The Best Sustainable Toys

May 4, 2022

What is a sustainable toy?

A Sustainable toy is made of biodegradable natural materials such as renewable wood, cotton, bamboo, or wool. A sustainable toy has been manufactured in a nonpolluting way. A way without releasing carbon, greenhouse gases, or chemical toxins. These can be released into the waterways and the environment.

Even though a toy is wooden, it still can be produced in such a way that is harmful. It can be harmful to the environment, its workers, and the community around the production of it. For example, wooden toys made in 3rd party factories using various branding are susceptible to these nonsustainable practices. There are varying degrees of “sustainability” with toys and the manufacturing process. Also, many toy companies are light years ahead in sustainability. Fewer have better eco-friendly production than other companies. Some wooden toy companies are newer on their sustainability journey. Many are working toward better eco-friendly practices.

Why Sustainable Toys Make A Difference ?

In a world increasingly suffering from the devastating consequences of environmental destruction caused by human activity, sustainability and looking after the natural world is essential if we wish to provide the generations to come with a healthy, green, and peaceful future. Sustainable or non-sustainable choices are made by all of us every day, both manufacturers and consumers alike, across all industries, including the toy industry.

The global toy industry is vast, millions of toys are produced each year and sold throughout the world to support the demands of a growing population – the choices made by adults when purchasing toys for children indirectly have huge impact on support for initiatives towards conservation and sustainability. As with any type of industry, supply only exists where there is demand – unsustainable manufacturing of toys will continue to thrive as long as consumers buy such products. This makes it paramount for toy consumers to make educated choices, fully understand where the products have come from and what was involved in the manufacturing process. Whilst a lower price tag may be tempting, it is often an indicator that the product was produced in an unstainable manner, detrimental to the environment as well as local communities.

The toys we choose for our children are important – play is an essential part of child development and a natural impulse in all children, regardless of their ethnic or social background. Children should always be given the time and space to play properly, both alone and with other children and what they are play with, makes a difference not only to their development, but also to the planet.

What makes a Toy Sustainable?

Sometimes defining something can be tricky. Moreover, I decided to develop a review matrix to effectively review toys. The “Baby Penguin Meter” rates a toy in 5 categories. Sustainability, Playability, Durability, Longevity, and Versatility. Additionally, each category has three subcategories. Each subcategory is individually rated on a scale of 1 to 5. (5 being the best). In this article, I am explaining the first category, sustainability.

Making Ethical Choices

Awareness of how to buy sustainable wood is growing due to widespread campaigning against illegal logging and deforestation, and although all wooden products benefit from being potentially recyclable and biodegradable, it still very much up to the consumer to check if the wooden product is from a certified sustainable source or not.

It can be difficult at times for consumers to try and decipher if the product they are buying has been ethically and sustainably produced, however, the number of organisations seeking to make more ethical choices and ensure that their products are sustainable, is growing. In most cases, such companies are keen to inform their consumers of this and typically display a greater level of transparency, clearly labelling all the materials used – the type of certified wood used and its origins. Non-toxic paints and glues are also likely to be be listed, as well as any additional information regarding ethical policies on supporting local economies and eco-systems.