ABSTRACT
Candelilla (Euphorbia antisyphilitica Zucc.) plant is a natural source which wax is obtained; their commercial exploitation began in 1900 and for lest 100 years has been an important economic source for 3,500 producers, called “candelilleros” distributed in 230 commons of 33 municipalities in the north part of Mexico. However, the traditional extraction process involves the use of sulfuric acid, which represents a high risk for the health of candelilleros and is dangerous for the environment. Throughout these 114 years of exploitation the scheme of candelilla approach has passed to be controlled by the Mexican government to the private industries in actuality. Whatsoever keep equal thought this time are the life conditions of poverty of the candelilleros due principally at the intervention of intermediates and the low prices that the exportation companies buy the candelilla wax to the producers. Nowadays there is an effort by the Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila and Comision Nacional Forestal to substitute the sulfuric acid for and organic one to protect the producers health and environment quality in a sustainable and eco-friendly process that permit obtain a completely organic and high quality wax.
