Demystifying Cremation Essentials: Is a Casket Necessary for Cremation?
Whether to use a casket for cremation is a matter of choice. While they aren’t necessary in Ontario, and a cremation container may be used instead, choosing a casket can be a meaningful way to honour the person’s legacy and allow family members to contribute to their final farewell in a concrete way.
We’ve created this resource to inform you about your options when choosing between a casket and a container for cremation.
Understanding Cremation Basics
Cremation is a complex process during which the body undergoes intense heating to reduce it to cremated remains.
A common misconception is that choosing to cremate your loved one eliminates the option of having a viewing or funeral service with the body present. On the contrary, you can speak with your provider about options to organize a viewing or a service before cremation. They can also guide you in the right direction if you’d like to host an event after the cremation, such as a celebration of life. Whichever option you choose, it can be as traditional or modern as your family wishes.
The Role of Caskets in Traditional Funerals
Caskets have been an important part of funerary customs for millennia, going as far back as Ancient China. Caskets provide a dignified way for loved ones to say their final farewells at a service, whether the individual will be buried or cremated. There are many ways to personalize the casket to suit the individual’s wishes and make customizations in line with their character, from medallions to the materials used to construct the inside and outside of the casket.
From a functional standpoint, caskets and cremation containers also protect the body during transportation. With this type of service, the body is transported multiple times, from the funeral home after any visitations to where the service may be held offsite at a location such as a church and to the crematorium or cemetery grounds.
Cremation Regulations and Casket Requirements
“Is a casket required for cremation?” In Ontario, a casket isn’t required. However, you must choose between a casket or a sturdy container made from wood or another combustible material. Caskets and containers made from metal or non-flammable or hazardous materials, such as glass and fibre-reinforced plastics, aren’t permitted.
Most cremation service providers will offer a selection of cremation caskets and containers. However, you aren’t obligated to purchase through them if you have another preference. Before buying any casket or container from a third party, you must contact the crematorium first to ensure it’s appropriate for their cremation process.
Cremation with a Casket: Is It Common?
Choosing a casket to hold the body for cremation is a common choice for many families. For families opting for a traditional visitation or funeral service before cremation, a funeral casket is a popular choice to create a meaningful experience and, if closed, to give the body privacy.
Another option for cremation with a service is renting a casket. Rental caskets appear as a casket with a removable interior container for the funeral. The container is what then remains with the body throughout the cremation process.
The Direct Cremation Option
Direct cremations are growing in popularity for their simplicity and affordability. With a direct cremation, the cremation typically happens shortly after death without a formal visitation or service. A private family viewing before cremation may be an option, depending on your provider.
Whether the individual is cremated in a casket or container ultimately depends on the family’s preference. They may find symbolic meaning in their loved one's being cremated within a specially selected casket if they’re planning a private family viewing.
As an alternative, direct cremation service providers generally provide a simple cremation container free of charge or at a low cost.
Alternatives to Traditional Caskets for Cremation
Selecting a casket for cremation is a personal choice for each family and depends on how they wish to honour the person. Remember, it’s important to check with your cremation services provider whether the material is appropriate if you plan to purchase one of these alternatives to traditional caskets from another source.
For families looking for an eco-friendly cremation casket, there are few sustainable materials to consider. Options like seagrass, bamboo, willow, and softwood like pine and cedar have the least environmental impact.
Cardboard containers are a popular alternative. They are eco-friendly and affordable, burn quickly, and emit little emissions during the cremation process.
Other affordable options include flat-pack caskets, which you can assemble yourself upon delivery. They can be made in as little as half an hour and can be an active way to take part in the person’s end-of-life arrangements. However, please note that most cremation service providers will discourage or prohibit these options because they can’t guarantee the structural integrity of these containers.
Your Decision: Caskets for Cremation or Not?
Determining whether to select a casket or a container for cremation is entirely up to you and any wishes your loved one may have expressed. This can be a difficult decision; however, there’s no right or wrong answer. By informing yourself and your family about all of the options, you can take comfort in knowing that you’ve explored each avenue before making a final decision.
When organizing a cremation, it’s also important to consider what to do with the cremated remains. To learn more, please read our blog post, What Are Some Typical Things People Do with a Loved One’s Cremated Remains?
