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Urns that have not been personalized or used in a memorial service may be returned within 10 days of receipt.
Please send returns in their original packaging, insured for the full purchase price, to:
Paper Turtle
412 13th St NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Return shipping and insurance costs are the customer's responsibility, and customized urns are not eligible for return.
If you have any concerns about your order, please reach out to Laura right away — we're committed to making things right. And if you find that your urn is too small, a larger size is available at a 40% discount.
Urn size is determined by the volume, not the weight, of the ashes.
The funeral industry standard is 1 cubic inch (ci) per 1 pound of living weight — so a 100 lb person would generally need about 100 ci of capacity. Our product listings include capacity in living weight, cubic inches, and ounces, so you can match sizing however you're most comfortable.
Keep in mind that cremation isn't a perfectly precise science and these are standard calculations. If other items were cremated along with the ashes (such as a coffin or personal keepsakes), the resulting volume can be larger than the standard calculation suggests. If you're unsure what size you need, we recommend checking with your funeral professional before purchasing.
Custom ceramic urns typically take 2–4 weeks, depending on the complexity of the design and our current production schedule.
Each urn is handmade individually — slow-dried to prevent cracking, then fired at least twice (three times if it includes decals). This process alone takes a minimum of two weeks.
We move as efficiently as we can, but we never rush the care each piece deserves. If you need something sooner, rush service is available for an additional fee — just email Laura at laura@paper-turtle.com for details.
You'll receive tracking information as soon as your order ships.
While delays are uncommon, transit times can occasionally be affected by weather, high seasonal volume, or international customs — factors outside our control once a package leaves our hands.
Every shipment is fully insured. If your urn arrives damaged, we'll replace it or issue a refund promptly.
Our biodegradable urns are designed to float for approximately 5–15 minutes before slowly sinking and beginning to biodegrade naturally in the water.
Float time depends on a few factors — the weight of the ashes inside, as well as current water and weather conditions.
Our large biodegradable urns hold a full portion of adult ashes (125–200 cubic inches, or 8–12 cups). If you're using less than a full portion, the urn will float longer than expected — we recommend adding weighted material like stones or sand to help it sink properly.
Our biodegradable urns begin to break apart within several hours of sinking.
Once water enters the urn, ashes begin to migrate out fairly quickly — exact timing depends on the urn style and water conditions. The urn will continue to disintegrate over time as it becomes waterlogged, fully returning to nature.
Federal guidelines require that a biodegradable urn be released in a large body of water at least 3 nautical miles from shore. This helps ensure the urn doesn't wash ashore before it has fully disintegrated.
Small rivers are not suitable for urn release, and urns are not intended for release on beaches or from docks.
Our urns will remain beautifully intact for display in your home for many years. They only begin to degrade after being submerged in water for an extended period of time.
They're also suitable for land burial.
While we're happy to personalize biodegradable urns with hand-painted text, custom designs aren't something we're able to offer for this product line.
Our biodegradable urns are made the traditional way — starting with our original ceramic models, which are then molded and handcrafted in paper by our partners in Mexico. This process takes three to four months to complete.