This blog post will answer the question, “are Yankee candles biodegradable” and cover topics like the biodegradability of Yankee candles and frequently asked questions related to the topic.
Are Yankee candles biodegradable?
No, Yankee candles are not biodegradable. Microorganisms can not decompose Yankee candles.
What Materials Makeup Yankee Candles?
Yankee Candles is perhaps most recognized for selling candles in robust glass jars. The majority of their candles are manufactured from paraffin wax, but they also provide a wide variety of soy candles.
However, many of these soy candles are branded “soy mix,” indicating that they include soy wax in addition to another kind of wax. Utilizing cotton wicks. The candles are perfumed with essential oils and aroma compounds.
Are Yankee Candles Made in a Sustainable Manner?
Regarding candles, Yankee Candles are not especially eco-friendly. Despite being renewable and recyclable, glass is quite heavy. Due to its weight, the manufacture and transportation of glass need a significant amount of energy.
The primary worry is that the majority of energy in the United States comes from nonrenewable coal and gas. Therefore, significant energy consumption from these sources is unsustainable.
Plastic has a smaller carbon footprint than glass regarding emissions. However, this does not eliminate the reality that plastic is nonrenewable and recyclable only a limited number of times.
Non-renewable and non-biodegradable, paraffin is not the most environmentally friendly wax option.
The biodegradability of Yankee Candles
Because paraffin candles are not biodegradable, Yankee Candles are often not biodegradable. Pure soy wax is biodegradable, while the biodegradability of “soy blends” is unknown.
Whether the mixture is biodegradable depends on whether it is composed entirely of natural waxes such as beeswax, palm wax, or coconut wax. If the mixture includes paraffin wax, it is not biodegradable.
Can Yankee Candles be composted?
Because paraffin wax is not biodegradable, Yankee Candles are often not compostable. Pure soy wax is the only biodegradable form. A soy mix that contains paraffin wax or similar synthetic wax is thus not biodegradable.
Most perfumes and colors are also not biodegradable since they may leak inorganic or hazardous elements into the surrounding environment.
Pure essential oils are biodegradable since they are derived from plants. Synthetic colors and scents, however, are not biodegradable.
If you are unsure if a scent or colorant is biodegradable, do not put it in your compost bin. Otherwise, the candle might possibly leak toxins into the compost and pollute it.
Can Yankee Candles be recycled?
Candle wax cannot be placed in the recycling container. Recycling facilities lack the capability to transform candle wax into new goods. However, there are methods to recycle wax on your own.
For instance, you may use the residual wax from an old candle to top up a new one, or you can combine the wax from many Yankee Candles to create an entirely new candle.
Glass may be recycled. Before doing so, you must remove the wick and check that no glue or wax remains on the glass jar.
How Should Yankee Candles Be Disposed of?
When discarding Yankee Candles, the wax must be separated from the glass container. Since paraffin and many soy mixes are not biodegradable, the candle wax and wick must be disposed of in the regular trash.
You may take the glass jar to a facility that recycles glass. Additionally, you may reuse it to hold pencils, plants, a fresh candle, or other stuff.
Are Yankee Candles sustainable products?
Yankee Candles asserts that its products are developed with sustainability in mind. Many of their items are recyclable, and they vow to utilize trash and energy responsibly.
However, paraffin is not sustainable due to the fact that it is nonrenewable and non-biodegradable. Blending soy with paraffin wax as well as other synthetic waxes might nullify its environmental advantages.
Moreover, some natural waxes, such as coconut wax, seem to be more sustainable than soy wax.
Are fragrant candles hazardous?
Burning scented candles may generate cancer-causing volatile organic chemicals such as formaldehyde. Even though scented candles emit these substances, it is unclear if they pose a health risk.
Additionally, an allergic response to scented candles is conceivable. Symptoms may consist of:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Sinus obstruction
Are soy candles hazardous?
Soy candles create less soot and harmful toxins than paraffin candles. Even if the smoke is cleaner, it is still advisable to limit your exposure to it.
The European Candle Association provides the following handling tips for candles:
- Do not light candles in a draughty location.
- If the wick becomes longer than 10 to 15 millimeters, it must be trimmed.
- Instead of extinguishing a candle by blowing on it, use a candle snugger or immerse the wick in wax.
- Ventilate the space after putting out a candle.
Are Yankee Candles Dangerous?
Yankee candles seem to be non-toxic. Yankee Candles offers lead-free cotton wicks, despite the fact that many customers are concerned about lead-in candles. Because lead candles are prohibited in the United States, it is quite unlikely that you will encounter any.
Minimal amounts of chemicals are released when candles are burned. Included are perfumed candles. Yankee Candles fragrances its candles using natural and plant-based essential oils and aroma extracts. Essential oils are poisonous if ingested.
