Are candles harmful to the environment?
Shearer Candles FAQ Blog
Q:Are candles harmful to the environment?
A: We don’t believe so. Paraffin, beeswax and natural wax are all natural products.
Paraffin is a by-product of the petroleum production. A fossil fuel, petroleum is formed when large quantities of dead organisms are buried underneath sedimentary rock and subjected to intense heat and pressure. There were stories in the media in 2009 claiming paraffin wax candles had potential to emit toxins but these stories need taken with a pinch of salt.
We simply wouldn't use paraffin wax if we felt it was in anyway dangerous to you or us.
Whether you believe the oil is harmful to the environment is a personal choice. The oil is being extracted for other uses, the paraffin wax we use is a by-product of that.
If you are uncomfortable with paraffin wax there are alternatives. Natural wax is a blend of soy wax and palm wax. Soy wax is made from soy beans, the soy bean is an edible bean grown throughout the world, and the soy wax is extracted from the soybean. Palm oil is extracted from the edible fruit of the oil palm. There has been controversy over palm oil production with regards to the clearing of jungle areas to make way for farms. Our palm oil is all ethically sourced and meets RSPO standards of which we are members - http://www.rspo.org/en/member/1127
Our beeswax candles are made from a mixtures of beeswax and paraffin wax. Beeswax candles are about as environmentally friendly as you can get - made of course from bees wax so entirely natural.
