"Don’t overlook small tasks that may seem insignificant, but ultimately contribute to the success of a business."
Corporate high-flyer turned sustainability entrepreneur Karen Platt is the co-founder of CandleXchange, a novel female-owned and led circular economy venture on a mission to stop 1 million empty, single-use home fragrance containers and 100 tonnes of packaging waste ending up in landfill by 2030.
Launched in 2021 with close friend Hayley Clarke, the Sydney-based venture introduces the world’s first ‘Burn & Swap’ solution. It’s a sustainability no-brainer that enables consumers to return empty containers, which are refilled with chemical-free soy candles (in the process, saving 30% off their next purchase).
In a further win-win for people and the planet, CandleXchange also runs an ‘UpCandle’ program, where customers drop off other brands’ containers, which are refilled and donated to survivors of domestic violence and refugees.
To date, CandleXchange has diverted 2.2 Tonnes of used containers from landfill; donated more than 800 upcycled candles to victims of domestic violence/refugees; and celebrated 96% return rate of used CandleXchange containers (1.5kg candle range).
Proving opportunity lies in every crisis, the ‘Eureka moment’ behind CandleXchange, as both a social impact enterprise and sustainable home fragrance brand, occurred during COVID-19 lockdowns. While decluttering their homes of empty candle containers, Karen and Hayley discovered the bulk of 4 million candles sold each year in Australia are not only single use, but unrecyclable.
Like most people, the duo didn’t realise that recycling plants in Australia – and globally – aren’t equipped to handle tempered glass used in the manufacture of candle containers. CandleXchange focuses on reuse as the only responsible solution.
Check out more interviews with entrepreneurs here.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET FEATURED?
All interviews are 100% FREE OF CHARGE
Table of Contents
In the past year, what is the greatest business achievement you’d like to celebrate with your team? Please share the details of that success.
Karen Platt: Hands down, as environmental champions, our greatest team achievement is putting eco-action directly in the hands of consumers and raising awareness that ‘Reuse is King’.
Thanks to our world-first Burn & Swap solution, every time an empty CandleXchange container is returned and swapped, we celebrate the fact that around 1kg of glass and packaging is diverted from landfill.
In parallel, given my background with charities and social justice, I’m equally proud of launching our UpCandle program, providing hope and comfort to survivors of domestic violence and refugees.
What’s more, by inviting customers to drop off other brands’ containers to be refilled and donated to a good cause, we supersize impact when it comes to tackling global throwaway culture.
In Australia alone, the bulk of 4 million single use candles sold each year are not only single use, but unrecyclable. That adds up to a mountain of waste.
What advice do you wish you received when you started your business journey and what do you intend on improving in the next quarter?
Karen Platt: Hindsight is a great thing. I wish we’d received expert advice on the nuances of marketing to consumers compared to businesses (which we’ve done for years).
We quickly realised the landscape of social media, advertising, influencer marketing, and search engine optimisation (SEO) is constantly changing, and found it challenging to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices.
We are now engaging experts to support our marketing efforts, allowing us to focus more on expansion requirements. By having a team of experts on board, we’re excited about upscaling our sustainability startup to raise greater awareness around ways consumers can make simple eco-friendly changes at home.
Here is a two fold question: What is the book that influenced you the most and how? Please share some life lessons you learned. Now what book have you gifted the most and why?
Karen Platt: Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, a children’s book which features 100 bedtime stories about remarkable women from history and the present day. I’ve read the original version and its sequel to my six-year-old daughter, inspiring her to dress up as the female pirate, Grace O’Malley, for her first book week.
This book taught me the importance of leading female characters in literature beyond princesses being saved by princes. Moral of the story? You can’t be what you can’t see. I strongly believe this and frequently share my own personal and business stories as a leader, sustainable brand entrepreneur, social activist, and member of a rainbow family. I think it’s essential for children today to see a variety of role models… and that starts with the stories they read.
I’ve gifted Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls to many families and schools I’ve worked with. It’s crucial to be mindful of the stories we consume and how they shape our beliefs about gender norms and role models.
Christopher Hitchens, an American journalist, is quoted as saying that “everyone has a book in them” Have you written a book? If so, please share with us details about it. If you haven’t, what book would you like to write and how would you like it to benefit the readers?
Karen Platt: I’d love to write a book about resilience during uncertain times. This could be from the perspective of working in fast-moving fields like IT, telecommunications, startups, or even dealing with IVF, having undergone 19 rounds before welcoming my daughter, Ella (with partner, Lorraine).
In all these fields, you never know what’s around the corner, and it can be really tough. I’d share resilience-building tips and tricks to bolster mental health and wellbeing during tough times, with the goal of helping readers navigate ups and downs, whatever life throws their way.
In your experience, what tends to be the most underestimated part of running a company? Can you share an example?
Karen Platt: Don’t overlook small tasks that may seem insignificant, but ultimately contribute to the success of a business. These tasks can range from managing bookkeeping thoroughly, to scheduling social media posts, sourcing the right product labels, and managing inventory.
Business owners also tend to underestimate the amount of time required for planning and strategic thinking: developing new ideas, researching new markets, and engaging with customers to understand their preferences.
To address these challenges, I prioritise tasks based on urgency and importance and try to compartmentalise my days to focus on both reactive and proactive work.
What does “success” in the year to come mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Karen Platt: For any business, success is measured in numbers.
What makes us stand apart as sustainable brand entrepreneurs, is that we measure success on how well we attract and educate a loyal following of CandleXchange ‘Burn & Swap converts’ in Australia, and, ultimately, globally as our business expands.
On a business and personal front, the litmus test of success comes down to consumers ‘saying no’ to throwaway culture, and embracing principles of a truly circular economy. Here, our message is simple. Saving the planet starts at home.
Jerome Knyszewski, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Karen Platt for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Karen Platt or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
Disclaimer: The ValiantCEO Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
