While the palm oil industry has been fraught with controversy, we’re choosing to join the movement that supports RSPO sustainable palm oil initiatives – rather than boycotting its use entirely.

Why? 

First – palm oil outshines other plant-derived ingredients for its use in candles (more on that later). But the industry at large is serving the small communities that cultivate it, while also touting an inherently minimal environmental impact compared to its peers. 

Another consideration: the palm oil industry has pivoted. This, due in large part to the global efforts of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), founded by the World Wildlife Fund in 2003.  

So, while many shoppers seek out sustainable palm wax candles, GoodLight views sustainability as a broader commitment – one that includes responsible sourcing support, circular design principles, and products made to be reused long after the final burn.

Here, we’ll explain our involvement with the RSPO Credit system and discuss our journey to Ecuador to shake hands with some of the farmers that are fueling the future of palm oil.

But first, let’s start with palm wax, its use in our products, and where it actually lands in the story of sustainability. 

Why Palm Wax? (And Why Soy Isn't Always the Answer)

Most often compared as plant-derived wax bases:understanding palm wax vs soy wax sheds light on the importance of yield ratios to sustainability. Many assume soy is the more sustainable option, but the reality is palm wax is sustainable on a much higher scale. Palm oil is heralded as one of the most efficient crops on the planet, producing significantly higher yields per acre than soy. That means less land is required to produce the same amount of wax.

Palm wax also performs exceptionally well for candles. It boasts a naturally higher melting point than soy, which supports a longer, cleaner burn and better structural integrity – especially in warmer environments. We especially love that it  holds fragrance effectively without requiring heavy additives, allowing for a more consistent and balanced scent throw.

Soy, while widely marketed as eco-friendly, often relies on large-scale monocropping, intensive pesticide use, and significant land conversion – especially in South America. Palm, when responsibly sourced, can actually offer a lower overall environmental footprint.

For us, the decision comes down to quality, efficiency, and the ability to support systems that prioritize regeneration over expansion.

Crop Yield, Land Use, and the Real Deforestation Story

Sustainable candles and eco friendly candles start with understanding where materials come from and how much land they require. Most of the time, searchers target “sustainable” and “eco” as umbrella terms for products that are responsibly or even regeneratively sourced – with recyclability in mind. 

For its part, palm oil yields up to 4–10 times more oil per hectare than soy or other vegetable oils, meaning less pressure to clear additional land when managed responsibly.

And, it’s notable that deforestation is not inherent to palm oil. It’s the result of ~unregulated expansion~. Certification systems and smallholder-focused models are designed to counteract exactly that, protecting forests while maintaining the livelihoods dependent on palm oil  agriculture.

Transparency & RSPO Credits: How Book-and-Claim Works

GoodLight is a buyer of RSPO Credits through the RSPO Book-and-Claim system. In this supply chain model, we contribute to responsible palm oil production via this credit conversion:

 One RSPO Credit  = 1 ton of certified sustainable palm oil, certified sustainable palm kernel oil or certified sustainable palm kernel expeller produced by RSPO certified Independent Smallholders. 

The producers that are supported by this initiative adhere to the 2018 Principles and Criteria for certified sustainable palm oil production, meaning that the RSPO credits are guaranteed to be representing palm (kernel) oil from certified sources. 

Here’s a step-by-step for how it works:

➔ Production: Certified growers/mills produce sustainable palm oil and register it in the RSPO PalmTrace

➔ Credit-creation: The sustainability attribute becomes a tradeable credit value

➔ Trading: Growers sell these credits directly to retailers or manufacturers via the PalmTrace platform

➔ Purchase: The buyer (in this case, GoodLight) pays a premium directly to the grower

Supporting Certified Growers Beyond the Physical Supply Chain

Ethical supply chain impact doesn’t always follow a straight, physical path, and that’s exactly where the Book-and-Claim system plays a meaningful role. While the RSPO Credits we purchase are not tied to the exact molecules of palm wax in our candles, they are directly tied to certified growers who are producing palm oil under strict sustainability standards.

In practice, this means our purchasing power helps create financial incentives for independent smallholders to continue (and expand) responsible production. The premium paid for RSPO Credits goes back to those growers, rewarding practices like avoiding deforestation, protecting biodiversity, and improving labor conditions. It also helps offset the higher costs associated with certification – making it more feasible for smallholders to stay within, or transition into, sustainable systems.

This model is especially important in regions where physical supply chain segregation isn’t always possible. Instead of excluding smallholders from global markets due to infrastructure limitations, Book-and-Claim ensures they can still participate (and be compensated) for doing things the right way.

For GoodLight, this approach is about accountability without overclaiming. We’re transparent about what this system is and what it isn’t. It’s not a direct trace from a single farm to your candle. But it is a verified way to support certified sustainable production at scale, helping shift the broader industry toward better practices.

And ultimately, that’s the goal: to use our position as a buyer to reinforce systems that make sustainability viable and support the greater movement to a pro-planet present (not just its future).

Meeting the Farmers in Ecuador

Sustainable palm wax candles don’t start in a lab – they start with farmers, communities, and landscapes that are deeply connected to the product, from fruit to function. So we went to Ecuador to meet oil palm tree farmers, understand the complexities and realities of smallholder palm oil production, and connect with the greater community in support of the RSPO’s sustainability initiatives.

Shannon's Story: Shedding Light

>>> Add 2-3 paragraphs about Shannon's trip here <<<

[ PHOTO FROM TRIP HERE ]

How Your Purchase Supports Smallholder Families

Fair trade candles create demand for systems that prioritize people, not just production. Many RSPO-certified operations are independent smallholders, meaning families and local communities are directly involved in growing and managing the land.

By choosing responsibly sourced palm wax, your  support spans around the world, impacting  income stability, access to global markets, and opportunities for farmers (especially women and underrepresented groups) to participate more equitably in the supply chain.

Transparency You Can Trust

Ethical candle brands and natural candle brands are the ones that responsibly follow the production chains of their products. And, for consumers, it means supporting a system based in integrity, visibility, and kindness. 

For us, that means going beyond certifications and actually engaging with the people and processes behind our materials. It means asking better questions, verifying claims, and sharing what we learn.

It’s the foundation of integrity from which we operate. Every single product we make is void of petroleum-derived paraffin, made with 100% plant-based ingredients, and with kindness for the planet.

Because trust isn’t built through labels alone – it’s built through visibility.

Our goal is to shorten the distance between you and the story we bring from Ecuador, knowing that simply by buying a natural candle, you can be contributing to the livelihood of a farmer and their family.

We’re so proud and grateful to be able to be a part of this movement, while doing what we love to bring you beautiful, affordable, scented and unscented candle collections that reflect not just clean ingredients, but a cleaner, more thoughtful supply chain. That’s what we mean when we say C.L.E.A.N.

When you light a GoodLight candle, you’re not just choosing a better wax – you’re choosing candles for a cause.