At Candlewick International, impact isn’t a side initiative, it’s at the core of everything we do. Every project is designed to uplift communities, restore ecosystems, and create long-term, meaningful change.
By aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we aim not only to participate in progress, but to actively shape a more sustainable and equitable future.
We are led by Rick Lacroix, a serial climate entrepreneur with decades of experience developing and scaling renewable energy, forestry, and infrastructure projects across Asia and Africa.
Rick pioneered the use of sustainable materials in the construction of offshore helidecks for the oil and gas sector in the South China Sea, eliminating the dependency on rare hardwood trees from first-growth forests.
An early visionary in the application of distributed generation and renewable energy microgrids for electrification of unenergized island communities, Rick founded the first dedicated microgrid company in Southeast Asia.
In the biomass-to-energy space, Rick initiated early woody and non-woody plantation development to produce biomass as an energy fuel to displace coal, diesel, and other fossil fuels in electricity and process steam generation.
In both Africa and Southeast Asia, Rick led successful efforts to regenerated degraded forest lands with indigenous tree species, jumpstarting the recovery of entire ecosystems in the process. Waste wood and plantation residues for were developed as energy sources for export to displace coal in power generation.
Across microgrids, biomass, and large‑scale reforestation, our leadership is grounded in practical experience and informed by lessons learned on the ground. We focus on solutions that are technically sound, economically viable, and socially rooted.
Access to reliable energy changes everything. It creates opportunities and supports education, healthcare, local enterprise, and income generation, while strengthening social and economic resilience.
Through close partnerships with local authorities, we invest in initiatives that go beyond infrastructure. From supporting seaweed farming to strengthening agricultural programs, our work is rooted in helping communities thrive, not just survive.
Our approach to sustainability is regenerative. By cultivating indigenous species in their natural environments, we create systems that give back more than they take. With carbon absorption rates exceeding 40%, these efforts contribute meaningfully to restoring environmental balance.
Through reforestation, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, lowering carbon emissions, and minimizing harmful atmospheric pollutants associated with traditional combustion, we are not only cutting emissions, but also building a cleaner, more resilient future for generations to come.
We are led by Rick Lacroix, a serial climate entrepreneur with decades of experience developing and scaling renewable energy, forestry, and infrastructure projects across Asia and Africa.
Rick pioneered the use of sustainable materials in the construction of offshore helidecks for the oil and gas sector in the South China Sea, eliminating the dependency on rare hardwood trees from first-growth forests.
An early visionary in the application of distributed generation and renewable energy microgrids for electrification of unenergized island communities, Rick founded the first dedicated microgrid company in Southeast Asia.
In the biomass-to-energy space, Rick initiated early woody and non-woody plantation development to produce biomass as an energy fuel to displace coal, diesel, and other fossil fuels in electricity and process steam generation.
In both Africa and Southeast Asia, Rick led successful efforts to regenerated degraded forest lands with indigenous tree species, jumpstarting the recovery of entire ecosystems in the process. Waste wood and plantation residues for were developed as energy sources for export to displace coal in power generation.
Across microgrids, biomass, and large‑scale reforestation, our leadership is grounded in practical experience and informed by lessons learned on the ground. We focus on solutions that are technically sound, economically viable, and socially rooted.
We operate under robust ESG policies, a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and transparent disclosure practices that guide decision-making across our organization.
We also invest in people. Through the Mary Follmer LaCroix Scholarship Program, we support education for employees’ families and students within our project communities.
