Earth Hour is happening on March 23, is a symbolic moment where individuals, communities and businesses turn off their non-essential lights to advocate for environmental consciousness. This year, Planted is proud to offer an eco-friendly way to honour this global event while staying illuminated in the coziness of your own space. Planted’s collection of soy and coconut wax candles are hand-poured in Toronto and crafted from sustainable soy and coconut wax. They burn cleaner and longer, providing a guilt-free ambiance that perfectly complements the spirit of Earth Hour. Unlike traditional paraffin candles, eco-friendly alternatives promise a safer environment inside your home and for our world, emitting significantly fewer pollutants and ensuring a purer air quality. We chatted with founder Jennifer Minchau to learn more. —Vita Daily
Hi Jennifer! Please tell us a bit about yourself to start.
I had been working in the natural food and wellness space for over 10 years when I decided to branch out into the beauty and home space. I’m really passionate about how companies can be a force for good and help people live better lives on our planet.
When and why did you launch Planted? What niche were/are you aiming to fill?
I started Planted with the intention to create 100% natural products that were beneficial to your health as well as the environment. I quickly realized there was a lack of truly natural candles in the marketplace, and companies advertising essential oils always blended them with fragrance, so I wanted to create pure essential oil candles that are not only beautiful to look at, but have aromatherapy benefits as well.
What products/services do you currently offer, and what makes them unique?
We are one of the only candle brands that is 100% transparent with our ingredients. It’s not mandatory for companies to disclose candle ingredients but we believe that consumers should be able to make healthier choices if they are informed.
What steps does your brand take to protect/preserve the environment, and reduce your own and your customers’ impact?
One of the main initiatives we have been working on is our Tree Planting initiative, where we plant a tree for every item purchased. Our partner, The Eden Projects, works across the globe and hires local people to do reforestation, so it’s job creation and community building, as well as reducing our carbon footprint. We also offer a jar recycling program where customers can return their jars to us and we’ll clean them out and make new candles out of them. It’s always so rewarding getting the jars back, and we offer a discount on future candle purchases as well.
What are your top tips around turning Earth Hour into an opportunity for relaxation and reflection on the beauty of our environment and our role in its preservation?
Lighting a few candles during Earth hour and turning off from technology for that time can be a great way to reset your senses and take some time for yourself. It’s a good opportunity to do some yoga or meditation, or set up a candlelit dinner as a treat. If you’re up for an activity, earth hour can be a great time to plant some seeds in the garden or get some started indoors for spring, to help bring a bit more green into your world.
Win! A Coconut Candle Collection From Planted!
Congrats Olivia C. of Montague, PEI, who will receive a Full Coconut Candle Collection from Planted! Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.
March 22nd, 2024 at 9:39 am
Hang your clothes to dry
Compost etc @rosehavenca
March 22nd, 2024 at 10:31 am
@pnina44
Use cold water for laundry
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:08 am
@latj5 we compost, recycle plastic paper and bottles!
March 22nd, 2024 at 12:29 pm
Carry reusable cutlery and straws in your purse and in the glovebox to reduce the use of single use items. @jcont1234
March 22nd, 2024 at 2:14 pm
Stores like London Drugs accept soft plastics for recycling, a small extra step but it made a massive difference in the amount of landfill-bound garbage I take out each month! ? @interlakepixie
March 22nd, 2024 at 6:17 pm
I cut my garbage over half . I try to recycle everything I can. For our environment for future generations. I hang my clothes out all year long and then hang them on the basement lines to finish drying. I don’t I don’t need everything that we don’t use and the clothing that we don’t want anymore.
March 22nd, 2024 at 6:18 pm
@clowolivia1 on iG
March 22nd, 2024 at 8:42 pm
I compost using the city green bin. In reduce the amount of garbage in the landfill.
@caro.craftnook
March 22nd, 2024 at 11:21 pm
@meraki.love
Using candlelight over electric lights, buying soy candles over paraffin, and repurposing old candle containers. ?️
March 25th, 2024 at 2:41 am
I always donate any if my household items that I don’t need or use anymore. All clothing, bedding, books etc. I don’t want any if my things to end up in the landfill.
March 25th, 2024 at 2:43 am
@iamislandmimma
March 26th, 2024 at 3:46 pm
I hang clothes to dry and wash in cold water and I always shop groceries with cloth bags
@mmsittie
March 26th, 2024 at 7:28 pm
I like to make my own cleaning products – usually vinegar and baking soda.
@msdanieli
March 27th, 2024 at 5:29 am
Always recycle and upcycle! @xuliang889
March 27th, 2024 at 7:02 am
Bring your own containers to the bulk food store.
IG @minty_mo2020
March 27th, 2024 at 10:28 am
I try to recycle everything I can . I also hang clothes to dry when weather permits.
@downey_k65
March 28th, 2024 at 10:50 am
we try to practice zero plastics (reusable everything – bottles, utensils, grocery bags, etc) and also try to instill the 3rs (reuse, recycle and reduce). woohoo!
@jaxpardise
March 29th, 2024 at 12:42 am
Recycle, reuse, repurpose, reduce!
Thank you
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