Just been to IKEA and TIGER store in London and noticed cheap Candles but not marked pure and natural ingredients meaning they have chemicals and toxins in them which will make you cough and give you headaches and other health conditions.
IKEA candles are lead free but what about the other ingredients ? Are they suitable for vegans ?
IKEA’s cheap candles are a consumer attraction. There is, however, a reason for the low price: In order to sell cheap candles and tea lights, IKEA uses palm oil and palm stearin. The company is aware of the negative consequences for the rainforest. Nonetheless, IKEA uses 32,000 tonnes of palm oil for candle wax alone.
IKEA makes high profits with their 267 furniture stores in 26 countries and an annual turnover of more than 21.5 billion Euros. With 18 stores, the UK provides one of the five biggest markets for the Swedish company. Their successful sales strategy relies on a strong price and cost calculation.
Besides furniture and equipment, the company sells life-style accessories including candles and tea lights. Vegetable oil and stearin is are amongst the main components of IKEA’s candles, as well as paraffin. Palm oil stearin accounts for the greatest proportion of vegetable oil, since it is currently 250 Euros per ton cheaper than the petroleum-based paraffin - thus allowing the company to charge greatly reduced prices for candles in their stores.
Each year IKEA uses 32,000 tons of palm oil for its candle production. 8,000 additional tons are needed for other products. Most of the palm oil comes from Malaysia and Indonesia. IKEA are aware of the problems linked to the use of palm oil. In communications with Rainforest Rescue, IKEA has surprisingly admitted that they cannot guarantee the sustainability of palm oil imports.
Unfortunately, this awareness has not so far led to an end to IKEA’s palm oil use for candle wax. Instead, IKEA refer to their membership of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil” (RSPO). However, the RSPO is a greenwashing initiative, which meets neither environmental nor social standards. You can read an International Declaration against RSPO and a recent Open Letter about the RSPO.
As a well-known market leader, IKEA could set an important example by refusing the industrial use of palm oil. There is no reason continue using palm oil. However, up to now the company has not signalled any course of action which would address the problem and despite their knowledge of the catastrophic consequences which palm oil production has for the producing countries, IKEA remains unimpressed.
Hunt for pure and natural candles containing no chemicals, toxins and animal products.
Same applies to cheap incense which you will find in most Indian stores but are very bad for your health as they contain chemicals and toxins.
Only buy those that are pure and natural.
Some options are :
Vegan PURE AND NATURAL CANDLES :
Vegan PURE AND NATURAL INCENSE @
Replies
Companies That Sell Some Vegan Candles
Artistic Candle Company
1-877-557-4940 (fax)
customerservice@artisticcandleco.com
www.artisticcandleco.com
Barn Loft Soy Candles
574-643-2500
barnloftcandles@Lneti.com
www.barnloftcandles.com
The Candle Bakery
info@thecandlebakery.com
www.thecandlebakery.com
Different Daisy
740-820-3146
differentdaisy@yahoo.com
www.differentdaisy.com
Ethical Wares (UK)
+44 1570 471 155
vegans@ethicalwares.com
www.ethicalwares.com
The Flame Candleworks Company, Inc.
568-944-5651
1-877-944-5651
chakrarose@earthlink.net
www.theflamecandleworks.com
Good Humans
831-420-0118
feedback@goodhumans.com
www.goodhumans.com
Greenridge Herbals
1-866-250-HERB
greenridgeherbals@hotmail.com
www.greenridgeherbals.com
Hanna’s Candles
1-888-242-6627
sales@hannascandles.com
www.hccbrands.com
Kiss My Face
1-800-262-KISS
www.kissmyface.com
Lamplight Farms
1-800-328-7717
sales@lamplightfarms.com
www.lamplightfarms.com
NaturaLights Candle Boutiques
1-800-774-0104
www.naturalights.com
Natural Soy Scented Candles
830-896-3221
830-792-3221
kim@natural-soy-scented-candles.com
www.natural-soy-scented-candles.com
Nature’s Gifts, Inc.
1-877-464-4929
info@ngiwax.com
www.ngiwax.com
Pangea Vegan Products
1-800-340-1200
www.veganstore.com
Pier 1 Imports
1-800-245-4595
www.pier1.com
Rudgewick Candles (UK)
+44 01543 428 882
Sensia
1-800-777-8027
customerservice@sensia.com
www.sensia.com
Soy Candle Works
1-800-470-4061
www.soycandleworks.com
Soy Scentsations
440-260-9708
sales@shelbydistributing.com
www.shelbydistributing.com/soycandles.htm
Tulalit.com
custserv@tulalit.com
www.tulalit.com
Universol Aromas
206-423-8865
www.universolaromas.com
Windmill’s Wax
www.windmillswax.com
The Vegan Store (UK)
+44 1273 302 979
information@veganstore.co.uk
www.veganstore.co.uk
WoodWick Candles Shop (UK)
woodwickcandlesonline@gmail.com
www.woodwickcandleshop.co.uk
Paraffin wax is what most companies use to make their candles. It’s cheaper and easier to work with. However, loads of people report that it flares up their asthma and allergies, and it’s been reported that paraffin candles can create pollution that’s carcinogenic.
