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Soy Candles by Irene
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Green Commitment
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Candle Decorations
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We donate 10% of our annual sales to environmental charities.
Soylar Candles is a proud member of Green America, and has been awarded the green seal of approval: Approved for People and Planet.
Green America Member Since June 2008
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We donate at least 1% of our annual sales to the natural environment through our membership with One Percent For The Planet.
Member since 2007
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We are a part of the solution to global warming by offsetting 100% of our shipping carbon emissions from local deliveries to incoming supplies and outgoing orders through our partnership with Carbonfund.org. We are helping by funding reforestation projects, renewable energies and energy efficiency. We are proud to be a carbon neutral company through our efforts of sustainability.
Partner since 2007
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Green Products Alliance is a consortium of manufacturers and marketers who make and sell extraordinarily natural personal care products. We believe that socially responsible business practices can help to create a sustainable economy and ecosystem. All products are subjected to a rigorous set of standards as to what is considered natural.
GreenLine Paper Company offers the Green Office Certification to organizations that meet certain environmentally-friendly criteria. The applicant must use energy wisely, recycle, use recycled and energy efficient products, and be environmentally savvy.
I took the pledge at the Natural Ingredient Resource Center "Truth in Labeling" Pledge
I voluntarily pledge that if and when I label an ingredient as "natural", the ingredient will fit the Natural Ingredient Resource Center Criteria for natural ingredients.
I voluntarily pledge that if and when I label products using the term "natural", the products will be labeled according to the Natural Ingredient Resource Center Guidelines for labeling natural products.
And I voluntarily pledge that if and when I display the NIRC 'Truth in Labeling' logo on a website, brochure or other marketing materials, I will primarily be offering products deemed "natural" as defined by the Natural Ingredient Resource Center guidelines. Furthermore I will disclose when a product on my website/marketing materials contains synthetic ingredients, such as fragrance oils or petrochemicals, in a way that is clear to the consumer.
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Shipping Materials
We use salvaged shipping materials from local merchants and reuse them whenever possible. Our bubble wrap is not eco-friendly, but the fact we are reusing from incoming shipments helps to keep a lower footprint. We use alot of *reused* packing paper that we have saved from incoming shipments and our own paper waste from Jaime's job. When their company expo is over he brings home the left over order books that the company would have recycled. We print on the back sides of them and use the unusable 14" paper for packing paper. When we run out of salvaged materials we will use the corn starch peanuts, but I doubt we will ever run out of order book paper. Sometimes we even receive other paper from our neighbors' jobs that they were going to recycle. Paper is a precious commodity and everyone is in on the action around here, and helping us to reuse whatever we can. We hope you'll order refills and reuse the box and packing materials we send to you, that way you'll be reusing, and we can reuse again, furthering our "Reduce-Reuse-Recycle" commitment. We hope you don't mind making the extra effort to help us in our goal.
Packaging
All of our product packaging is plant-based, biodegradable and renewable. We use 100% sugar cane box containers and natural plant cellophane rolls, bags and tape. Our cellophane is a natural polymer made from cellulose, a component of trees and plants. The cellophane we source is made from cottonwood trees sustainably farmed and harvested specifically for cellophane production. No rainforest or old growth trees are used. We only use uncoated 100% biodegradable cellophane products, which will biodegrade in 28-60 days.
Paper Products
All of our paper products used for wax clean up are made from 100% recycled paper and chlorine free. We print on the back sides of salvaged office paper that would have been tossed in the recycle bin. Our neighbor works in a print shop and brings us the dented or otherwise bad reams of paper instead of putting them in their recycle bin. We are saving trees by being a "catalog free" business. Please help us by not printing our downloadable catalog.
Treeless Labels
Our candle warning labels are custom made just for us, and are made of tree-free fibers. They are printed with a soy-based ink and have a water-based adhesive. These labels were made without a protective laminate coating so they will biodegrade. The tree-free fibers consist of all natural unbleached sugar cane called, "bagasse." The other fibers come from bamboo and cotton linters. The labels we use for our votives are made of the same materials. Therefore, the entire bagasse box and label will biodegrade together. We are searching for a clear corn label for the jar fronts, to replace our clear Avery brand labels. It is our goal to replace any plastic packaging with a natural alternative to limit the amount of petroleum products in the environment.
