Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to bring attention to a misleading marketing strategy being used by many companies, even in the candle business. In October, companies often promote a unique, pink product intended to raise awareness about Breast Cancer. What these companies don’t tell you, however, is oftentimes these products are created using potentially harmful and cancer-causing toxins, and only a small portion of the profit goes to helping those impacted by Breast Cancer.
Even well-meaning small candle makers who use undisclosed fragrance, dyes, or petroleum based waxes, that are unknowingly selling potential endocrine distributors or carcinogens to their customers.
A study published in 2020 (PMID: 33266302), verifies the relationship between exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals to an increased rate of Breast Cancer.
What exactly is an endocrine disruptor? Chemicals that interfere with hormones in the body’s endocrine system.
These endocrine disruptors or endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can play harmful tricks on the body, causing it to increase or decrease production of certain hormones and interfering with normal hormone signals and functions. These disruptions have been linked to issues with fertility, kidney disease, reduced sex drive, birth defects, increased risk of cancer and obesity, and more.
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce these risk – beginning with knowing what EDCs are and where they are most prevalent. Our blog post, Ending Endocrine Disruption, goes into detail on the best ways to reduce toxic hormone distruptors in your home.
Unlike pinkwashing brands, Fontana Candle Co. is the candle company that cares. Our candles are certified MADE SAFE, free from toxins, carcinogens, and endocrine disruptors.
We are excited to announce that each Fontana Candle Co. purchase made in October helps contribute to a minimum donation of $2,500 to Breast Cancer Prevention Partners.
BCPP works with highly impacted communities, makes scientific findings more accessible to the public, pressures businesses to make their products safer, and helps to pass health-related laws. BCPP’s website explains their mission: “1 in 8 women today will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and yet 90% of cases are not linked to genetics. That’s why we at BCPP work to eliminate the other known risk factors linked to breast cancer—to save lives and prevent the disease before it starts”.
By purchasing a Fontana product this month, you are burning clean and safe scents in your home and further increasing our donation to BCPP to help them in their mission against environmental factors of Breast Cancer.
