Waxes come from 3 main sources: plants, petroleum and animal fats. In antiquity waxes were produced from the fats of cows and sheep. Today, the most common material for wax is a manmade paraffin.

The most common plant waxes are carnauba (palm) and soy wax. Another options include coconut and rapeseed waxes.

Probably, the most sustainable options are coconut and rapeseed wax. However, it is important to check that there are no additives in these types of wax.

Carnauba, or palm wax comes from carnauba palm leaves. This is a hard wax, so it holds the shape well. It also holds pigments and fragrances well. however, the production of this wax produces big environmental issues, due to the deforestation of palm trees. Thus, it is not the best choice in terms of sustainability.

Soy wax comes from soybean oil. It holds fragrances well, it is also smokeless if used for candles. But it doesn’t hold and dissolve pigments and thus will create pastel shades only. In addition, soy wax is quite soft, so it melts easily in the high temperatures. It is biodegradable. However, many soybeans used for wax production are genetically modified and grown using pesticides and herbicides. These practices lead to environmental pollution. Among other problems that soy farming often causes are monoculture farming and deforestation.

Coconut wax is made from hydrogenated coconuts. Melts at higher temperatures than soy wax. Holds fragrances well. It is highly biodegradable. Coconut trees are sustainable crops; they require less water and pesticides compared to soy or palm. It is often more expensive than soy or paraffin wax and it might be more difficult to find.

Made form the plant, rapeseed wax holds fragrances well and has a long burn time if used for candles. It is biodegradable. When burning, this wax doesn’t produce soot or smoke. Due to its high melting point and hardness, this wax is perfect for making folded objects.

Two of the most commonly used petroleum waxes are paraffin and microcrystalline. Both of these waxes are derived from crude oil or coal, but have different properties.

When burned, paraffin wax candles release particles which pollute the indoor air. Due to its low melting point, soft paraffin wax is often mixed with stearic acid (animal or palm fatty acids) to make it harder. It’s non-renewable and not biodegradable.

Microcrystalline wax originates from the residue left after the refining of lubricating oils. Microcrystalline waxes are darker in color compared to paraffin waxes and have a tackier texture. They are also more flexible, which is why they are often used for sealing and binding purposes. It can be reprocessed and reused.

The most common type of animal wax is beeswax. Bees secrete this wax and use it to build their honeycombs. Beeswax is more expensive than soy wax and paraffin wax.

Tallow is another animal wax type. It is made from beef or pig fat. This wax emits odour and produces smoke when burning. Tallow wax is biodegradable. Yet, the production of tallow requires a significant amount of resources, such as water, land, and feed, for raising livestock. Livestock farming also contributes to the green house gases emissions and often leads to deforestation.

Finally, there are also blend waxes which are often made of several natural waxes, such as soy and coconut or soy and beeswax, that offer a balance between sustainability, performance, and cost.