Q&A: Is Beeswax Vegan?

Beeswax is secreted by bees which they use to build their hives and store the honey. It is extracted by boiling the honeycomb from the hive and is usually used in cosmetic products and candles.

Beekeeping exploits the labour of bees and involves cruel practices like clipping the wings of the Queen Bee to prevent her from leaving the hive and forming a new colony. It also leads to many accidents where bees are killed in the harvesting process, or have their wings or legs injured or torn off due to carelessness.

Bees produce honey for themselves, to survive during the colder months. In some bee farms, the honey taken away for human consumption is replaced with a sugar syrup which does not have the same nutritional value as honey.

Beeswax is a byproduct of honey, i.e. it is extracted by boiling the honeycomb after draining the honey by slicing the honeycomb with a hot knife. It is the main component bees use to build their hive. Veganism calls to avoid all animal exploitation, and since beekeeping is a cruel practice for bees, beeswax is not vegan.

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