Design
Our commitment to 'treading lightly' starts at the design stage. We believe creating unique and authentic designs is the first step to considered production practice. We approach each piece through a fashion design lens, creating individualised pieces for the home.
For this particular Skivvy Scented Candle, designer Yael wanted to capture the warmth and envelopment of a folded funnel neck- a way to personify a similar feeling one gets when burning a candle. She started by hand draping fabric forms around a sphere, then gluing the pieces together. The object was then 3D rendered and sent to Uttar Pradesh, India for glass casting.
Recycled Blown Glass
The object was cast in its original form and also in a half scale version- the Large and Small Skivvy Candles. Each vessel is made by melting down recycled glass and mouth blowing that glass into the steel mould.
We worked closely with glass blowers in Uttar Pradesh, called Glass Creations. While we didn't have the opportunity to visit their workspace, this incredible manufacturer is in accordance with BSCI certification, Social Accountability System 8000:2014, ISO 9001: 2015, Recycled Claim Standard, and internationally recognised Good Manufacturing Practices.
The glass itself is GRS certified.
These internationally recognised standards and certificates for ethical production practices gave us the confidence to work with them.
Transportation:
The glass objects were sea freighted from India to Australia, heavily reducing emissions compared to air freighting.
Social Accountability System 8000:2014 Criteria
-Prohibits the use of child labor.
-Eliminates forced or compulsory labor practices.
-Ensures a safe and healthy working environment.
-Supports the right of workers to form and join trade unions.
-Prevents discrimination based on various factors, including gender, race, religion, etc.
-Addresses disciplinary measures and prohibits harsh or inhumane treatment.
-Establishes limits on working hours and overtime.
-Ensures fair wages and benefits for workers.
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GRS + RCS Criteria
-Materials are verified to meet the ISO definition of recycled.
-GRS sites are required to meet strict social and environmental requirements.
-Chemicals with potential for harm are not permitted to be used on GRS products.
-Certification ensures that the identity of the recycled material is maintained: from the recycler to the final product.
-A professional, third party certification body audits each stage in the supply chain.
-Drive innovation in addressing quality issues in the use of recycled materials.
-GRS sites are required to meet strict social and environmental requirements.
-Chemicals with potential for harm are not permitted to be used on GRS products.
Natural Wax
Choosing a wax quality was one of our biggest challenges. We needed the wax to be non damaging to its origins, non toxic when burning, hold its sculptural shape, and work well with scents. We trialled about 10 different wax qualities and landed on an RSPO certified vegetable wax. The wax is actually palm wax, which we know has a very negative connotation for large scale forestry devastation. This particular wax is RSPO certified- a globally recognised certification for sustainable palm oil. We call it RSPO certified vegetable wax on our packaging and product pages, as we don't want to instantly dissuade people from the wax without having the opportunity to explain its sustainable origins. This was a tricky decision, as we never want to be misleading and aim to practice radical transparency always. However, we also want the opportunity to explain our choices. So the information is here, for whoever came this far.
The Candles are hand cast locally in Sydney, Australia by Love Alley. This heavily reduces the carbon emissions for the candle making process.
RSPO Criteria:
-The production of palm oil must not cause deforestation or damage any area required to protect or enhance High Conservation Value (HCV) or High Carbon Stock (HCS) forest. HCV and HCS forests in the managed area must be identified and protected or enhanced.
-Growers have to monitor and identify the occurrence of protected species of plants and animals.
-Burning the land surface at any stage of operation on the plantation is forbidden and fire cannot be used to prepare or clear land prior to the plantation’s establishment.
-There are clear requirements relating to labour standards and working conditions, including the right of workers to freedom of association. Special rules must be set to protect the rights of vulnerable groups of workers such as migrants, refugees, women, and young labourers.
-Pay and conditions for office staff and plantation labourers must meet industry minimum standards and be sufficient to provide a decent living wage (DLW). The RSPO’s certification scheme is the first such system that requires full implementation of a DLW.
Bespoke Scent
Going back to our value on authentic design, these scents were uniquely developed for these particular candles- each one with a bespoke scent. We spent months developing these one off fragrances. The scent was manufactured locally by the artisan perfumer herself, Jocelyn Fullerton.