Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural wax that is produced by bees to build the interior of their nests as well to encase and store the finished honey.
History & Usage
Everyday use
Beeswax is mainly used to seal letters and product containers like bottles and barrels as well as to create lighting items like candles and wax lanterns. In medical and cosmetical areas it is used as an ingredient for balms and ointments.
Refinement
Freshly gathered and harvested beeswax needs to be refined to use in medical products and the production of lighting items. The refinement process usually consists of heating the wax within a finely woven piece of cloth above a container until the wax entirely runs through it, leaving any dirt behind within the fabric. If the wax should be distributed to manufacturing processes afterward, it is usually cast within a wooden disassemblable form.
Manufacturing & Products
- Light sources:
Environmental Impact
Overharvesting beeswax from a single bee nest can lead to the extinction of the nest inhabiting bee colony.
Distribution
Trade & Market
Beeswax can usually be purchased from beekeepers either directly from their workshops or on the market.
Storage
Beeswax can either be stored on shelves or crates raw or encased in cloth at moderate to cold temperatures.
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