A truly green company does two things: it has a positive impact on the environment and makes money while doing so. Eco Candle Company that has mastered this formula by selling soy wax candles for profit. It took a skill – making and selling of candles – and developed a green business model designed to profit while helping the environment and supporting American farmers, too.
What makes Eco Candle Company different?
This company has focused on a single niche product–candles–and found a way to improve upon something people already want in order to solve the fundamental flaw in most candles currently on the market. It has a single retail location and distributes its products to other retailers. Candles are commonly made of paraffin, which is petroleum based, and they produce carbon-soot along with the same toxins as diesel fuel. Eco Candle Company specializes in soy wax candles, which are clean burning. Its “green” candles come in a variety of colors and scents with names like Beach Bum and Baby’s Butt.
Why are soy wax candles better?
As Eco Candle Co. explains, soy candles don’t produce toxins, carcinogens or pollutants; paraffin candles can. Soy wax candles are also biodegradable, and spills are easy to clean because soy wax is water-soluble. Some candles have zinc or lead wicks. ECC uses wicks that are made of hemp, paper or cotton, and they don’t test their products on animals. (To be fair, I’m not sure other candle companies actually test theirs on animals either.) The soy wax this company uses is certified kosher. Also, there are no pesticides, herbicides or genetic alterations to the soybeans crops that are used to make the wax. These candles are also “cool burning.” The company says this makes its candles last up to 50% longer than paraffin candles.
Why does Eco Candle Company have a good green business model?
In addition to selling green products, it focuses on selling its products online and through other retailers. This means only one brick and mortar retail location, hence a lower carbon footprint. This Wisconsin-based company has a personable website that makes some of its employees seem like they came right out of that seventies show. It gives its products quirky names like “Baby’s Butt” and “Beach Bum.”
Someone looking to turn a skill set into a profitable career that makes it easy to be green might look to this company for inspiration. By focusing on a single product, improving upon what’s already out there, making the product as environmentally friendly as possible and getting other retailers to also sell your merchandise, is a good, green business idea that is sure to make lots of cash. This company definitely gets the “green light.”