Over a candlelit dinner one evening, we wondered what
mass-produced candles are made of, and how smokeless candles are
produced. This led to the central question of our ponderings - are
candles environmentally friendly?
• Basically, no. Candle wax consists of long hydrocarbon chains
which, when burnt, produce carbon dioxide. The overall effect on
the environment depends on the initial source of these
hydrocarbons. Unfortunately, the majority of candles are made using
paraffin wax derived from crude oil.
The carbon within this wax was originally trapped deep
underground in oil deposits. When products made from the oil are
burnt, the carbon they contain is released into the atmosphere,
contributing towards global warming. It is also claimed that
paraffin wax candles are more damaging to your health than other
candles because of the large amount of soot they release when
burnt.
A more environmentally friendly candle can be made using wax
from renewable sources, such as beeswax or bayberry wax. Candle wax
can also be made from other plant oils, such as soya oil, by a
process called hydrogenation. Because the carbon in these oils was
originally in the atmosphere before being taken up by the plant
from which the oil is made, the effect on the environment is
small.
If everyone used soya oil candles as a light source instead of
electricity, this would cut the need to burn fossil fuels to
generate the electricity, therefore reducing carbon emissions into
the atmosphere from fossil-fuelled power stations. But if the
environmental impact of producing and transporting the candles is
taken into account, then electricity (especially if it is generated
from renewable sources) is a more environmentally friendly
option.
Richard Bingham, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
So i'm looking at those candles that burn but with reduced
emission of gases. I'm wondering if anyone know where can i get
those kind of candles?