Some scent extracts are derived from natural sources such as plants, although this is still a wide phrase, and it is difficult to determine precisely what these fragrance extracts include.
Concerns also exist over candle dyes. It is unknown what kind of coloring Yankee Candles utilizes on their goods. Candles bearing synthetic colors including aniline are not uncommon.
This substance has been shown to induce pain, migraines, cardiac arrhythmia, tremors, and death in animals, and the EPA considers it to be a potential human carcinogen.
This material may potentially pollute water and damage aquatic organisms and vegetation. When synthetic colors infiltrate water systems, aquatic life might be negatively impacted.
Yankee Candles is a member of the National Candle Association. The association asserts that the synthetic perfumes employed by its members do not emit hazardous chemicals.
Are Yankee Candles environmentally unfriendly?
Paraffin wax is nonrenewable since it is derived from petroleum. Since there is a finite quantity of petroleum on Earth, it cannot be replaced when it runs out.
The extraction of petroleum to produce paraffin wax is equally harmful to the environment. Drilling an oil well necessitates clearing the surrounding flora, which upsets the local wildlife. Also associated with air and water pollution is mining.
In the meanwhile, soy wax is renewable, although it is not the most sustainable natural wax alternative. As land is destroyed to create a way for soy farming, the demand for soy products may cause deforestation.
This may also lead to soil erosion, and the clearing of land and soybean processing have their own carbon footprints.
The word “soy mix” is confusing since it does not specify how much pure soy wax is in the candle, what other waxes it includes, or if other waxes are likewise nonrenewable. This makes it difficult to evaluate whether or not these mixtures are biodegradable & renewable.
Are Yankee Candles Vegan?
Numerous Yankee Candle products are vegan. Both paraffin wax & soy wax are free of animal products. However, Yankee candles that include beeswax may not be suitable for vegans.
Since essential oils are derived from plants, they are vegan. It might be difficult to ascertain whether scent extracts are vegan.
As they are all animal products, vegans should avoid scented candles labeled with honey, milk, civet, ambergris, lanolin, & hyraceum.
Are Yankee Candles more environmentally friendly than other candles?
Yankee candles do not seem to be more eco-friendly than other brands. Some manufacturers eschew synthetic waxes in favor of renewable waxes such as coconut, soy, palm, and beeswax.
However, the use of lead-free cotton wicks is a positive indicator. Cotton wicks are renewable, biodegradable, and natural. As previously said, glass is renewable & recyclable, yet it has a significant carbon impact.
Which candles are most beneficial to health?
Almost every substance that is burned has the potential to emit chemicals that may be harmful to your health.
Compared to the pollutants you are exposed to on a daily basis, the smoke from candles burning in a well-ventilated room is unlikely to have a substantial influence on your health.
If you want to reduce the quantity of particulate matter you breathe in, the best solution is to use candles created from natural materials.
According to one research, palm stearin candles emit only half the amount of soot as paraffin candles. Additionally, the researchers add that natural candles seem to emit the least amount of potentially hazardous compounds.
Examples of natural candles include:
- Coconut resin
- Beeswax
- Soy wax
- Palm wax
- Vegetable wax
Conclusion:
In this post, I discussed the biodegradability of Yankee candles, the recyclability of yankee candles, the sustainability of Yankee candles, and environmental impacts of Yankee candles.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs), “Are Yankee candles biodegradable?”
Which candles are the healthiest to burn?
Candles made of beeswax are the healthiest option. Made from the honeycomb caps of bees, beeswax candles are clean-burning, very long-lasting, and have a lovely natural scent as they burn.
When properly burnt, beeswax candles do not leak and emit negative ions that help purify the air in a space.
Which are superior: Yankee or bath candles?
Fans of Bath & Body Works candles praise their burn duration and low cost. Customers of Yankee Candle, however, believe that its flames emit a less irritating odor. Additionally, many claims that Yankee Candle has a superior quality product altogether.
Are Yankee candles safe for pets?
The Yankee Candle Company has said that their candles are cruelty-free and are not tested on animals. There is never a necessity to do animal testing on candles, however, certain candle makers may incorporate scents and essential oils that have been tested on animals.
Are Yankee candles hazardous for birds?
In addition to being hazardous to your pet birds, the paraffin wax and fragrant oils in regular candles may also be detrimental to your health in the long term. Therefore, when you have birds in your house, you should avoid burning scented candles.
Is soy wax toxic?
Non-toxic soy wax is healthier for the environment and for your health! Many popular candle companies use paraffin wax in their products. Petroleum is the source of paraffin wax.
Does burning a candle purify the air?
Generally, beeswax and soy candles burn cleaner than paraffin candles. Moreover, beeswax candles may really purify the air by emitting negative ions that readily bond to contaminants and assist remove them from the interior environment. In lieu of candles, you may also use oil diffusers & essential oils.