Hang Tags and Business Cards
Since February 2008 we have been printing our new product tags on organic, fair trade coffee paper. It is a mixture of 100% post-consumer paper and minimum of 5% coffee content. The rich coffee color is obtained by utilizing actual brewed coffee and coffee skins. This 100% recycled natural paper is acid-free, durable, chemical-free, and made in the lush mountains of Costa Rica and El Salvador. There are 230,000 tons of agro-industrial waste dumped in Costa Rica every year. Now there’s an innovative and economically feasible option for this waste by invention of new processes to create paper from exotic tropical fibers. Each sheet of treeless paper is handmade in an organic process certified by (SCS) Scientific Certifications Systems, guaranteeing the highest level of environmental responsibility. This organic paper uses only recycled materials and does not add to the destruction of endangered forests. It is produced based on the principles of fair trade, and certified by “More Than Fair Trade,” and, “Costa Rica Natural.” More Than Fair Trade ensures that the coffee farmers are compensated fairly and ensures sustainable growing practices. Costa Rica Natural certifies the product is 100% recycled. Fair trade helps family farmers in developing countries to gain direct access to international markets. Through More Than Fair Trade, farmers and their families are earning a better income for their hard work, allowing them to hold on to their land, keep their kids in school, and invest in the quality of their harvest, so they can continue to grow excellent quality coffee for your morning brew. A percentage of each sale of these papers goes to support a scholarship fund to study sustainable agriculture development at Earth College.
JARS / Recycle, Reduce, Reuse / JARS
Our jar containers are all reclaimed & reused, never newly manufactured. We collect baby food jars from local families and day-cares, and clean them up with non-toxic cleaners. Because recycled glass still has an impact on the planet, we save all of our food jars, instead of recycling them. This gives them a second life (or more) before being recycled. We just cannot throw away a good jar if it can be reused to reduce our footprint on the planet. Now, our neighbors and friends are saving their jars for us. Please understand that it is a laborous job to wash and prepare jars. It would be easier for us to go out and purchase new jars, but we must do the right thing by reusing instead. By reusing we are cutting down on manufacturing and transportation pollution, not to mention we are saving resources by doing the work ourselves in an eco-friendly home. So please know that you are buying a candle in a used jar, unless it’s our Spanish Glass.
100% Recycled Glass Containers
Our recycled glass containers are made in Spain and are fair trade. The company is a Coop located in Valencia, Spain. The company is owned by the workers. They are paid according to European community standards, and have access to medical attention, as well as have a voice in the company. All of the glass products are made from recycled glass bottles. Their mission is to respect the environment through recycling. These are the only containers we sell that are "new." Actually, when you think about it, they were previously used, and melted into something new. Although recycling has it's benefits, reusing has a much lower impact on the planet. That is why we reuse containers for our candles. We understand that this may be unacceptable for some people, that is why we also carry 100% Recycled Glass containers, and offer discounts for refills so these containers keep coming back instead of hitting the recycle bin or landfill.
Washing Of Our Jars And Candle Equipment
We use the latest energy star rated dishwasher (45% more energy efficient than earlier models) to wash our jars and candle equipment. We use Ecover Ecological Dishwashing Tablets and an earth-friendly rinse agent made by Wave-Jet, or sometimes just plain vinegar. Both are vegetable-based and do not contain phosphates and chlorine bleach. Our dishwasher uses less energy and it is a water saving unit. We use natural cleaners such as baking soda to remove glue residue from the jars and bottles. We also use hot water to remove large labels from bottles. The water is microwaved to keep it hot, instead of running water from the tap. The same water is reheated and reused bottle after bottle before it goes into our garden. All of our appliances run on solar power! Dishwasher, microwave, lighting and a heat gun to smooth the tops of candles. Even our radio that entertains us while we work is using energy from the sun!
Our candle waste and any other household garbage is packed in biodegradable Bio-Bags that are made of GMO-free corn.
We use paper towels to clean up wax spills. Our paper towels are made of 100% recycled paper (90% post consumer) and chlorine free, made by Seventh Generation or sometimes we buy Trader Joes Brand 80% post consumer/100% recycled paper.
Shopping Bags
We don't believe in handing out the one-use plastic bags that continue to pollute our planet. We strongly believe in reusable bags. Sometimes a bag is needed, so we give our walk-in customers a biodegradable Bio-Bag. These cute little shopping bags are made from corn and can be reused as a compost bag, or to take the dog for a walk. Bio Bags do not contain polyethylene and are 100% compostable and biodegradable. They are certified for use in organic agriculture and are GMO-free. Bio Bags will biodegrade in 45-60 days in commercial composting conditions.
As another option at trade shows, I like to give my customers a choice of recycled/reused birthday and holiday paper bags that we have received from family and friends. My customers get to pick which fun bag they would like to reuse, and it's a fun way to share a used bag with a new friend.
Catalog Free Business
Soylar Candles does not contribute to the loss of forests through catalogs.
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© 2007-2010 Soylar Candles
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