Environmental impact of candles and how best to get rid of wax

Candles create a warm and inviting ambience, but improper disposal of their remnants can harm the environment.

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Most candles are made from paraffin, stearin - a fat-based wax - or natural alternatives such as beeswax and soy wax, which is made from soy beans.

Paraffin is a byproduct of the petroleum industry, while stearin is often derived from palm oil, which is sourced from environmentally damaging monocultures, says Janine Korduan from the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND).

"Candle remnants in the environment have a particularly negative impact when they are made from paraffin, as this, unlike other raw materials, is not biodegradable and can contain harmful chemicals," Korduan says.