Two Social Enterprises Unite: 1,000 Homes a Little Warmer
Every candle has a story, and this story began with a simple question: what happens to a candle container when the wax runs out? Enter CandleXchange, an Australian-made certified social enterprise based on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
For most households, the answer is simple: It goes in the bin. Candle containers are typically made from tempered glass, which means that they cannot be processed through standard recycling streams and instead end up in landfill.
But CandleXchange co-founders Karen Platt and Hayley Clarke saw something else. A container that could be cleaned, refilled, and used again.
From that idea, two programs emerged:
a Return & Swap model for their own products for their own home fragrance products,
and UpCandle for other brand candle containers.
Closing the loop
Customers who purchase CandleXchange’s premium soy candles can return their empty containers through the Return & Swap program. Every returned container is then cleaned, refilled with sustainably-sourced soy wax and natural fragrances, and put back into circulation.
Moreover, this program also rewards customers with 30% off their next purchase.
But many customers also have empty branded containers from other brands too. Rather than turn them away, CandleXchange collects these as well. That is where UpCandle comes in.
A second life with purpose
UpCandle is CandleXchange’s flagship social impact program. Donated containers, regardless of brand, are upcycled into new candles and gifted to community organisations supporting people rebuilding their lives.
It is a simple idea with a double impact: reducing waste while creating something practical and comforting for those who need it.
Since launching, UpCandle has donated more than 4,300 candles, with 2026 to date already seeing over 600 delivered to partner charity ReLove alone.
Now, a $15,000 grant from the June Canavan Foundation will help scale that impact even further.
A grant that enables scale
The June Canavan Foundation was established in honour of doctor, humanitarian and adventurer, Dr June Canavan, whose life was defined by service to others. The Foundation continues that legacy by supporting initiatives with meaningful community impact across education, health, sport and conservation.
UpCandle stood out as a natural fit. It is a program that addresses both environmental waste and social need in a practical, tangible way.
The grant will fund the upcycling and donation of 1,000 candles through ReLove over 2026. This marks the largest standalone commitment in UpCandle’s history.
Turning houses into homes
ReLove does something quietly powerful. When people escaping domestic violence, homelessness or other crises move into safe housing, they often arrive with very little. ReLove helps turn those empty spaces into homes, furnishing them with care, dignity and choice.
The candles donated through UpCandle become part of that experience. A small part, perhaps, in the context of a furnished home. But meaningful in the way that warmth, scent and light have always carried significance as signals that a space is safe, that someone cares, and that a place is theirs.
Collaboration that makes sense
What makes the partnership between CandleXchange and ReLove so effective is how naturally their missions align. Both organisations tackle waste in different ways, while supporting people rebuilding their lives. CandleXchange focuses on reducing candle container waste, while ReLove diverts furniture and homewares from landfill as they help create safe, liveable homes.
Together, through UpCandle, something discarded becomes something valued.
The June Canavan Foundation’s support makes it possible to deliver this impact at a scale neither organisation could achieve alone. This also highlights what can happen when social enterprises work together rather than in isolation, something SECNA continues to champion.
CandleXchange founders, Hayley Clarke (L) and Karen Platt (R).
For Karen and Hayley, the work continues alongside the day-to-day realities of running a small social enterprise. The growth, from a simple idea about used candle containers to thousands of donated candles, shows what is possible when purpose is built into the model from the start.
One container at a time. One home at a time.
To learn how you can get involved, visit candlexchange.com.au or follow their journey on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.
About this series
SECNA's Member Spotlight Series showcases some of the many organisations, like CandleXchange, who are using business as a force for good. From circular economy initiatives to employment pathways and community-led solutions, these stories highlight the impact of social enterprises across Australia.
Looking for more purpose-led businesses?
Visit SECNA's Social Enterprise Directory today to discover and support more social enterprises creating impact in communities across Australia.
