Recycling : Small Changes, Big Results.

The Jonathan Ward Assassin Belarus Candle Refill

I remember that my respite between our first vision and the new brand, required me to put a smile on my face and walk into a restaurant and reengage with the old charm that brought in the necessary coin. I don’t know if it was a self imagined shame at stumbling, or if it was a bruised ego that hadn’t recovered but it felt horrid. I digress… Something that I don’t think is spoken about enough, are the recycling laws for businesses in dense urban locations. The non conversation and hush hush for this glaringly vital issue, is one that goes under rug swept. With a wildly hypocritical “Duty of Care” government policy in place which is the only responsibility or ownership the business owner. must adhere to.

Gently looping back to that brief interlude at aforementioned bustling city restaurant. In that one establishment, I can steadfastly say that there was not a single modicum of care or attention to even making the smallest effort to recycle. By that I mean 5KG canisters, bottles, broken glass, food waste, plastic wrap, damaged takeaway cartons, etc. etc. was dumped in the same outside dumpster and as if by magic it disappeared the next day.. Which brings to question, while we have the goervnment’s guidelines publicly displayed, is or are there attempts to liaise with individual businesses to see how they are navigating their duty of care ? I would guess not, as a small business owner, I have never received a single communication regarding this matter.

We started our candle refills almost a year ago and they have been a delight to see the response. Although the results are small, one refill eliminates almost 75% of the weight of the product in transit. The size and scale of outer cartons, is reduced by 50%. The pressure on the procurement chain is eased and haulage of multiple moving parts is reduced by over 50%. We started with an origami wrap for the candle which is craft sensitive and has to be assembled, this is manufactured using a FSC certified UK paper and produced in a factory with accreditations for its recycling policies.

We’re looking to introduce out diffuser refills and this will take us closer to a deeper commitment and responsibility. This is not a bombastic rhetoric that lassoes marketing terms doing the rounds in social media, simply a question… If every business made one significant change. One that wouldn’t require time from schedules, or endless policy changes. any impeding facility could be slowed significantly. Or is that naive ? I”m sure the politician with gravy on his tie knows the real truth and my assumptions are just artistic liberal meanderings… !