On January 1, 2010 I pledged to donate 5% of every purchase to support the Environmental Defense Fund... I think many people wondered why? Well, here's the scoop. I am a bit of a flower child at heart and see myself as someone who really cares about the environment. Yet, I've had more than one semi-heated discussion over the so called evils of paraffin wax which left me wishing I could make certain people understand that those candles are my art, and they would never be the same if I changed the wax. Different wax means an all new texture and color scheme. And, the fact is that my pillar candles are the least of our worries when it comes to slowing and/or stopping global warming.
This week I read some information on the EDF website that made me think (in a new way) about the ways that my habits as a modern candle maker help or hurt the environment. It was a study just published called The Good Haul: Freight Innovations for the 21st Century. It highlights various ways to modernize shipping which are already at work around the world, proving that we can make a huge impact on carbon emissions. I can't say that I read the entire 68 page report, but there were several case studies I found really exciting!!! Did you know that a truck produces 22 lbs of carbon dioxide for every hour that it idles? Now think about the fact that every trucker must rest on the road and often requires air conditioning or heating in order for the cab to be comfortable enough to sleep... and the only way to turn those things on is with power. Thankfully, some states are adding "electrification facilities" at truck stops in order make a dent in the 11 million tons of carbon dioxide produced annually as a result of long-term idling. I personally can't believe this hasn't been done sooner. Idling big rigs are not only unhealthy for the environment, they are more directly harmful to the driver... that air they breathe while resting can't be good for their lungs! I get upset when I see regular sized vehicles idling longer than 5 minutes.
There were many other innovative programs described in the report... cranes replacing forklifts, off-hours driving incentives, and meticulously structured emissions taxation systems... so many great ideas that need to be used on a larger scale. However, I do not feel that independent entrepreneurs should exempt themselves from personal participation in this cause. I am pretty sure there are a large percentage of us that get our materials shipped to us and who ship products to our customers. Here are three ways I feel that I have directly contributed to the cause:
- I buy materials from vendors who are located nearby whenever possible to reduce shipping distance. My #1 material supplier, General Wax and Candle Co., is actually only an hour and a half drive away. I stop by whenever I'm driving to or through L.A. to pick up supplies myself, cancelling the need for shipping all together.
- I purchase my materials in bulk. No matter how close or far away the items come from, it seems to me that the less often I purchase them, the less often a large truck would need to haul the package to my house. My goal is for each order to last a minimum of two months, but for vendors which only sell one or two products I desire, I try to order at least a year's supply.
- I price my candles in a way that encourages long lasting candle orders. If you haven't already noticed, my smallest candles aren't that much cheaper than the medium sized ones... and my large candles are very fairly priced. The USPS backs up my system by charging progressively less per ounce as the package gets heavier... and candles are not feathers, which means shipping can cost a bit. But, if you spread that cost over four candles, it's a much smaller extra charge than if you only buy one.
I would love to hear any and all tips you may have about how I can be more green in regards to shipping products and/or ordering materials. In the mean time, I hope you will support and promote the Environmental Defense Fund's fight to modernize shipping.
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