlantUrn? A. PlantUrn is a biodegradable planting urn designed to both hold your pet’s cremains and support the growth of a tree or plant in their memory. While PlantUrn is degrading in the soil, it allows the memorial plant to grow in an earth-friendly manner as a meaningful way to honor your pet.
Q. Why was PlantUrn created? A. PlantUrn was created to improve the way pet cremains are buried and memorialized. Traditional pet cremains burial urns can have design flaws that do not always support healthy plant or tree growth. PlantUrn was designed to resolve these challenges.
Q. What is a pet’s carbon footprint? A. A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide and methane) released into the atmosphere by your pet’s activities. This includes emissions from producing and packaging their food, manufacturing toys, transporting supplies, disposing of waste, and even veterinary care.
Q. What contributes to a pet’s carbon footprint? A. Cats and dogs are primarily carnivores. The high meat content in traditional kibble and wet food drives the highest portion of a pet's carbon footprint. A 2017 UCLA study noted that if U.S. dogs and cats were their own country, they would rank fifth in global meat consumption.
Q. How large is a pet’s carbon footprint? A. An annual breakdown of typical emissions includes: Average Cat: ~310 kg of CO₂ Average Dog: ~770 kg of CO₂ Large Dog (over 80 lbs.): Up to 2,500 kg of CO₂. This is roughly equivalent to the annual emissions of an average family car!
Q. How does PlantUrn help reduce a pet’s carbon pawprint? A. PlantUrn is more than a memorial; it helps reduce a pet’s carbon pawprint with a biodegradable vessel that supports the growth of trees to absorb CO2. Over their lifespan the trees planted through a PlantUrn purchase can sequester more CO2 than a pet produced during their lifetime.
Q. How does PlantUrn support reforestation? A. For every PlantUrn sold, funds are donated to plant tree seedlings by the National Forest Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the United States Forest Service.
Q. How many trees are planted for each PlantUrn sold? A. A minimum of two trees can be planted by the National Forest Foundation for every PlantUrn sold.
Q. How is PlantUrn constructed? A. PlantUrn includes three categories of components, namely; 1. Non-Plantable Urn components, 2. Plantable Urn Components 3. Planting Accessories Non-Plantable Components can be customized for an additional fee. Accessories include: 1. A “Planting Tube” to aid in the planting process for in ground interment, and 2. A “Water Burial Plate” to aid the marine burial process.
Q. What materials are used in PlantUrn’s “Plantable” components? A. PlantUrn plates that remain in the soil after an inground burial or in the water after a water burial are fabricated from an organic polymer known as PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates). PHA’s are a class of biodegradable and compatible bioplastics produced by microorganisms through bacterial fermentation of organic materials. Functioning as nature's alternative to petrochemical plastics, they are valued for their eco-friendliness albeit with higher production costs that petrochemical bases plastics. PlantUrn’s ring walls that make up the compartment for the pet’s cremains are cardboard tube sections made of wood pulp and fully biodegradable binding agents. The exterior ring wall is covered with a PHA shell.
Q. What materials are used in PlantUrn’s “Non-Plantable” PlantUrn components? A. PlantUrn top plate, cap and disc are removed from the urn prior to burial. They can be made from various materials including PLA and solid hardwoods. While these materials are often presented as “biodegradable” in other urns, they do not break down in soil effectively. This can lead to obstructing healthy plant root growth.
Q. Can I wait to bury my PlantUrn after it arrives? A. Yes. PlantUrn is designed to be “shelf stable” for a period of years when stored indoors in standard household environments so long as any cremains remain in the sealed plastic bag provided by your crematory or vet. This allows you to wait for the ideal time for seasonal planting.
Q. Does PlantUrn include a tree or plant seedling? No. Planting zones and timelines in North America differ geographically. Tree or plant seedlings to pe planted in conjunction with PlantUrn should be purchased from your local nursery or garden center.
Q. Can I purchase a seedling from PlantUrn? A. No.
Q. When is the best time to bury a PlantUrn? A. Because planting zones and timelines in North America differ geographically you should consult with your local nursery or garden center to determine the best time to plant.
Q. How do I know how to bury my pet’s urn with a plant or seedling? A. See the “Planting Instructions” section in this website.
Q. Can I personalize my PlantUrn? A. Yes. The Standard PlantUrn Disc Logo Insert and Urn Cap that are provided with your “Signature” series PlantUrn are designed to be inter-changeable with customizable alternatives of the same dimensions. Such alternatives can include various Disc Logo Inserts ranging from including pet profiles in different materials and name and/or date wording in the Urn Cap Ring reflecting the pet who has passed Customization is performed for an additional fee at the PlantUrn supplier or PlantUrn facility by skilled artisans.
Q. How do I contact a PlantUrn representative discuss customization? A. Depending on the type and complexity of customization required, your PlantUrn supplier will provide contact information to direct you to the appropriate artisan operation.
Q. Where can I purchase a Signature PlantUrn? A. PlantUrn is available for purchase from licensed vendors, or through this website.