Not too long ago, I looked around my living room and realized that 90% or more of the items in my home are going to end up in a landfill for hundreds of years. The thought instantly depressed me. The endless plastic toys, the television, and the stuffed animals are not only made of materials that off-gas and can be dangerous to my children's health, but they are harmful to the earth's health too. I want this planet to be habitable for my grandchildren.
We can't choose the gifts that other people give our children (although we can try), but we can choose what we buy for our children. Recyclable and biodegradable toys are hitting the marketplace right alongside biodegradable eating utensils, and making the switch from BPA, PVC, and phthalates-filled plastics, to more sustainable and safe toys for our children may be easier than you think.
Green Toys
Green Toys offers everything from blocks to toy cookware to race cars all made from recycled milk jugs. The toys are American-made, recyclable, and most importantly, safe for your children.
Zoe B Beach Toys
Zoe B Beach Toys makes a 5-piece set of toys for the beach that is biodegradable. The bucket, sifter, shovel and cups are made in the USA from MirelTM bioplastic. They don't contains BPA, phthalates, or PVC. They completely biodegrade in 2-3 years instead of the 500 years it takes for the usual petroleum-based plastic.
Calafant Eco Toys
Calafant Eco Toys are all made from cardboard. Admit it; your kid loves the box more than the toy that came in it. Skip the plastic toy, and let them play with cardboard. There are castles, robots, cars, and more to choose from.
Many of these toys are more expensive than their petroleum-based plastic counterparts. It might seem, at first, that they will be tough on your wallet. Rather than buying your kids a ton of cheap toxic toys, just get them one or two eco-friendly toys at a time. More eco-friendly toys will be on their way soon, but in the meantime, you can learn what to eventually do with all of those plastic toys you have sitting around your house besides throwing them in the trash.
