Candles give rooms a pleasant atmosphere in the dark season. They are made from palm oil, paraffin, and beeswax.
What is soy wax and where does it come from?
Soy wax is a vegetable wax that is extracted from the oil of soybeans. Similar to how margarine is made, the wax is obtained under high pressure and at high temperature.
Soy melts candle are still relatively unknown in Europe but are becoming increasingly popular.
Soy wax is just like stearin wax, the natural and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional paraffin wax. Soy wax also has some advantages over paraffin wax. Soy candles UK burn longer and have a lower melting temperature so that the essential oils can develop their effects evenly and undamaged. Just like stearin, so include soy candles to the group of Bio candles.
Where does the soy come from?
Soy wax is a relatively new candle wax in Europe. Soy candles are very popular in the United States, so most soy wax currently comes from the United States. You can also get handmade soy candles in UK.
Benefits of a candle made from organic soy wax.
Here is an overview of some of the benefits of soy wax and the candles made of it for your environment.
- Soy wax is obtained from renewable soy plants and therefore does not use any resources 100% vegetable product
- Natural and biodegradable! Soy wax is not toxic and, according to current knowledge, is not a health hazard
- Soy candles produce less soot and burn more slowly than other candles
- Vegan
- Soy candles burn longer
- No increase in CO2 like paraffin wax candles
- 100% vegetable and not from petroleum, therefore it does not form soot – walls and furniture stay clean!
- Low temperatures (40 – 45 degrees) the risk of burns is very limited
- The wicks are 100% natural. The wicks contain no lead or other heavy metals – therefore no production of toxic smoke.
- Soy wax is water-soluble. Surfaces and fabrics are easy to clean.
- Soy is a renewable raw material and therefore a 100% sustainable product.
- Biodegradable
- Free of pesticides and herbicide residues
Why are sustainable candles so difficult to find?
The Germans don’t just like it cozy during Advent. Each of us burns an average of 2.4 kilos of candles per year (according to the European Candle Association ECA for 2016). Incidentally, the Danes have the highest per capita consumption (4.3 kg). In recent years, however, many cheap candles have come from China after the EU anti-dumping duties fell a few years ago.
The most important candle raw material is still paraffin, which is obtained from mineral oil. Around three quarters in the country are paraffin candles. A billion-dollar business, which of course is also linked to the oil price. The second most important raw material for candles is stearin, made from vegetable or animal fats. These candles are mostly made from palm oil or coconut oil. And finally, beeswax is the most natural, but also the most expensive raw material in the manufacture of candles.
Candles are a luxury item nowadays and therefore the question of sustainability can be answered more differently than with other products.
