Saving the Bees: Their Importance & Impact

Why Bees Matter - Beyond the Buzz

Bees are the unsung heroes of our ecosystem, pollinating nearly 80% of flowering plants and directly contributing to one-third of global food production (Nature Serve, 2025). In North America, bees add over $18 billion annually to agricultural output (USDA). Globally, their pollination work supports an estimated $200 billion in food production each year. Without them, staples like fruits, vegetables, and nuts would decline dramatically - leading to reduced biodiversity and skyrocketing food costs (Randall, 2020). 

Alarmingly, bee populations face deep declines, with commercial operations "According to a survey of beekeepers administered by Project Apis m., commercial operations reported an average loss of 62% between June 2024 and February 2025." (Heck, 2025). Some of which is driven by factors like pesticides, parasites (Varroa mites), habitat loss, disease, and climate disruption (NatureServe, 2025). More Than 40% of insect pollinators, including native bee species are threatened globally, with 22.6% of North American pollinators facing extinction risk (NatureServe, 2025).

What is Ethical Beekeeping?

Ethical beekeeping is a mindful approach to hive management that prioritizes bee welfare, biodiversity, and ecological balance over maximum honey or wax yield. It's about treating the hive as a living system and ensuring that every jar of candle wax comes from healthy thriving colonies.

• Sustainable hive design: Using spacious and well ventilated hives that mimic nature nests encourages healthy behaviors like swarming, efficient airflow, and reduce stress on bees.
• Chemical-free health management: Varroa mite and disease control is achieved through natural methods like powdered sugar dusting, screen-bottom boards, and brood breaks rather than synthetic miticides.
• Seasonal forage & reserves: Ethical beekeepers ensure bees have access to diverse, pollinator-friendly plants and leave ample honey stores to sustain colonies through winter.
• Habitat & biodiversity focus: Planting native flowers, providing water sources, and avoiding pesticides helps support wild pollinators.
• Climate adaptation awareness: Ethical beekeepers adjust hive locations and forage planting based on shifting bloom times and weather patterns to support resilient bee populations.

By adopting these pillars, ethical beekeepers actively contribute to restoring bee populations and healthy ecosystems - making each beeswax candle not just a product but a symbol of sustainable stewardship.

Hive To Home Candle Co's Ethical Beeswax 

Everyone of our candles comes from locally & ethically sourced beeswax from Michigan Orchards. Our beekeeper prioritizes the health and longevity of their colonies, our bees are never culled. By avoiding harmful practices we ensure  each batch of wax preserves the bees welfare.

This conscientious wax sourcing means your candle isn't just beautiful, it supports local beekeepers, thriving habitats, as well as plants trees. Leaving you nothing to be sorry about.

What You Can Do to Help Bees 🐝

• Join No-Mow-May or adopt "Slow-Mow Summer": Studies show that lawns left unmowed in May host nearly three times thee bee species and five times more bees than regularly mowed spaces.
• Ditch the monoculture lawn: Traditional grass lawns - often made of a single grass species, which provide little pollen or shelter and demand excessive water, pesticides, and maintenance. Lawn Monocultures act as ecological deserts for pollinators and wildlife.
• Plant native, pollinator-friendly flora: Replace sections of grass with native wildflowers or create tapestry lawns with diverse plant species. These support biodiversity, build healthier soil, reduce water use, and require less care ().
• Say "no" to pesticides: Even herbicides and fertilizers harm beneficial insects. Skip chemical treatments and opt for manual weeding , organic mulch, and natural pest control.
• Support ethical beekeepers: Choose beeswax candles sourced from small apiaries practicing chemical-free, sustainable honey & wax harvesting - the proceeds fund hive health and biodiversity efforts.

Even small actions, like letting a patch of dandelions bloom or planting a bee bath can create critical habitat and support pollinators in your neighborhood.