Going Green: Wicked Waxes

Celebrations around the World use candles. Without going green with candles, your celebration can have hidden health and environmental hazards. What is really behind the smoke of the billion dollar industry that has very few regulations and standards? Before we dig in, please be aware of the extensive misinformation available, so I dug 'scientifically' deep for this brief overview. Let's focus on the most commonly used waxes: paraffin, soya, and beeswax and compare them based on resource use, local economies, health benefits, and cost.

Paraffin, originally a byproduct of petroleum refining and now manufactured synthetically, is the most common and least expensive wax available in international markets. It is a non-renewable resource tied to an extensive global supply chain. The American Lung Association and EPA have linked paraffin candles to poor indoor air quality and an increased risk of Black Soot Deposition that devalues a home. Some studies demonstrate a link between paraffin candles and exposure to carcinogens, yet without ingredient lists as a requirement, this relationship is questionable. Paraffin-based candles are not sustainable in terms of resource use, supporting local economies, and have controversial health effects, so the small price tag difference is not enough to sway me.

Soya, derived from soy beans, has been touted as paraffin's most cost-competitive candle especially if you are looking at going green. Yet, soy is the new 'corn' when it comes to monoculture including subsidies, business-owned farms, and global supply chains. There is controversy about whether soy produces "White Soot Deposition", a lesser seen but equally hazardous condition to homes. There is little research done on this topic, so the best bet is to source soy locally and not burn too many candles at once. Overall, soy is sourced and manufactured more locally than paraffin, often supports local economies and artisans, and has not been linked to poor indoor air quality in terms of respiratory irritation with a 5 cent price increase from paraffin.

The publicly touted "eco-option", beeswax, is renewable, can be sourced locally almost anywhere in the world, and releases negative ions that may improve health. Yet with the onslaught of climate change and the 'mysterious' decline in bees, this may not be as renewable as it once was. Going green with beeswax outcompetes all the other waxes in every area except price, a small price to pay for a more sustainable future.

But wax isn't the only hidden risk; candlewicks have been reported to have carcinogenic levels of lead. Lead was originally added to provide strength to the wick, but burning a lead core wick for an hour raises lead poisoning levels to an unsafe amount. Candle Associations voluntarily removed lead 25 years ago, yet it is still found today, mainly in candles from Asia. When selecting candles, use the wick-test by rubbing a piece of paper over the wick, if a pencil-like residue is left the wick contains lead.

Going green with candles that utilize renewable resources, are sourced locally, and do not endanger your health benefits everyone.

Photo Credit: Flickr