A Sustainable Lifestyle Applies to Children’s Toys, Too!

Living a zero-waste, sustainable lifestyle is no longer an option—it’s become a necessity. Everyone should be doing their best to contribute as little as possible to the world’s waste and pollution problem. 

If you’re already using canvas grocery bags and eco-friendly cleaning products, and you’re eschewing single-use plastics, then that’s fantastic! But did you know that you could apply this to your children’s toys, too? 

Zero-Waste Toy Packaging

Practicing a sustainable lifestyle should apply to everything that you do and everything you purchase. One of the most important considerations is your household trash production—it’s no longer just about separating recyclables from food waste. Instead, you should limit your environmental footprint by doing everything you can to eliminate waste.

One of the critical elements to the zero-waste goal is buying sustainable toys, reusing packaging, and giving new life to old toys by giving them away. You should seek out toy companies and manufacturers that prioritize reducing waste in their products and processes.

Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Toys

Investing in sustainable, eco-friendly toys is a choice that many parents are now making. And it’s not just because plastic is harmful to the environment.

Cheap plastic and low-quality paints can be toxic to children. Small pieces can detach from toys, and a curious child can easily ingest them. Even toys that go through rigorous quality control can be dangerous—thousands of children are injured and get sick from everyday toys you can find in every home.

In contrast, environment-friendly and sustainable toys are much healthier, not just for the environment but for your child, too. Wood, organic wool, and natural rubber are common materials used for these types of toys. They can still give your child enjoyment and a varied sensory experience while keeping them safe and sound. 

When buying toys, be conscious about what materials are used to make them. Soft fabric toys should be made from organic cotton, hemp, or other eco-friendly materials instead of synthetic fabrics. Harmful substances can be used to dye toys in bright, primary colors. Think about durability, too. The longer a toy can last, the more sustainable it will be.  

Recycling Toys

Ethical toy production goes hand in hand with durability. High-quality, sustainable toys last much longer than anything made from cheap plastic. The best toys for your child should remain intact even through years of rigorous playtimes, and there’s no reason for you to throw them out once your child outgrows them. 

Plastic toys are difficult to recycle or reuse when they break, so you have no choice but to throw them away and further contribute to the Earth’s pollution problem. On the other hand, when your child stops playing with a toy made from sustainable, durable material, you should be able to donate it to charitable institutions or pass them down to younger members of your extended family.

Conclusion 

A sustainable lifestyle extends to every single part of your day-to-day from food, hygiene products, electronics, and yes, even to children’s toys. As much as possible, every step of the toy purchasing and playing process should focus on reducing trash production. Toy companies and manufacturers with ethical processes use sustainable packaging and build toys that should last for generations.

If you’re looking for beautiful, eco-friendly toys for children, OB Designs is the best choice for you. We create baby play gyms, wooden teethers, and other ethically made products that will stand the test of time. Our products are independently safety tested for children and meet EN71 and CPSIA toy safety standards and labeling. Check out our online store today!