What are the best eco-friendly toy manufacturers?
With sustainability at the forefront of many consumers’ minds, just how earth-friendly are toys? When researching eco-friendly toys, it is essential to look at what the toys are made from and how they are made. Many eco-friendly toy brands have sustainability missions beyond just their toys, including sustainable factories, living wages for workers, charitable missions, and more.
1 | Candylab Toys
Candylab Toys aim to make the best wooden toy vehicles on the market. Their toys have a vintage vibe to them and are beautiful. Founded in 2013 by architect Vlad Dragusin, he had always been passionate about design and creation. Candylab Toys aims to use sustainable materials that are biodegradable and renewable. Many of their products range from $10-$25 each.
Where to Shop:
2 | Tegu
Founded by two brothers, Will & Chris Haughey, Tegu believes that play, at its best, is free from rules, expectations, and scripted narratives. The brand has a fully independent toy factory outside Tegucigalpa, Honduras, to foster positive social impact and another office in Darien, Connecticut.
Tegu toy products are wooden blocks with magnetic features inside of them. They are designed to work together, and all their shapes and designs were created from their original “cube.” Tegu fosters children’s developmental milestones with fine motor skills, pattern recognition, balance, scale, imaginative play, and problem-solving.
Where to Shop:
3 | Fat Brain Toys
Fat Brain Toys is a family-owned company originally from Elkhorn, Nebraska. After their son, Adam Carson, couldn’t find Geomag toys online, the family decided to open up an online store. Adam’s dad was a web developer by trade and opened the online shop in 2002. From there, the online store was a massive success and now carries a selection of over 100 organic and green toys.
They even have a section of special education and developmental goals toys, which you can search by disability or milestones.
Where to Shop:
- Amazon
- Fat Brain Toys Online (largest selection by leaps and bounds)
- Target
- Walmart
4 | Tender Leaf Toys
Tender Leaf Toys creates an exciting world of imaginative wooden toys that are made to last with a lifetime of love. Their entire manufacturing process is completed in a family-run factory in Indonesia. Because of this, they are deeply committed to protecting Indonesia’s natural resources and only work with reclaimed rubberwood, a by-product of the latex industry. For every reclaimed tree it uses, they plant a new one.
Founded in the 1980s, Tender Leaf Toys sells beautiful wooden sets in different themes, such as dollhouses, kitchens, gardening, train sets, space, cars, and more.
Where to Shop:
5 | Plan Toys
Plan Toys focuses on sustainability and child development. All toys focus on child safety and age milestones during design and production, enhancing both physical and cognitive development.
Their business model focuses on sustainable materials, manufacturing, and mind. They use leftover sawdust to create a new material called PlanWood™ for their products. They were founded in 1981 by Vitool Viraponsavan when seven University friends came together with a shared mission of infusing the world with positivity.
Where to Shop:
6 | Green Toys
100% recycled toys and US-based manufacturing are Green Toys foundation. They were founded in 2007 and are made primarily from recycled milk jugs. They sell toy vehicles, bath & water play, outdoor, pretend play sets, and more. Every pound of recycled milk jugs used to create Green Toys products saves enough energy to power 3,000 AAA batteries, a TV for three weeks, or a laptop for one month.
Where to Shop:
7 | Hape
Hape was established in 1986 by Peter Handstein and has grown into a worldwide toy brand. They sell a variety of baby and kid toys that are fun and sustainable. They focus on high-quality products made of renewable natural resources that have a minimal environmental impact with recyclable packaging.
Where to Shop:
8 | Haba
Haba is a family business dedicated to child growth, development, and happiness. Some products include games, dolls, building blocks, STEM toys, and more. They focus on toys designed to last for years and keeping trash out of landfills.
For their facilities, Haba utilizes sustainable technology, including geothermal heat exchangers, solar power, and rainwater collection. The wood from their toys is sustainably sourced, and they take great pride in the materials used for their products.
Where to Shop:
8 | Janod
Janod Toys is a French brand that offers a range of colorful and original toys for children aged 0 to 12. The brand uses wood from responsibly-managed forests that preserve biodiversity, ecology, and renewable resources. They also combine other raw materials with wood to provide sensory experiences for babies and toddlers.
Where to Shop:
9 | Brio
Established in 1884, Brio has been a well-established toy brand for over 150 years. Their product lines feature toys for various ages that support fine and gross motor skills, with imaginative play and games to keep children entertained.
Where to Shop:
10 | Melissa & Doug (Melissa and Doug)
Melissa & Doug is committed to making timeless, sustainable toys for a thriving and inclusive world. They sell a variety of open-ended toys, like play sets, puzzles, games, and more. Their company is paperless whenever possible to reduce waste. They provide eco-volunteer days to plant trees and have moved employees to energy-efficient offices.
Where to Shop:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Bed Bath and Beyond
- JCPenney
- Kohls
- Macy’s
- Melissa and Doug website (ginormous selection)
- Target
- Walmart
What are eco-friendly toys made of?
Eco-friendly toys are made of biodegradable and sustainable materials that are natural to the earth. By producing toys made with sustainable materials, we are reducing the number of materials in the landfill.
Are eco-friendly toys sustainable? What is a sustainable toy?
Eco-friendly toys are a more sustainable option than conventionally plastic toys. 90% of toys sold in today’s market are made from plastic. Most forms of plastic are non-biodegradable, so they will likely end up in our landfills at some point. A toy can become sustainable by the consumer responsibly purchasing eco-friendly brands and recycling appropriately when done.
Don’t play around
Toys are at the heart of homes with children. Many toy brands have been around for decades and have an excellent reputation for building safe and quality toys. With sustainability at the forefront of many consumers’ minds, it is great to have several eco-friendly options. When purchasing toys for friends or family, there’s an overwhelming array of options. Finding an eco-friendly choice is an easy way to narrow down the list and find something that’s good for the planet and developing minds.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links wherein I may earn a commission from any purchase made.
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