Isn't all beeswax "organic"? No.
There are two definitions to organic:
1. Living. live, biological, natural, "organic matter"
2. Farming method involving production without the use of synthetic agricultural chemicals including pesticides, fungicides and herbicides
So, in theory all beeswax is "organic" as it is a natural product. BUT there are many chemicals used in beehives and in the processes of gathering beeswax. SO, due to the chemical usage standard beeswax is definitely not chemical free-organic.
Certified organic beeswax goes one step further:
It is free of synthetic agricultural chemicals including pesticides, fungicides and herbicides. So the bees have not been exposed to flowers that have been sprayed with chemicals, their hives are chemical free and pests that effect the bees are treated naturally.
Our supplier's certified organic beeswax gives you the peace of mind that when you use our products, there will be no toxic.
Don't bees fly up to 5 kilometres? How can you guarantee they don't visit farms that have been sprayed?
Yes, bees can actually fly up to 10 kilometres , sometimes a little more if there is a good source of nectar/ flowers and the help of a breeze :) To be certified organic the beekeeper needs to take the bees to areas where they can fly this distance and not make contact with farms. To do this they travel huge distances to place their bees in the wide open cattle country in the west or in state forests and National Parks. This is hard work.
Why is Certified organic beeswax so hard to find?
Up to this point most of all certified organic beeswax in Australia was purchased by large cosmetic companies at high prices. Our supplier now have access to a small supply as the beekeeper wants his beeswax to stay in Australia and create local products.
We are very grateful for their support.
At A For Apothecary, we work with reputable beeswax companies who are careful about the beekeepers they work with, will painstakingly work to syphon out impurities from their products, and will never add artificial ingredients or toxic colorants.
Hence, we recommend not getting too obsessed with the “organic beeswax” label but, instead, look at who the company is, where they source their beeswax, and how they process it. That’ll give you a better idea of how pure and natural the beeswax may be. 🐝