Why beeswax candles are better for you and the environment than soy or paraffin.

I buy all beeswax for use in echho candles locally from a trusted beekeeper in Wallingford, only 15 miles away from my home where I hand pour the wax. I personally collect it to guarantee quality and a genuine product.

Personally, I think that this creates an almost neutral carbon footprint as the ingredients has barely travelled and is a natural byproduct of bees.

The sweet natural aroma of beeswax is an added win!

The negatives of soy:

• The soybean industry is causing widespread deforestation and displacement of small farmers and indigenous peoples around the globe.

• Soy isn't grown in the UK so the carbon footprint on this product is huge! Usually shipped from East Asia or America.

The negatives of paraffin:

• It has been claimed that paraffin wax releases toxic fumes when burnt, which has contributed to its fall out of favour.

• In 2009, a study by South Carolina State University found that burning paraffin wax candles give off harmful fumes (toluene and benzene) which is linked to asthma and lung cancer.