OUR LOVELY PLANET NEEDS US
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It's simple really but it's not always that easy to carry out or even navigate the best choices due to the overwhelming amount of conflicting information and general green washing that goes on.
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We are one of only a handful of companies in the UK that use at least 95% certified organic ingredients in our candles.
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I am amazed that companies who use fossil fuel based waxes, synthetic fragrances or gm derived soy wax can use adjectives such as "natural" , "botanical" or "organic" to describe their products but they do and it is easy to get misled.
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Our choice to use at least 95% certified organic ingredients gives our customers the reassurance that what we we say is what we do.
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Below is a bit of info about a few issues that have influenced our decision making.
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EXPERT ADVICE
I decided to consult a specialist in ethical practises to guide Ode to the Wild through this sometimes overwhelming process.
Our values are at the core of our products and whilst we will inevitably evolve , make mistakes and grow on this journey , we are proud to be one of the only brands that are making these truly organic choices.
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SOY WAX
Whilst distilled soy wax can be lab tested as non gmo , in actual fact it often comes from a gm crop. Unfortunately finding a genuine non gm soy or an organic soy is something I have not been able to find.
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PESTICIDES & FERTILIZERS
Pesticides, fertilizers , fungicides and insecticides have wreaked havoc on our ecosystem. Pesticides are linked to Colony Collapse Disorder and are now considered a main cause of bee decline, and the toxic effects of Neonicotinoids on bees are confirmed.It is not merely the insects that nibble or pollinate the plants & crops that suffer but also the birds and animals that eat those insects as well as the long lasting residues that go into our soils , rivers and oceans. The higher up the food chain , the more concentrated the toxins become and that includes us if we use them .
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SOIL ASSOCIATION ORGANIC
Certified organic ingredients are grown without chemical fertilisers or pesticides and ensure crops are grown with ethical farming practises which includes not harvesting on deforested or endangered lands.
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IUCN - International Union for Conservation in Nature
Since I began blending essential oils , I have developed a few favourites. One of these is Cedarwood , especially Atlas and Himalayan. Both are balsamic ,wondrously woody with caramel undertones. They underlie and fix many essential oil blends on the market today. However cedarwood grown in Morocco and The Himalayas are on the IUCN'S (International Union for Conservation in Nature) endangered list . We do not use cedarwood unless it has been soil certified that it has been harvested in a sustainable way.
We only use frankincense from ethically sourced trees and have chosen not to use rosewood as it is high on the IUCN's endangered list.
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PACKAGING
Our packaging is either recycled , recyclable , compostable or all of the above. Our candle labels do not have a plastic coating on them , are vegan and compostable so please take care not to move your candle if it is lit or the wax is still liquid as spillages can stain as a result.We are currently looking for an environmentally friendly wax proof option so will keep you updated !
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RE-USABLE BEAUTY
Our beautiful ceramics are handmade in London and we are about to launch our range of ceramic candle containers which are designed to be re-usable as beautiful pieces in themselves. We are also very excited to announce that we are currently working on refillable container waxes so watch this space !
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A wild pony and I share a moment in one of my favourite spots in the New Forest