Feature Photo by Cottonbro Studio
After delving into brands providing ethical and sustainable clothing for children last month, I couldn’t help but ponder the significance of extending sustainability to kids’ toys. Considering how children interact with toys—playing for hours, sometimes putting them in their mouths, or having snacks while playing—it’s crucial to prioritise eco-friendly options. With thorough research, I’ve uncovered some noteworthy brands, and I’m eager to share them with you, ensuring that you’re equipped with knowledge on sustainable sources for your child’s toys moving forward.
Related – Sustainable Kids Clothing
Why Sustainable Kids Toys?
When it comes to choosing toys for our children, as parents and family members, we always aim for the best. However, with the growing focus on sustainability and the environment, it’s crucial to select toys that benefit both our children and the ecosystem. This is especially important for young children, particularly those under two years old, who are beginning to explore their surroundings. By opting for sustainable toys, we can provide children with safe, eco-friendly options that support their development and contribute to a healthier world for them to grow up in. But why?
They’re Safer For Kids
Sustainable toys are often made from natural and non-toxic materials, ensuring they are safe for children to play with. Unlike plastic toys that may contain harmful chemicals, eco-friendly toys pose no health risks, which is vital for young children who explore by putting things in their mouths.
They’re Better For The Environment
Many environmentally friendly toys are crafted from recycled materials or organic ones that degrade naturally, reducing plastic pollution. Choosing eco-friendly toys helps minimise environmental impact, so it means we’re also committing to preserving the planet for future generations. After all, we care about our kids and their future right?! So it makes sense that we should also care about the future of the planet they live in.
They Encourage Creativity
Sustainable toys with simple designs inspire creativity and imaginative play in children. Toys like wooden blocks and puzzles promote open-ended play, fostering crucial skills and interests that benefit children throughout their lives.
They’re Durable & Long-Lasting
Sustainable toys are designed to be durable as they’re made from natural materials, lasting through continuous use and potentially becoming cherished keepsakes. By opting for these long-lasting toys, parents reduce the need for frequent replacements, saving money and reducing waste.
They Teach Responsibility
Selecting sustainable toys teaches our children the importance of environmental protection and ethical decision-making. By choosing eco-friendly toys, parents and family members serve as positive role models, instilling a sense of responsibility and care for the environment in their children.
Researching and picking eco-friendly toys’ options for children is essential for their safety, development, and environmental well-being. By choosing to buy toys made from non-toxic, eco-friendly materials, we encourage creativity, learning, and ethical behaviour in children, contributing to a more sustainable future. This small yet significant step as consumers (and parents) not only provides children with the best toys but also helps create a better world for them to grow up in.
BRAND RECOMMENDATIONS
It’s great to know that kids’ toy brands are prioritising environmental sustainability while still offering the same level of fun that you’d expect from children’s toys. I’ve put together a short list of some of the most innovative and exciting eco-friendly children’s brands currently available in the UK!
ENVIROTOY
This brand’s mission is to reduce the plastic pollution that comes from kids’ toys. 90% of children’s toys are still made from plastic and while that makes them durable, it’s not very sustainable for the planet. Plastic-free toys are at the heart of everything that they do, but first and foremost they aim to stock beautifully crafted eco-toys that children will love. Additionally, Envirotoy aim to provide hours of fun, enjoyment and learning through their toys.
Envirotoy have a few credentials, as described on the homepage, that they abide by when sourcing their brands and manufacturers. This means that they all need to be plastic-free, sustainable, biodegradable and with Fair Trade values.
From bath toys to arts and crafts, spoons, plates and wooden toys, they have everything you might be looking for. Plus, they’re currently running a massive 50% off clearance sale on selected toys. Check out the sale now – you can find small essentials for as little as £1.50! Shop the sale here.
PLANTOYS
In 1981, the journey of PlanToys commenced with a commitment to sustainability, aiming to respect and preserve natural resources for future generations. Pioneering the use of reclaimed rubberwood in toy manufacturing, they have upheld this philosophy for over 40 years. Their goal is to create well-crafted toys that aid in the development of children aged 0 to 5, encouraging play freedom and a stronger bond with nature. Additionally, the brand strives to adopt eco-friendly and safe materials while ensuring minimal impact on staff, consumers, the environment, and the world through safe production processes. Beyond toys, PlanToys instils sustainable values through initiatives centred on society, the environment, and child development too.
To prioritise children’s safety, the brand incorporates sustainable elements like E-Zero certified glue to eliminate exposure to harmful substances. They also use biodegradable ink, and utilise solar energy for electricity in their factories.
This shift minimises electricity consumption and their overall carbon footprint. In 2009, they even introduced the Green Dollhouse, designed to educate children on clean energy and eco-friendly practices. Featuring energy-efficient components such as an electric inverter, adjustable blinds, wind turbine, solar panel, rain barrel, bio facades, and recycling bins, the dollhouse exemplifies sustainable living.
From dollhouses to rail sets, tables, chairs, wooden blocks, and more, PlanToys boasts numerous green certifications and awards, amassing approximately 395 awards across 11 countries globally.
MOONLIT MILL
Moonlit Mill was born out of a desire to reduce plastic in the everyday lives of babies and children. The brand founder, Amy, created a considered edit of sustainably designed toys, gifts and lifestyle products that spark creativity, nurture imaginations and are as kind to your little one as they are on the planet.
