Our 5 Favourite Sustainable Toy Brands
Despite my best efforts, one area that always seems to be accumulating more plastic is Clem’s toy box. To a certain extent, plastic makes sense for toys - it’s durable, brightly coloured and wipe-clean, but what doesn’t make sense is the sheer number of toys we manage to amass. What’s more, many toys come wrapped in plastic, and a poll by the British Heart Foundation found that more than a quarter of parents admit to throwing away toys that are in perfect working order. One of the easiest ways to reduce waste in this area is to buy less, and to recycle or give away unwanted toys when we can.
Another way to cut out waste is to invest in high quality, sustainable toys that will last like plastic toys but without causing the environmental footprint. At Christmas, I know lots of us want to buy things for our kids, so why not do it in the best way you can! Here are 5 of my favourite sustainable toy brands, and if you stay until the end there are two bonus tips for adding to your toy box without the waste!
1. Plan Toys
Plan Toys is a super popular brand that’s been around for decades. Their ethos as a company is built around sustainability, from the materials they use (reclaimed rubber wood, organic colour pigment and recycled paper for packaging, to name a few) through to manufacturing (run on solar energy) and into community projects.
Their toys are designed with child development in mind, and include small sensory toys right up to educational toys for older children. I love that their vision for sustainability even extends into the design of their toys, like their wonky fruit and veg set which teaches kids that produce doesn’t always look perfect!
Top picks
Cactus balancing game
Wonky fruit and veg
2. Raduga Grez
This lovely Russian brand is all about creating toys as art, and these really are some of the most beautiful toys out there! Raduga Grez are all about slow living and minimalism, as reflected in their choice of materials (solid wood and non-toxic water-based paint) and the fact that all toys are handmade. What’s more, there is no plastic in sight when you open their toys - all are packaged in cartons or canvas bags.
Aside from aesthetics, these toys also deliver on opportunities for child learning. There are stacking toys, blocks for open-ended fun, and pretend play sets, making the perfect addition to your play room.
Top picks
Gnomes
Tea set in terracotta and blue
3. Le Toy Van
Le Toy Van is another company that’s gained a huge amount of popularity among parents. They have amazing ambitions to become zero-waste, and have already taken some major steps towards this goal. Like Plan Toys, their main material is reclaimed rubber wood, which would usually go to waste after the rubber is extracted. What’s more, for every tree that they turn into a toy one more tree is planted, making this a truly sustainable source.
This company has one of the widest ranges of any sustainable company, covering a huge variety of different types of play. Their pretend play toys are particularly wonderful, including fun options like stand mixers and popcorn machines,
Top picks
olli ella focus on craftsmanship and ethical production
4. Olli Ella
This gorgeous brand was started by two London sisters with a focus on craftsmanship and ethical production, They use natural materials, sourced sustainably, across their range of toys and home wear. Olli Ella toys are the sort that you will want to keep to pass on to future generations. While small, their range is crafted to be beautiful and simple, focussing on dolls and pretend play.
On top of this, Olli Ella make some of the most beautiful nursery decor. My particular favourites are their changing baskets, which are a huge improvement on the popular style of plastic changing mat.
Top picks
Dinkum Dolls
Reva Changing Basket
5. Tegu
There’s a reason that building blocks are one of the most timeless toys out there - their potential to unleash creativity, stimulate independent play and last for years and years means that parents have returned to them for generations. And this is exactly what Tegu taps into with their magnetic blocks. Made from wood sourced sustainably, these versatile blocks have tiny magnets hidden inside to allow endless opportunities for play.
Aside from their green credentials, Tegu’s choice to run an independent factory in Honduras is having a positive social impact in a region in need of high employment standards.
Top picks
Other sustainable ways to shop for toys
Of course, aside from shopping for new toys sustainably, there are a number of other ways to add to your toy collection. Here are just two options:
1. Toy borrowing (AND A SPECIAL DISCOUNT!)
Lots of local communities will have a toy library or similar sharing service, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for what’s available in your area. If there’s nothing available near you, you could try an online service like Whirli, where you can borrow a range of toys each month. (There’s a lovely review of it here).
I particularly love that you can choose toys based on your child’s changing interests (like Clem’s obsession with planes) or on their developmental needs. Plus you’re tapping into the huge benefits of toy rotation, without having a huge stash of toys sitting in storage.
And if you’d like to try Whirli you can get £5 or 15% off (whichever is greater) using the discount code QMQ4OP1W.
Finally, why not ask a friend if you can swap some toys with them? Your kids will love the novelty, you don’t increase the number of toys in your house, and it’s completely free!
2. Buying secondhand
No post on sustainability should go without a word on buying secondhand! Seriously though, this is always going to be one of the most sustainable ways to buy. Not only are you saving a toy from landfill, you’re avoiding the destruction of natural resources (even if done sustainably!) and often saving yourself a bit of cash too. Before you buy new, check out your local charity shop, eBay or Facebook marketplace.
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