The United States Postal Service introduced a new labeling system in 2013 to make it easier to identify parcels containing cremated remains. Before the introduction of label 139, customers would generally just mark a package as “containing human cremated remains” to ensure postal workers handled the package with care.
This was partly in response to the increasing cremation rate and the ‘mishandling’ or loss of parcels mailed containing cremated remains.
Using Label 139 to identify cremated remains
Label 139 is a non-trackable adhesive label that can be attached to a package if the sender identifies the contents as human cremated remains. The label is not required, but its introduction will make it easier for USPS to identify cremated remains within their system. Handling cremated remains is something of a sensitive nature, and the United States Postal Service is the only carrier service by which you can mail cremated remains. As the cremation rate continues to increase and more families use USPS to ship remains, the introduction of improved labeling should help improve the careful handling of these ‘sensitive’ packages.
Mailing services for cremated remains
Cremated remains can be mailed through the United States Postal Service using Priority Mail Express and Registered Mail. This includes Priority Mail (excluding Critical Mail), First-Class Package Service, and First-Class Mail Parcels. For more detailed information about mailing cremated remains within the continental United States or internationally, read our post about how to mail cremated remains.
I have been researching and writing about the death care industry for the past fifteen years. End-of-life services and experiences are topics most people avoid thinking about until they must face them. My work provides comprehensive and independent resources for families, explaining the workings of the funeral industry, the laws governing funeral practices, and the death care trends that impact consumers. With a BA in Cultural Studies, I bring a unique perspective to analyzing cultural death care rituals, complemented by a career background in Business Management. The death care industry is undergoing significant changes, which I find fascinating. The shift towards cremation services and the emergence of sustainable alternatives like aquamation and human composting are of particular interest. I am also intrigued by how technology is reshaping the funeral planning process and experience. I write for US Funerals Online and DFS Memorials LLC, and contribute to various forums and publications within the death care industry.
