Candles can be very polluting, as they produce a lot of waste and the paraffin used to make them comes from petroleum
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himCandles can be very polluting, since they produce a lot of waste and the paraffin used to make them comes from petroleum. But is there a greener alternative?
Even candles, such as fir or cribs, are a symbol of the Christmas holidays and a widespread decoration in many homes: they illuminate the set table, signal the passing of Advent Sundays, give a warm and soft light to the living room decorated with party. Unfortunately, however, the magical atmosphere that they give us is anything but ecological and also brings with it a lot of waste: the candle wax is made with paraffin (a petroleum derivative) or stearin (obtained from palm oil and, therefore, indirectly connected to the phenomenon of deforestation), materials that are very harmful to the environment; moreover, even the disposable aluminum support that often accompanies them constitutes waste to be disposed of. How to make this splendid decoration more eco-sustainable?
- Choose "naked" candles, that is, without the aluminum support that will end up in the trash once the candle is consumed. In this way you will reduce the amount of waste associated with lighting candles. As an alternative to the aluminum support, you can choose to buy a glass or steel candle holder: these are supports made of more sustainable and above all reusable materials, so as not to create waste.
- Pay attention to the ingredients list. As we have explained, the paraffin that makes up most candles is highly polluting, as it comes from petroleum. Better to opt for candles made with vegetable oils, from sustainable agriculture, or based on beeswax. Alternatively, there are also organic tea lights made with waste fats from renewable raw materials, which do not use fossil fuels or chemicals.
- use sparingly. Do not wait for the candles to burn until they are consumed, but remember to turn them off every time you leave the room or when they are not needed: in this way, in addition to avoiding the risk of causing domestic fires, you will produce less waste because the candles will last longer.
- Properly dispose of old candles. If you already have traditional candles in your house (maybe you bought them last year), don't throw them away! You can use wax to create new candles (HERE you will find some tips on how to do it): indulge in scenting them with natural essential oils, decorate them with dried flowers, cinnamon sticks or dried orange slices - they can become a splendid handmade gift to offer to friends. and relatives.
- No to LED lights. If you think that "fake" candles - that is, those made of plastic and equipped with a small bulb that simulates the flame of real candles - can represent a more ecological alternative, you are making a serious mistake: LED lights, in addition to being made with plastic and therefore polluting materials, they run on batteries and for this reason they are not to be considered more ecological than normal wax candles.
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