Toys and games industry is worth $390 billion worldwide. 90% of all toys are made of plastic and may contain harmful toxins like phthalates and cadmium. According to a UNEP 2014 report, the toy industry is the most plastic intensive industry in the world. With global warming escalating, this particular statistic is more alarming than ever.
Parents tend to budge and get new Toys for kids frequently. But the earth has to pay the ultimate price of this incessant consumerism. Kids get bored with their toys quite easily; in fact, on average, a toy gets played with just six months on average. With 80 percent of the toys ending up in landfill and oceans, the toy industry has proven to be quite hazardous for the environment.
But, not all is lost. With the rise of sustainable practices and eco-friendly awareness, things are changing – even in the toy industry. Parents and kids now, more than ever, demand for more sustainable and eco-friendly options when it comes to children entertainment.
According to The Insights Family, a global leader in family market intelligence, parents and children worldwide are getting more environment-conscious and putting an active effort into buying sustainable products and eco-friendly toys.
What Are Eco-Friendly Toys?
Ideally, eco-friendly toys do not harm the environment in their production, utility or disposal. They benefit the environment and economy while also fulfilling their main purpose, which is children entertainment, playful learning and development.
Most eco-friendly toys may have the following key features:
- Recyclable
- Biodegradable
- Vegan
- Built-to-Last
Importance of Eco-Friendly Toys
With the toy industry being a top contributor to plastic pollution worldwide, the need for eco-friendly toys is more important than ever.
Importance to Environment : The sustainable quality of eco-friendly toys makes them extremely beneficial to the environment. Sustainability means they are built to last, and can be disposed in a manner that does not pollute the environment.
Importance to Corporations : Consumer demand is the ultimate factor that can push even the biggest corporations to change their ways. With the rising demand for eco-friendly toys and sustainable children entertainment options, an increase in the production of eco-friendly toys can also help the corporations gain the trust of their consumer base.
Best Eco-Friendly Toys for Eco-Friendly Kids
First ten years of a child’s life have a profound importance when it comes to their physical and mental development. Thus, children should be taught sustainable practices right from the start, so that they know the best ways to love and care for the earth when they grow up.
Every eco-friendly kid needs their own eco-friendly set of toys. Here are the best ecofriendly toys for your eco-friendly kid.
Eco Slime Baff Blue from Zimpli Kids
This one of a kind slime making kit is an all-in-one when it comes to an entertaining yet eco-friendly choice for your kids. Eco Slime turns water into colorful slime for your kids to enjoy. Not only is the powder 100% biodegradable; the box, bags and leaflet that comes with it are also completely 100% recyclable. Talk about an environment friendly treat!
Eco Slime is an ultimate safe plaything. It is skin-safe, devoid of any toxic materials, drain safe, and also stain free. We can use each box to play six times or a one-time bath use. All you need to do is add more water to dilute the slime and it’ll drain away easily.
Eco Slime aims to keep its carbon footprint to a minimum with its UK made products for UK based consumers. This product is ISO 9000 and ISO 14001 certified. This is the number one choice for eco-friendly kids who want to experience a sustainable play option. This does not hurt the earth.
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Pounding Bench
Featuring non-removable pegs made from high quality smooth wood, this eco-friendly and non-toxic Wooden Toy offers an incredible playful learning opportunity, perfect for 2 to 4 year old kids.
Deluxe Pounding Bench is a fun classic pounding toy that comes with a mallet and 8 non-removable pegs with animated smiley faces that play peekaboo when your little one hammers one of them.
Its wooden make not only makes it sturdy and ensures longevity, but also makes it a wonderful eco-friendly option, as wood is a completely organic material that poses no threat to the environment.
Deluxe Pounding Bench offers a hands-on productive play which engages all senses of the child in the most enlightening way and fosters critical thinking and playful curiosity.
Dantoy Bio-Toy Tractor
This eco-friendly tractor with a front loader will make your kid the star of the sand box. Dantoy Bio-Toy Tractor offers hours of engaging playful activities for your kid. What makes this toy better than the other similar vehicle toys is that it’s made from 100% recyclable bio-plastic. Bio-plastic is made from sugarcane. Hence it’s completely recyclable. So it gives all the green toy benefits along with the versatility and longevity of its plastic alternatives. This is one of the best eco friendly toys For your eco friendly kids
Sky is the limit with this toy as it offers hours of creative play to your kids. Whether your kids are into racing, farming or construction, this tractor proves to be handy in all sorts of play situations.
Green Toys Sand Play Set
This ready to play sand play set requires no assembly. It is made from 100% recycled milk jugs, making it a wonderful eco-friendly play option for your kid.
The play set includes a bucket with 100% cotton rope handle, sandcastle mold, a shovel and a rake. It’s completely non-toxic with no BPA, PVC or any other harmful chemical materials, providing a safe, and hassle-free play experience for your kids.
Watch your kids make grand cities and castles with this amazing play set. It’s an amazing option that motivates creative thinking and building skills of young children. Each item in the sand play set is designed specially to provide comfort to the kids.
Tidlo Wooden Rainbow Drum
The perfect musical toy for your little drummer, with an eco-twist! The rainbow drum comes with a drum and a mallet perfectly sized for little hands. This toy is made from high quality responsibly sourced wood.
There’s a cutout on the top surface of the drum to produce different sounds depending upon which part of the drum is hit, offering much more value than an ordinary drum.
Perfect for kids 1 year and above, Tidlo Wooden Rainbow Drum provides a fun musical activity for your kid. It also encourages creativity and imagination.
These were our top picks for the best eco-friendly toys for eco-friendly kids.
There are many other sustainable eco-conscious toys and toy brands that put an active effort into making the world a better place for our kids. With the increase in global warming, ocean pollution and toxic landfills, the only way forward is to purchase sustainable products and say no to compulsive buying. Instead of buying poor quality toys frequently which break and ultimately end up in landfills or polluting the ocean, parents should invest in built-to-last toys, or toys that are biodegradable so that they do not pose a threat to the environment when disposed.
Last but not the least, parents should inculcate eco-friendly practices into their kids from a young age so that they grow up to be a responsible and proud citizen of earth.
