Why quality should never be sacrificed for a lower price 

DELFI.LT, Sigutė Limontaitė 

2025 11 10 

Businesses can release incredible amounts of toxic or hazardous substances into the environment when manufacturing, transporting, and delivering goods. However, Eglė Salienė, director of Balsius, a company that sells candles, home fragrances, and essential oils, is convinced that profit should not force you to compromise your conscience or values. The head of the business, which has been operating for more than nine years, says that in all cases she chooses the least harmful methods of operation, even if it means lower profits.

In the competition for Lithuania's most beloved online store, you are vying for the title of most sustainable store. What makes your company sustainable?

First, the sustainability of a company starts with its attitude towards the environment and the goods it sells. Our range includes many products that are manufactured in a way that does not harm or has as little impact on the environment as possible (e.g., COSMOS-certified soy, rapeseed, and sunflower waxes grown in the EU), RAL-certified candle wicks of EU origin.

Another aspect that is particularly relevant in e-commerce is packaging. We do use a lot of packaging. We reuse all the packaging materials we receive from our suppliers. For example, cardboard boxes are used as many times as they remain intact. We also use packaging materials we have at home and boxes left over from our partners' business activities. Paper is used as filler. Paper bags are used for packaging small items. The boxes are sealed with brown paper tape. Aromatic oils are packaged in dark glass bottles and protected with corrugated cardboard strips, not plastic. We select the box that best suits the order so that less filling is used. For this purpose, we choose sturdy cardboard boxes. We have made special cardboard boxes with dividers for packing glass candle holders.

The third important aspect is our approach to energy consumption and its origin. Our office complies with the A++ energy class, and our office systems are managed intelligently; for example, the heating only works when people are working there during working hours. We only use electric cars for company business, and absolutely all the electricity we need is generated by our own remote solar power plant in the Vievis Solar Park.

Sometimes we encounter damaged or minimally defective goods. In such cases, we try to donate them to those who can find ways to give them a second life. We donate such goods to organizations that run free social workshops for making candles. We regularly support organizations such as the Child Development Clinic in Kaunas city and the Red Cross. We are glad that our customers appreciate this approach and we have received positive feedback.

How long have you been operating in the Lithuanian market? Do you also cooperate with foreign countries?

We have been operating in the Lithuanian market since the company was founded just over nine years ago, and for about six years we have been successfully exporting our products to 27 countries (most EU countries, as well as Iceland, Norway, etc.). Our suppliers are from various countries, mainly in the European Union. We strive to source our raw materials from as close as possible, creating a minimal carbon footprint.  Why did you choose this particular business model? This was probably determined by our personal attitude towards the environment, the values cherished by our family, and the fact that we value quality and craftsmanship more than quantity and the cheapest raw materials.

What criteria do you apply to your products?

Quality is our number one requirement, but when we talk about quality, we always have sustainability in mind. Even if a product is of fantastic quality but does not align with the company's values, we would not supply it. Price is undoubtedly an important criterion, but, for example, the aromatic oils for candles in our online store are among the most expensive, if not the most expensive, in Lithuania. However, we have a large customer base who return and buy them precisely because of their quality, uniqueness, and the documents and certificates that come with them. We educate our customers on how to properly label candles, how to make them, and how to test them.

Why do you think Lithuanian products are so successful in many foreign countries?

We believe that Lithuanians are persistent, honest, and hard-working people who think about the risks before diving in. They don't give up when they fail and try again. This is probably how winners are born, who sooner or later show successful results.

Why should Lithuanians buy goods produced in our country?

From a moral standpoint, we support our own. From an economic standpoint, taxes are paid in our own country, which means that the state budget is replenished, and this budget is used to take care of everything from healthcare to roads, forests, education, and other public services.

How is your business doing in the current geopolitical situation?

When the geopolitical turmoil began, we faced quite a few challenges in terms of both supply and prices. Prices rose faster than we would have liked, and logistics were disrupted. Now, the situation in our sector seems to be stable. We expect to achieve sustainable growth this year.

How do you deal with challenges such as pandemics, economic downturns, and supply chain disruptions?

In all these situations, the main thing is to have a financial cushion. We have been following this strategy for many years, and it helps not only in turbulent times, but also during the off-season. Seasonality is particularly strong in our business. In the last three months of the year, we sell about as much as in the remaining nine months, so we prepare for them carefully during the off-season.

How do you assess the current business situation and environment for its expansion in Lithuania?

Essentially, positively. We do not see any significant restrictions for small businesses in Lithuania. The main obstacle is securing financing. Although we often hear advertisements about how banks and other companies want to provide loans to small businesses, and how state institutions help with guarantees and interest compensation, the reality is that it is difficult for small businesses to obtain a significant financial injection.

Read this article on the Delfi.lt portal.