Our house is full of toys. They’re made of all kinds of things, but the majority of them are made of plastic. Sure, it would be much better to buy a toy made of wood, or organic cotton, or metal. But the materials the toys are made of aren’t the only thing that makes them no fun for the environment.
Just as you might choose fruits and vegetables that don’t have to travel far to get to you, the same goes for toys. Toys made in China and other far-away locations leave a big carbon footprint because of the energy it takes to get them here. So consider buying local when it comes to toys, too.
Also, consider how long a life the toy will have, both in terms of how long it will interest your child, and its durability. We’ve bought tons of “sale-priced” toys, only to have them fall apart in the first day or two. That’s no fun for anyone.
Take a look at the packaging. Try to choose toys that have less packaging, or recyclable packaging. Nowadays, there’s more packaging with a toy than…well, toy. Much of this has to do with how far the toy must be shipped, so that the contents don’t shift, so toys that are over-packaged have probably had to travel quite a distance.
Many local stores now sell earth-conscious toys. Try Learning Express, the Discovery Store, and Zany Brainy. Here are some online sites that offer eco-friendly toys and games:
Gigglefish.com
Thinkbutton.com
Planethappytoys.com
Pristineplanet.com
Those are just a very few of the sites I found.
Or give toys a second life by shopping at second-hand stores, flea markets, yard sales, etc. Try a “re-gifting” birthday party, where kids bring a toy in good condition that they no longer play with. (Okay, so maybe that’s pushing it.) But with a little research, you can find ways to make playtime lots more fun for Mother Earth.
Tip for Day 23 – Choose durable, earth-friendly toys that are made locally and have less packaging.
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