The mission of the brand is to have a completely plastic-free parenting experience. From games and books to dummies, soothers, bath toys and play toys, this small independent brand is doing its best to reach high standards of sustainability and are offering Suzstainable readers a special 15% discount on all non-sale products. Use the code SUZSTAINABLE15 at checkout.
I love this adorable Doctor’s and Nurses pretend play set, named ‘Bye Bye Boo Boo’ as it contains everything your little one needs to stop teddy from crying! It’s made of sustainable wood, is plastic free and has a gender neutral colour palette.
STUDIO ROOF
The brand’s journey begins with paper, which transforms into a world of creativity within its cardboard creations – featuring masks, birds, insects, cities, sea creatures, earthly beings, and more. These products narrate tales of nature’s beauty, imagination, art, and humanity. Emphasizing nature’s significance in their narrative and daily existence, the items are crafted from recycled cardboard and dyed with eco-friendly vegetable inks, ensuring durability. If the time comes when you no longer need them, they can be recycled.
Studio Roof collaborates with trustworthy suppliers known for their transparency and ethical practices, adhering to global regulations. Each design they produce results in a newly planted tree annually through the Trees for All foundation. Moreover, they acknowledge global disparities by donating 5% of their Christmas collection sales to Karm Marg through the Dutch NGO SCOMI for the past six years.
EUGY TOYS
Eugy Toys make the most sustainable animal toys out there. The brand aims to provide a voice and representation for each unique animal species through their toys. They only use sustainable materials, all derived from nature and biodegradable. Most of their products are crafted from recyclable cardboard and printed with eco-friendly ink.
Their mission in using recycled cardboard is to minimise plastic use. The brand is actively reducing plastic in its products and day-to-day operations throughout its whole supply chain. A significant achievement in this ongoing initiative is their ‘Magic Glue’, the first glue packaged without plastic.
EUGYs also contribute back to wildlife and communities through partnerships. Collaborations include the Orca Research Trust, Sea Turtle Foundation, Leopard Seals Organization, and many more which you can check on their Giving Back page here.
WILDASH LONDON
Wildash London’s wooden height chart range is completely unique – the height charts are made from single pieces of timber that have been sustainably sourced and FSC accredited, from within the UK or France. The range includes height charts made from Beech, Cedar, Ash and Oak which are sanded and hand chamfered in Somerset, laser etched for a stunning, everlasting precision finish and no nasties, chemicals, paints or toxins are used in the entire process.
The standard wooden height charts come ‘raw’ to show the natural beauty of the wood, and are finished with natural wax and oil finishes that strengthen and treat the wood. They are fully customisable and laser engraved with your own text and can be engraved with a range of symbols and emblems such as crowns, butterflies, teddy bears, flowers, etc.
ZIMPLI KIDS
Zimpli Kids are the innovative minds behind unique children’s bath toy products in the UK market, focusing on creating enjoyable “just add water” items to elevate bath time and sensory play experiences for children and parents. The vibrant textures, colours, sounds, and scents of their products make them ideal for multi-sensory and messy play, whether at home or in educational settings.
Zimpli Kids takes children’s safety incredibly seriously, and all their products are fully tested legally, dermatologically and in terms of biodegradation. The brand has been working hard on reducing its environmental impact, and offers an eco-friendly, bio-degradable product range! How they have achieved that?
- Recyclable Packaging: All boxes, leaflets, and bags in their Eco range are fully recyclable, with paper bags replacing plastic ones for easy recycling along with the retail box and leaflet in standard paper/card recycling.
- Certified Biodegradable Toys: Two popular products, Gelli Baff and Slime Baff, have passed the Bio-degradation Test OECD 301B conducted by Intertek, a globally recognized tester of consumer goods. This test measures the rate of biodegradation when products are introduced to sewerage.
- UK Manufacturing: Zimpli Kids now produce over 95% of their products in their UK factory, which holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accreditation for environmental management and sustainability practices.
GREEN TOYS
At its essence, Green Toys has always been a company dedicated to producing environmentally-friendly toys. They advocate that “every day is Earth Day” and demonstrate this commitment through their use of 100% recycled materials and local US-based manufacturing. By prioritising sustainability, Green Toys not only offers safe products for children but also raises awareness about eco-friendly practices.
Being a California-based company, Green Toys operates in a state renowned for its stringent safety and environmental regulations. All their toys exceed US and international standards for BPA and Phthalates. Notably, their toys are crafted from recycled milk jugs or yoghurt cups, promoting the idea of repurposing waste into valuable items.
Green Toys packages all their products in 100% recyclable cardboard without any extras such as blister packs, twist ties, or cellophane wrappers. They use minimal colouring with soy inks for printing and occasionally incorporate packaging components made from 100% recycled water bottles to ensure secure packaging. Their commitment to sustainable packaging has earned them the esteemed Greener Packaging Award, the nation’s sole independent sustainable packaging accolade. With a diverse range of toys catering to newborns up to 5+ years old, the variety is extensive, and the aesthetic appeal of these recycled plastic toys in soft pastel colours is truly captivating.
It’s not easy to recognise an ethical brand in this saturated market, but when we do, we should all shout out about it and help sustainable independents get out there and get bigger! If you would like to mention any sustainable brands that you know and love, please give them a shout out in the message box below and I may even feature them in a future article.
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