Earth Friendly Toys

Non-toxic, Sustainable Materials

Plastic is very toxic. It is made with a lot of chemical processes and it does not ever break down. It may break but the pieces of it will be littering the local dump long after Junior has had his third grandchild. Look for natural, sustainable materials like:

• Bamboo
• Rubberwood
• Organic cotton
• Organic wool
• Hemp
• Wood from sustainable sources

It is important to also ask yourself the following questions about the toy you are about to buy:

• How far did it have to be transported to get to you? Transportation costs both in money and the quality of our air. The farther something must be transported the less earth friendly it is.
• Who made it? Was it made by children that work long hours in sweatshops for little or no money? Enslaved women? These things still do occur in our world and it is imperative that we not encourage the slavery and sweatshop practices in other countries by supporting them with our dollars. Look for the Fair Trade symbol.
• What is it made of? Can it easily break down into organic materials when its life as a toy is over?
• What does it need to operate? Batteries and electricity diminish the eco-friendliness of any toy.
• What kind of packaging does it have? The packaging should be minimal and biodegradable.
• What does it teach my child about ethics, society, and the earth? Remember the plastic Rock-em Sock-em Robots? The banged each other around until the little plastic heads popped off. Earth friendly toys promote social skills, ethics, and social responsibility.
• Who are you supporting? Supporting a small, family run business is preferable to supporting a large corporation.

Where to Find Earth Friendly Toys

• KidBean- This online shop carries vegan, ethically made and traded, and mostly American made products. There are games for all ages, dolls, trucks, and arts and crafts materials as well as a plethora of other items.
• Myriad Toys- A large selection of wooden toys with emphasis on creative play. These toys are compatible with the Waldorf learning methods. This is a European company.
• Green Toys –These toys are made in California of recycled plastic from milk cartons and other recyclable materials. The packaging is minimal, and recycled. This company sells through various retailers across the United States and supplies an interactive map to find one in your area.
• The Green Mercantile- The Green Mercantile carries all kinds of eco-friendly toys including soy based crayons, soft dough (an eco-friendly clay), and pull toys.
• Believe it or not Toys R Us has dome out with a line of earth friendly toys. This collection includes plush animals made form natural cotton, organic cotton dolls, and wooden toys. They are packaged in boxes that are made of 70% recycled materials. Everything is non-toxic, natural, and colored with water based dyes. There are no bleaches or synthetic materials involved in the making of these toys and the wooden toys are decorated by wood burning techniques and marked with a Forest Stewardship Council Logo. While this is a small step for this large corporation, it is a step in the right direction.

Homemade is Low Impact

Some of the lowest impact toys of all are homemade. There are many wonderful toys that have been played with by generations of children that are just as popular today. When you craft a toy for your child you know exactly what goes in it, it is designed especially for your child, and there is not a lot of transportation and packaging involved. Finding patterns and ideas is as close as your Web browser.

• Homemade Toys
• Backwoods Home Magazine
• Homemade Educational Toys
• Mother Earth News
• BabyZone

Hours of Fun

Eco-friendly toys are toys that work with your child’s developmental processes to encourage learning and creativity. Rather than merely being entertained he takes part in the process and quickly gains new abilities and skills. These types of toys are great for the earth, and great for your child.