Sustainable candles are a must have home accessory to those wanting to make small changes to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Making the change to these types of candles can not only be beautiful decor for our houses, but sustainable candles can be better for the environment too. Discover our top 10 candle companies to try to make your home smell lovely.
Table of Contents:
- Are Candles Sustainable?
- How to Tell Your Candle is Sustainable
- Top 5 Sustainable candles
- Future of Sustainable Living
Are Candles Sustainable?
Candles can be made sustainable, but it is always important to check what each brand means by sustainability.
In 2019, the UK government cited candles in the Clean Air Strategy as a source of non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). What this means is certain candles can be bad for both the environment and your health, as it is creating indoor pollution. The candles in this category are made using paraffin wax, which is a by-product of crude oil, essentially meaning you are burning a form of fossil fuels in your house.
To combat this issue and to continue enjoying your favourite fragrances, choose a sustainable candle which is made from a natural wax, such as bees or soy. More and more brands are getting on board with non-toxic wax blends and eco-friendly packaging to ensure there is the option for people who want to add a luxury scent to their homes without the health risk.
How to Tell Your Candle is Sustainable
In order to tell if your candle of choice is sustainable, we have 5 things you can check for.
- The company use fully recycled (FSC) packaging
- Natural fragrance is used inside the candle
- The wax to make the candle is natural (Bee, Soy, Coconut, Rapeseed ect)
- The candle holder is designed and manufactured to be made from recyclable or up-cycled eco-friendly materials. Some brands take this a step further and design the holder to be reused after finishing the candle. For example, the pot could turn into a brush holder, a trinket box or many other possibilities.
- No plastic is used in any packaging (Including bubble wrap and cellophane)
Top 5 Sustainable candles
- August & Piers
- The Suffolk Candle Co.
- Haeckels
- Earl of East
- Eym
AUGUST & PIERS
Using a blend of soy, bee and rapeseed wax, these sustainable candles are not only 100% natural and paraffin-free, but they are beautifully designed too. Finished in a bespoke ceramic vessel, AUGUST & PIERS have thought about the possible up-cycling of the holders once the sustainable candle has finished.
Each sustainable candle made, is hand-poured in the UK, while their responsibility commitments ensure their packaging is FSC certified. This means that their packaging is fully recyclable and free from any plastic.
The Suffolk Candle Co.
Poured near the beautiful Suffolk coast, The Suffolk Candle Co. have a wide range of sustainable candles which are made using natural soy wax. Within each candle, cotton based wicks and high-quality fragrance oil is used to ensure the aroma fills a room without being too pungent. Choose your sustainable candle in a Midnight Black Glass container, a Snow White Glass container or a Travel Candle in a tin. They also have a selection of diffusers and oil refills, for those who want fragrance in a room for longer. Whichever option you choose, The Suffolk Candle Co. are sure to have a scent to suit everyone.
Haeckels
Focusing on a philosophy of manufacturing the most effective natural products, Haeckels, provides sustainable candles as well as personal hygiene products, such as natural deodorant. Starting in the coastal town of Margate, Haeckel's focus on sustainability has always been to raise awareness of cleaning the coastlines and oceans, which is why they have a loyalty scheme of ‘Rubbish for Product’. The idea is that customers do good by collecting rubbish from the beaches, and in return they receive a skincare product for free as a thank you.
Earl of East
Earl of East is a creative business which started as a passion project. Starting with a love of fragrance, they had three sustainable candles which over time has transformed into a line of home france products. The company uses a range of waxes for their sustainable candles including beeswax and soy wax. Sustainability not only is considered for what's inside the candle but it has been considered for all aspects of the packaging too. The Earl of East uses amber apothecary glass which is manufactured in the UK. They also use fully recyclable cardboard which is made using FSC certified sources. Taking their packaging a step further, the lids are 100% biodegradable, and their labels peel off so you are able to recycle them by putting them in your paper recycling bin.
Eym
Eym’s mission statement is “to enrich people's lives naturally, through the power of scent.” The idea to form Eym came about when co-founder Poppy Wall and husband Sam were pregnant with their first child. Poppy read about the high toxin levels which synthetic candles released and wanted to create their own 100% natural, chemical free fragrances. With six sustainable candle ranges to choose from there is a scent suitable for every household. Eym also provides diffusers and diffuser refills, as well as recommending products based on the scents aromatherapy effects.
Future of Sustainable Living
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to consumers in numerous industries and it is only increasing in popularity. From slow fashion, to vegan haircare alternatives and ethical coffee, each area contributes towards living a sustainable lifestyle. So much so, it can be a consideration that many consumers deem a deciding factor when choosing which product to select, so it is important brands listen. Making sustainable changes, no matter how small, can be beneficial for all in the long run.