Palm wax is obtained from palm oil and was once thought of as an environmentally friendly option, however, it actually isn’t. Due to the popular global demand for palm oil, it has resulted in the mass production of this product. This has led to unsustainable production practices. Boas Práticas na Cadeia Produtiva da Carnaúba". Associacao Caatinga (in Brazilian Portuguese) . Retrieved 2020-10-20. Palm oil really took off as an industry in the 20th century. Since then, oil palms have been grown in Africa, Indonesia, and Malaysia on a very large scale. If you’re new to coconut wax candles, then don’t worry because we’re here to help. Below, we’ll provide you with some top tips when you make your own coconut wax candles.

Many other types of waxes require mass production which unfortunately destroys the environment and leads to a natural decline. Paraffin wax and palm wax are particularly known for their unsustainable production process. The coconut wax candle, however, isn’t associated with deforestation. Palm wax – or the oil used to make it – has to be transported to other places outside of those three areas. The chances of obtaining locally sourced palm wax aren’t as great. This is why other waxes like beeswax and soy wax are mixed in with coconut wax. It makes for a more stable and stronger candle which ultimately prevents it from melting easily. Palm wax produces beautiful candles due to the wax’s natural crystalline ice-like appearance. The resulting palm wax candles look more stylish, eclectic, and high quality than other kinds of candles.The palm wax itself is more eco-friendly than petroleum-based waxes like paraffin since palm wax comes from plants. A final con of owning a coconut wax candle is that it is more expensive than a common paraffin candle. The cost to produce coconut wax is relatively expensive and due to its low melting point, it has to be combined with other waxes. Ultimately, this makes it more expensive. The majority of that land has been cleared to grow the palm trees from which palm oil and then palm wax is derived. The land being clearcut is home to some of the oldest and most diverse rain forests in the world. The incredible rate of deforestation in Indonesia ranks it as one of the world's largest CO2 emitters. Everyone seems to love palm wax but it is still not widely used, and this is for a few different reasons. Palm wax comes with some ethical concerns, which we will touch on later, but Carnauba wax may be used as a mold release agent for manufacturing fibre-reinforced plastics. An aerosol mold release agent is formed by dissolving it in a solvent. Unlike silicone or PTFE, carnauba is suitable for use with liquid epoxy, epoxy molding compounds (EMC), and some other plastic types, generally enhancing their properties. [ citation needed] It is not very soluble in chlorinated or aromatic hydrocarbons. [8]

Soy wax is another popular wax used to create candles. It is made from soybeans which makes it fairly environmentally friendly too. The only issue is that soybeans are associated with deforestation and require a large number of pesticides to grow. It is more eco-friendly to produce, can be locally sourced, and has many of the same uses as palm wax. 2. Coconut Wax Rapeseed wax, also known as canola wax, is a vegan wax sourced through the hydrogenation of rapeseed oil. It’s known for its excellent fragrance retention, versatility, neutral odor, and burn time. It’s another cruelty-free and toxic-free wax with a minimal carbon footprint. This a high-quality option allows you to feel safe burning in your home. How To Choose the Right Wax

Palm wax is not ideal for candle production and is not generally recommended to the candle-making community for this reason. Beeswax Other significant disadvantages of palm wax lie in the production of this natural product. First, some palm plantations have faced issues regarding their contribution to the destruction of forests and protected ecological zones. Massive land clearances have caused forest fires, which further degrade the forests and their natural habitat. Other disadvantages are related to worker exploitation, illegal deforestation, community conflicts, and illegal development of plantations.

Beeswax is another sustainable and ethical option. Bees make it from the nectar of flowers and secrete it through glands underneath their bodies. Beeswax candles are non-toxic and have a long burn time. You can understand more about this wax with our ultimate guide to beeswax. As previously mentioned, growing oil palms contributes to massive deforestation through slash-and-burn agriculture. Being a plant-based wax already makes palm wax a more sustainable choice than petroleum-based paraffin wax. Is palm wax vegan? Palm wax is vegan since it is solely derived from palm fruit, which is a plant-based source. Something vegan is something that does not use or contain any product derived from animals. The idea of veganism is about rejecting or refusing animal products. When burned, the paraffin releases soot, toxic fumes, and poisonous chemicals such as benzene, toluene, and tridecane, which aggravate the lungs and lead to respiratory complications or issues such as asthma. Skin irritants can reach your skin through the fumes in the air. These irritants can lead to itching or other inflammatory reactions that are far from ideal if you have any skin conditions.

Beeswax

The list above is merely indicative. As our strength is in customization, our list of products for applications is not exhaustive. We continually work with customers to customize waxes for their requirements, including recommending blend ratios and processing conditions to achieve desired performance or characteristics. CANDLE Having to export and import a product uses more energy to transport that product from place to place.