In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the impact of packaging on the environment - finally. It is essential for businesses to adopt eco-friendly packaging practices that reduce waste, and pollution, no matter where a company falls on the spectrum from small to large. At Scentr Candle Co. we diligently work on ways to improve our sustainability efforts by seeking out new ways to reduce packaging, upcycling packing supplies, and ensuring our operations is as efficient as possible. We’ve come a long way from planning our business to now and are happy to share what we have learned along the way.
We believe that adopting eco-friendly packaging is not only important for preserving the environment but also for ensuring the long-term success of our business. As consumers become more aware of the impact of packaging on the environment, they are increasingly seeking out products that are packaged sustainably. By using eco-friendly packaging, we are able to meet the demands of these consumers and differentiate ourselves from other companies that continue to use less sustainable packaging.
Many of the concepts outlined in this blog post can be applied to other industries. We will be using real-life examples that apply to a small candle business, which we use on a daily basis.
Our Definition of Sustainability in Business
To us, sustainability exists on a spectrum. We believe that every business, regardless of industry or size, has the potential and capability to make eco-friendly choices. What works for one company may not work for another, and that's okay. We're not here to preach that each company needs to prioritize sustainability to the max, but rather that everyone can make conscious decisions to improve their operations while keeping the environment in mind.
Improvement. Not perfection.
Packing Supply Ideas for a Candle Business
There are hundreds of ways to sustainably package your candles. We’ve compiled some popular options to hopefully get your creativity flowing.
Glass Jars: Reusable and recyclable, glass jars are a great way to package candles sustainably. They can also be repurposed by customers after the candle has burned down.
Aluminum / Steel Tins: Another eco-friendly, and popular, vessel are aluminum or steel tins. They travel well, have the added benefit of heat resistance, and easily recyclable.
Recycled Cardboard Boxes: Made from recycled materials, cardboard boxes are a great option for shipping candles. They can be easily recycled after use. Pro Tip: USPS and UPS offer free packing supplies for small businesses that are just getting started, their boxes are made of recycled materials and are curbside pickup compatible. This is an excellent way of saving costs and still being eco-friendly.
Biodegradable and Compostable Materials: Materials such as biodegradable plastics, compostable paper, and cornstarch-based packing peanuts are all eco-friendly options for packaging candles. It is becoming more common in the sticker and tape industries to include plant based adhesives as not all ‘recycled’ stickers have recycle friendly adhesives.
Upcycled Materials: Consider upcycling materials such as old newspapers, magazines, and wrapping paper to package your candles. This not only reduces waste but also adds a unique touch to your packaging. What we did in the beginning of operations, and still do to this day, is use packing supplies we receive in our mail from personal orders to protect our products.
Remember, sustainability exists on a spectrum and what works for one company may not work for another. The most important thing is to make conscious decisions to improve your operations while keeping the environment in mind.
Scentr Candle Co. | Sustainability
At Scentr Candle Co., our soy candles are packaged using biodegradable and recyclable materials, such as glass, cardboard and paper. We avoid using plastic packaging as much as possible, as we know that plastic waste is a significant problem for the environment. The materials we use are not only environmentally friendly but also provide adequate protection for our candles during transportation. In areas where using plastic is necessary, like our wax melt clam shells, we use PET plastic. PET plastic is unique to plastics since it is made of recycled materials, uses significantly less energy to make, and is curbside pickup compatible - which means you can toss it right into your recycling bin.
In addition to using sustainable materials, we have also implemented a zero-waste policy in our packaging process. This means that we aim to minimize the amount of waste generated during the packaging process. We achieve this by using optimized packaging designs that reduce the amount of material used and by recycling any waste generated. By doing this, we are able to reduce our environmental impact and minimize our contribution to landfills and other waste disposal sites. Some examples include, upcycling packing supplies we receive from other companies, no box-in-box packaging, and dissolvable packing peanuts.
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond our packaging process. We also source our materials from sustainable and ethical sources, ensuring that our products have a minimal impact on the environment. We work closely with our suppliers to ensure that their practices align with our sustainability goals, and we are constantly looking for ways to improve our sustainability efforts.
Lastly, in partnership with onetreeplanted.org, our Scentr Rewards members help make it possible to plant trees all over the world! Every 10 new members is 1 tree planted. At the time of writing this blog post, we have planted trees in US National Parks, Appalachia, Brazil, and several regions in Mexico. If you are interested, you can join Scentr Rewards for free here.
Our members not only help plant trees but unlock some pretty neat benefits too, such as:
$5 for every 55 pts
Birthday gift
Exclusive promotions
Free shipping over $50.
In conclusion, eco-friendly packaging is crucial for preserving the environment and ensuring the long-term success of our business. Our company recognizes the importance of sustainability and has taken steps to ensure that our packaging is eco-friendly. We believe that by adopting sustainable practices, we can create a better future for our planet and communities. We are committed to continuing our sustainability efforts and to being a leader in eco-friendly packaging.
For more candle making and sustainability content, consider becoming a member. It's free to sign up, and comes with rewards with any Scentr Candle Co. purchase.
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