I had two blog posts that I wanted to work on today and initially thought they were separate subjects. One on "Buy Nothing New Month" and one on Conscious Giving - but then I realised that they're really one and the same.
I must admit that my initial (knee-jerk) reaction to Buy Nothing New Month was one of horror. Taken literally, that would be a complete disaster not just for Queen B, but for thousands of Australian manufacturers and small businesses. Then I started thinking about how it really doesn't apply to our candles! Being beeswax, they are essentially recycled. They're not 'new'. We take a waste product from honey production and turn it into something functional. Beeswax candles are as 'vintage' as it gets. My lawyer brain was working overtime!
Then I read on...
"It's about thinking where our stuff comes from (finite resources) and where it goes when we're done (often landfill) and what are the fantastic alternatives out there to extend the life of our 'stuff'."
And you know what, I really get that. I think about that stuff on a daily basis. It's one of the reasons that we only use 100% pure Australian beeswax - infinite (if we look after our bees), long lasting, naturally carbon neutral, non-toxic, no landfill content (soy, palm and paraffin all have a very high environmental cost). It's why we don't make square candles (too much wasted beeswax). It's why we use sinamay bags (a waste product from banana harvesting that is completely biodegradable). It's why we use Australian sourced, FSC certified card for our packaging (smaller environmental footprint than recycled card as it turns out).
And that then gets me on to my second post which was all about conscious giving. Choosing carefully. While it may seem too early to be talking about the festive season, when you're pouring candles individually from an enamel teapot, you get started on Christmas early!... and I happen to know that we have lots of 'A type' personalities in our customer base (takes one to know one) who are planning end of year teachers gifts! Anyway, I acknowledge my own bias, but if you are considering gifts (be they birthday, corporate, festive, teachers, lovers or just because), then I know that giving a Queen B candle is a gift that gives many times over.
As for 'buy nothing new month', I suggest that we change it to 'buy consciously every day of the year'. That Queen B lady... She's a crazy one!
Queen B beeswax candles are made with 100% pure Australian beeswax a pure cotton wick and copious amounts of hand made love. We stock beautiful and stylish candle holders, personalised candles, votive candles, tealight candles and pillar candles that nourish the human spirit and our environment.
Queen B beeswax candles are made with 100% pure Australian beeswax a pure cotton wick and copious amounts of hand made love. We stock beautiful and stylish candle holders, personalised candles, votive candles, tealight candles and pillar candles that nourish the human spirit and our environment.
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