SPAAS

SPAAS KAARSEN

LIGHTING THE WAY FOR GREENER CANDLE MAKING

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SPAAS KAARSEN

I PROFILE

LIGHTING THE WAY FOR GREENER CANDLE MAKING When it comes to candles, Spaas Kaarsen is a household name. Now, celebrating the company’s 170th anniversary, co-owner & CEO Ben Spaas, co-owner & Sales Manager Sarah Spaas and Head of Sustainability Elise Maris explained what Spaas hopes to achieve in the future. Report by Imogen Ward. 210 Inside sustainability

fifth generation of Spaas, and with each generation comes a new focus and new milestones. Now here we are, 170 years later, having evolved substantially to sit amongst the top three players within the European candle industry, producing 40,000 tonnes annually,” co-owner & CEO Ben Spaas said. Spaas produces all of its candles at its two production facilities located in Belgium and Poland. These facilities are responsible for manufacturing a diverse array of wax-based products. Each plant has its own specific focus on production lines. The plant in Belgium is highly automated and primarily concentrates on the production of large-volume products, while the Poland facility wants to retain the flexibility to produce tailor made solutions. Spaas is known for producing and marketing candles under the SPAAS brand, offering a diverse range of both scented and unscented candles. In addition to its own brand, the company also manufactures private-label candles for major retailers, and they operate across various market segments, including retail, catering, garden centres, online sales and churches.

S

paas Kaarsen is a pivotal part of Europe’s candle making history,

Implementing change

having produced high-quality candles

Now under the leadership of the fifth

that are soot-free for more than 100 years.

generation, the Spaas team has become

It all started in 1853, when Spaas would

increasingly aware of the challenges cur-

bleach beeswax for monasteries and

rently facing the planet. Keen to have an

abbeys. The second generation took it

impact on this, the company has invested

one step further and introduced candle

in improving its practices. “At Spaas, we are

production to the business. “We are the

fully aware of sustainability,” said Mr Spaas.

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SPAAS KAARSEN

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“We aspire to embrace it and be a fron-

“Over the past few months, we have

trunner within our industry for sustainable

been developing a sustainability strategy,”

development: taking the necessary actions

said Ms Maris: “we are currently working on

because we have a responsibility to the

defining our short- and long-term targets.

future generations. As the fifth generation

For a sustainable transition, a long-term

of Spaas, we feel it is important to take

vision is key.

ownership of that.”

“The strategy consists of five main themes.

Due to increasing sustainability regula-

In terms of environmental themes, we want

tions, consumer expectations, requirements

to make our packaging more sustainable by

from banks, insurance companies and

following the reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink

more, Spaas saw a need for developing and

hierarchy. A second commitment involves

implementing an ESG (Environmental, Social

our carbon emissions, which we’ve been

and Governance) strategy. To address

calculating to set targets to reduce our

this, Elise Maris was appointed Head of

footprint.”Spaas’ sustainable strategy also

Sustainability, and came to join the team

focuses on waste management. Not only is

in this crucial transition.

Spaas attempting to reduce its waste, but it

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is also working in collaboration with other

ching vision is to extend beyond corporate

companies to ensure it is repurposed effec-

boundaries through support for the com-

tively. “We recently started a partnership

munities in which it operates and by

in Belgium to repurpose our label carriers,”

ensuring responsible sourcing.

Ms Maris explained. “Our partner takes these

Ms. Maris further explained: “We are

away and repurposes them into new label

fully committed to ensuring that the

holders or paper for journals.”

sourcing of our raw materials is not

“We also have an ongoing partnership with an aluminium processor,” Mr Spaas

linked to human rights abuses or other environmental violations.

added. “We produce a lot of tealights, and

“Our employees support our sustainability

during production sometimes we are left

transition. After consultation with staff, the

with empty tea light holders. Because they

tealight process was adjusted to better

are made from aluminium, they can be

manage the company’s waste. Packaging

endlessly recycled and repurposed.”

errors occasionally occurred during the

Spaas’ sustainability (or ESG) strategy

production of tea lights: as a result, Spaas

places a strong emphasis on social

used to throw away the whole pack, but

responsibility. The company is committed

after a dialogue with the production line

to an inclusive and safe work environment

team, the company gave its engineering

that encourages diversity and personal

team the responsibility to adjust the pro-

growth for all employees. Spaas’ overar-

duction line. This modification now allows Spaas to collect, repackage and resell these imperfectly packaged items.”

Recognition of excellence Spaas’ sustainability efforts have been recognised by EcoVadis, an international sustainability rating platform which awarded it a silver medal for outstanding achievements in environmental responsibility, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Receiving this silver medal from EcoVadis in 2021 placed

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SPAAS KAARSEN

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Spaas among the top 25 percent of

world. In order to maintain that crucial

companies with this distinction. “This

balance of ecological, social and economic

achievement fills us with pride, as we see

factors, we reviewed our supplier code of

the medal as a recognition of our progress

conduct and integrated standards that

and an affirmation of our commitments to

focus on sustainable business practices.

our sustainability targets,” said Ms Maris.

We also updated our responsible sourcing

Taking it one step further, Spaas is

policy, which assesses sustainability,

considering introducing guidelines for

quality and price. These documents will

suppliers, to ensure it is working with

be communicated to all suppliers at the

companies who are also EcoVadis certified

beginning of 2024.”

or compliant. “At the moment discussions are ongoing; so we have no set target,

Focusing on the future

but it is what we are working towards,”

Whilst walking the path of sustainability,

said Mr Spaas. “For next year though, we

Spaas has made sure to remain focused

are implementing a new code of conduct

on corporate advancement to abide by

that will take us a step closer.”

its vision of a greener future.

“Our partnerships with our suppliers are

“We are continuously assessing how we

super-important, especially in the changing

can best integrate sustainability into our

world of today,” Ms Maris explained. “We see

product development process,” Mr Spaas

this as an opportunity to work together and

said. “There always needs to be a balance

share knowledge to adjust to this changing

between cost, design quality and sustain-

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ability, and this brings its own set of challenges. But nevertheless, we ensure sustainability is integrated from the very first stage of product development.” The company continues to assess the ongoing market trends to ensure it remains on track with its goals. One recent trend that has garnered the company’s attention is the increasing demand for refillable products. “We are currently looking at the concept of refills and how we could make that work,” Ms Spaas continued. “There’s

“Over the next 10 years, we will implement

a lot of planning involved, and it brings up

a strategic growth strategy that will help us

many questions. We need to overcome

develop the business alongside the needs

these challenges before we are ready

of our customers,” Mr Spaas concluded.

to launch.”Spaas anticipates that, once

“We have a very strong customer-centric

ready, the product will be brought to the

strategy, which aligns perfectly with our

market promptly to appease consumer

core philosophies and shared values as

demand. Despite its dedication to being

a family-run business. That strategy is an

green, the needs of customers remain

element that is highly valued by our cus-

a number one priority.

tomers, and one that will not change.” n

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