TWB 🤝 Sustainability

After Wednesday’s statement from Rishi Sunak regarding the global warming crisis, we know even more than ever that the responsibility lies at our own feet. We must make our own little changes to impact the greater good of the world we live in. We might be heading towards the colder months but the world is heating up and here at The Wandering Bee we take this seriously, from day one we vowed to make our business as planet friendly as possible.

Did you know that soy wax is 100% biodegradable?

We often get asked “Why soy wax?” The answer is simple, it’s so much safer for us and the planet, but let us explain. When you burn soy wax it is pure, clean and doesn't release dangerous chemicals that are harmful for your health and the environment. Not only is it safer for everyone, it is a renewable source. Soy wax is made from plants meaning that once the soya has been harvested it can be replanted again and again. It doesn't need to go through a rigorous refining process like that of paraffin wax and it is biodegradable and vegan! All round good vibes from soy wax. We've already mentioned paraffin wax but let’s delve a little deeper into what it actually is. Paraffin wax is derived from petrol, a non-renewable oil found deep underground. The wax is separated by a process called crystallisation, the oil is heated up so as it cools the wax hardens and can be removed, this process is not a sustainable way of producing a beautiful candle like ours. When paraffin wax is burning it releases a multitude of harmful chemicals, such as toluene. Toluene is a chemical that enters the body when it evaporates, it affects the central nervous system and can cause headaches. So if you’ve ever thought “candles give me a headache”, it is most likely the wax, not the scent or the fragrance. Try one of our soy wax candles and see if we’ve changed your opinion.

Did you know that glass is one of the most recyclable materials on earth?

For us, it doesn't just stop with the wax. We want to make every aspect of our business sustainable, which is why we use new & used locally sourced beer bottles and recycle them to house our candles. We give pre existing glass a new lease of life! The wonderful gals in our production room score, split and sand the bottles on site - told you we keep it local! We also love it when you bring us your empty bottles back so we can use them again and again. You never know, you might get the same bottle every time!

Did you know that our fragrance oil is PEG free?

From wax, to glass and now onto fragrance. Here at The Wandering Bee we use fragrance oils that are safe, vegan and cruelty free, aligning with our core values and those of our customers. In addition to the ethical stance, our fragrance oils are CMR, PEG, paraben, silicon and phthalate free, so be rest assured that our oils do not contain substances that are potentially harmful to our health and environment. This means they are devoid of harmful synthetic additives that can cause irritated skin and headaches. By getting rid of the parabens and nasties, our fragrance oils prioritise healthier candles while producing beautiful and unique aromas. Our fragrance oils have been designed to be as simple, clean and natural as possible whilst delivering the best scent throw and a wide range of scent notes. In essence our fragrance oils are an amazing blend of ethics and quality. They allow us to indulge in delightful scents while being environmentally conscious.

Did you know that polystyrene can take up to 500 years to decompose?

Packaging can sometimes be a grey area for customers and businesses. It’s hard to know what you can recycle and where to recycle it. We take huge pride in ensuring our packaging is biodegradable, compostable and of course, plastic free. We searched high and low to find the best quality tissue paper, packing peanuts and postal boxes, we soon hit the nail on the head! Polystyrene can take up to 500 years to decompose, so naturally we stayed well away from this option. Our packing peanuts are biodegradable and you could even put them in your compost, so not only are they keeping your candles safe, they’re also helping the environment.

We find that tissue paper gives our candles that extra special touch, but with our carbon footprint always in mind, we aim to reduce the environmental effects by making sure it is made from recycled paper and locally sourced. Despite our best efforts, it is not well known that tissue paper can not be recycled, although we can still reuse it and wrap other gifts with it after the first use. It doesn't lose its elegance after one use so pass it on! You could also use it to make pom-poms, Christmas decorations or if you’re feeling extra creative you could make a papier-mâché pumpkin just in time for halloween.

Now we’ve talked about all the important stuff, let's remember that The Wandering Bee makes kick-ass kind candles with you and the environment in mind. We can all do our bit to be more sustainable all while enjoying little luxuries in life.

Author: Beth Keeble