Które świece są przyjazne dla środowiska?

Naturally, bio, eco... there are plenty of terms for products that are supposed to be environmentally neutral. There are also many of them in the candle industry. But how can we recognize products that are actually beneficial to our planet? Which candles are environmentally friendly? Which candles are natural? What packaging is environmentally friendly?
As conscious consumers, we want to influence the global consumption of available resources. Therefore, before purchasing a scented candle, it is worth asking a few questions detailed below.

What wax is a scented candle made of?

There are many types of waxes available on the market. They can, of course, be divided depending on their source into petroleum-based (paraffin), plant-based (e.g. soy, palm) and animal-based (bee). Which wax should you choose? That's a very good question! Let's take a look at the origins of each wax source:

• Paraffin is a waste from the production of petroleum. This is not a renewable wax. It is industrial waste that needs to be managed somewhere. If you care about the environment, try to use as few candles of this type as possible - if you choose alternative waxes, the demand for paraffin will decrease on a global scale, and manufacturers will turn to renewable waxes. Importantly, the price of the candle does not determine what wax will be used in the candle. Paraffin has one advantage - it conducts odors very well. Even premium candles contain 100% paraffin. Read, ask, find out.
• Vegetable wax comes from all over the world. Vegetable waxes are renewable waxes made from various parts of plants. If you care about protecting the environment, such wax will be the best alternative to paraffin. Why? Most of the crops from which plant waxes are made are grown sustainably (reputable candle manufacturers proudly report this). Vegetable waxes practically do not smoke, do not smoke and do not leave soot. Additionally, they are biodegradable and suitable for vegans and vegetarians. What vegetable waxes are most often found in scented candles? In Poland, soy wax and palm wax dominate, and recently rapeseed and coconut waxes have become more and more popular. However, this market is constantly developing, so get ready for a lot of new products in the coming years.
• Beeswax comes from bees. This is an animal wax, so it is not suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Beeswax is an interesting alternative to the other two categories, but due to the decreasing number of bees in the world, we can assume that there will be less and less of it on the market.

Is the candle ecologically certified?

If we want ecological, not only natural, wax, the candle should have an appropriate certificate. In particular, it is worth asking about the ecological certificate in the case of candles from unverified sources, whose manufacturers often boast about using, for example, ecological soy wax, but do not have the appropriate certification.

What is the candle packaging made of?

If you care about the environment, take a closer look at the packaging of the candle you buy. It is worth choosing glass or metal packaging, which can later be used at home, e.g. for storing small items. You can also buy candles in plastic packaging. Due to the search for alternatives to plastic throughout the European Union, it is worth choosing glass, metal, ceramic, etc. packaging whenever possible.

What is a candle wick made of?

The wick is an important part of the candle and it is worth finding out if it is lead-free. The manufacturer is obliged to provide such information.