It’s a by-product of the oil industry too, which also isn’t ideal given the effects from that on the environment and wildlife.
Some vegan friendly candles are listed here @
https://veganwomble.co.uk/candles/
and
https://veganism.savvity.net/articles/58c33d611d41c8167102c53d-vega...
First, lets talk about what exactly is in those candles anyway!
Researchers have shown some scented candles produce smoke laced with almost as many toxins as those produced by cigarettes. Candle emmissions have been compared to diesel fumes and second hand cigarette smoke!
LEAD: Lead can cause a whole host of negative health effects. Exposure to lead can cause an increase in blood pressure, an increased chance of having a heart attack or stroke, decrease in brain function, a decrease in kidney function (making it hard to get rid of toxic waste products through your urine!), it can harm the physical and mental development of your baby before it’s born and increase chances of having a miscarriage (raise your hand if you relaxed in the tub with a candle burning while you were pregnant. I did!). They took lead out of paint, now why is it still in our candles?
According to a recent study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 40 percent of candles on the market contain lead wires inside their wicks. Most often, the candles with lead wicks are scented candles. Fragrance oils soften the wax, so the manufacturers use lead to make the wicks firmer. A candle with a lead-core wick releases five times the amount of lead considered hazardous for children and exceeds EPA pollution standards for outdoor air, says the CPSC. Exposure to high amounts of lead has been linked to hormone disruption, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and numerous health problems. (source)
To find out if the wicks in your candles have a metal core CLICK HERE
PARAFFIN: Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct. Think, industrial waste. When it is heated it gives off a carcinogenic soot into the air. This soot is very irritating to our respiratory system and can aggravate a whole host of lung issues. If you or your kids have asthma, you do not want to be burning candles that contain paraffin! The soot can also accumulate in your house, appliances, and ductwork!
In addition to lead and paraffin, candles can also cause low dose, long term exposures to the following:
Acetone: Known human respiratory irritant toxicant
Benzene: Human development toxicant, human reproductive toxicant (candles off-gas Benzene without even being lit!)
2-Butanone: Known human respiratory toxicant
Cresol: Human skin toxicant or allergen
Chlorobenzene: Human Sensitizer toxicant or allergen
Carbon Monoxide
Cyclopentene
Ethylbenzene
Mercury
Phenol: This one is really toxic, click the link to read about it
Styrene: This one is also really toxic, click link to read about it
Tetrachloroethene
Toluene: Persistent or bioaccumulative and moderate to high toxicity concern in humans
Trichloroethene
Trichloorfluromethane
Xylene: Click link to read about it
FRAGRANCE:
Fragrance intensity has been proven to have an enormous influence at point-of-sale for consumers, as a result candle manufacturers are dumping increasing amounts of fragranced oils into their wax mixtures – some of these oils are not even suitable for combustion. Candle manufacturers are not compelled to list or disclose hazardous, toxic or carcinogenic compounds used as ingredients in their products and even more astounding – some will claim they don’t know what compounds are in their product. A spokeswoman for the Federal Trade Commission said there are no restrictions or regulations governing the makers of aromatic candles.
According to the FTC & the CPSC there are absolutely no regulations or standards pertaining to candle manufacturing, and candle makers are accountable to no one, including the consumer.
So what candles should you buy and what candles should you avoid? Glad you asked!
Avoid:
Really inexpensive candles, like the kind you would find at the dollar store. Also avoid brands like Febreeze and Glade. (note: apparently IKEA’s candles are all lead free)
Imported candles (anything “Made in China”)
Artificially scented candles and gel candles
Candles with a metal core wick
Okay To Use:
Soy Candles: While I do not eat soy, it is okay in candles because it burns clean, with no harmful fumes. However, I am not a supporter of the GMO business, so I avoid anything soy….even candles. But, if it’s the choice between soy or paraffin, I’ll take the soy!
According to a recent study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 40 percent of candles on the market contain lead wires inside their wicks. Most often, the candles with lead wicks are scented candles. Fragrance oils soften the wax, so the manufacturers use lead to make the wicks firmer. A candle with a lead-core wick releases five times the amount of lead considered hazardous for children and exceeds EPA pollution standards for outdoor air, says the CPSC. Exposure to high amounts of lead has been linked to hormone disruption, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and numerous health problems. (source)
Most Indian shops are selling cheap incense that are full of chemicals, toxins so avoid.
Its very difficult to tell Indian shopkeepers not to sell them as money comes first to them and they don’t give a damn about your health and well-being.
Same with stores like IKEA AND TIGER Store plus a lot of other stores are selling cheap toxic and chemical candles and again money comes first to them not caring about your health and well being