| Many parents today have a lot of concerns about | | | | contributors to greenhouse gasses. By making |
| the toys they give their children. With all the | | | | toys in California a lot less fuel is used in the |
| concerns and publicity about global warming and | | | | transportation of the toys before they get to |
| importance of conserving energy, socially | | | | shelves in your local store. Every step in the |
| conscience parents also want to buys toys that | | | | process, from milk container recycling to toy |
| don't have a negative impact on the environment. | | | | production to final assembly, occurs in California. |
| Finding Green Toys does not have to be an | | | | This way the raw materials and toys are not |
| impossible task. We have done some research | | | | shipped from overseas. This saves a lot of |
| and found two companies that deserve a lot of | | | | energy and thus reduces greenhouse gasses. |
| credit in their efforts by creating environmentally | | | | Parents can feel good about buying products |
| friendly toys. Green Toys and Play toys have | | | | made by Green Toys. These American made |
| both taken going Green to a new level. | | | | toys are non-toxic, save energy, reduce landfill |
| The best example of a Green Toys company is | | | | waste and lower greenhouse gas emissions. |
| aptly names Green Toys. This new company has | | | | Although few companies have gone Green as well |
| combined all aspects that parents look for when | | | | as the Green Toys company we highly |
| trying to find safe toys for their kids. The line | | | | recommend the products made by Plan Toys. |
| currently only has 4 products but they are all | | | | This fantastic Thailand based toy company has |
| winners. Their current collection includes a Sand | | | | initiated a Green Concept as part of its overall |
| Play Set, Cookware and Dining Set, Indoor | | | | Mission Statement. Their efforts start with |
| Gardening Kit, and the soon to be released Tea | | | | environmentally friendly materials. PlanToys® |
| Set. These toys are manufactured, assembled | | | | makes their educational toys and products from |
| and tested in the USA so parents don't need to | | | | clean, natural rubberwood. Rubber trees are used |
| worry about any potential risks associated with | | | | to create latex but once they can no longer be |
| Chinese factories. Green Toys makes sure that | | | | used for this purpose they are often cut for |
| their products contain no phthalates, BPA or lead, | | | | wood to make toys and furniture. Plan No |
| and that they meet FDA requirements for food | | | | fertilizer is added so that the wood stays chemical |
| contact. | | | | free. Moreover, to stabilize the wood, |
| Green Toys makes all their products from | | | | PlanToys® uses a time consuming |
| curbside collected plastic milk. These plastic | | | | chemical-free kiln drying process. |
| containers are collected at your curb by a local | | | | Many problems have been found in the glue and |
| recycling company, who then sorts them from all | | | | paints used in children's toys. To circumvent this |
| the other types of plastic. The milk containers are | | | | problem Play Toys assembles their products by |
| then reprocessed into super clean fresh plastic | | | | using a proprietary non-formaldehyde glue instead |
| called high-density polyethylene (or HDPE). This | | | | of the traditional toxic wood glue. This proprietary |
| material is considered one of the safest, cleanest | | | | glue is E-Zero which means it contains no |
| plastics around. | | | | Formaldehyde emission. They also use non-toxic, |
| The environmental mission of Green Toys also | | | | water based dyes to add accent colors to |
| extends to their packaging. They strive to | | | | products instead of paint. This color contains no |
| minimize packaging so all their boxes use as little | | | | heavy metal elements such as lead or mercury. |
| material as possible. Green Toys only uses | | | | In addition to keeping with their green concept |
| recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, | | | | PlanToys® uses recycled and recyclable |
| cellophane or twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable. | | | | material to minimize their impact on the |
| Green toys tries to take every precaution to | | | | environment. They also use soy ink & water |
| make sure that their products and packaging | | | | based ink on printed materials. This ink |
| won't end up adding to land fills. | | | | decomposes faster than regular chemical ink and |
| Many parents today are looking for toys made in | | | | can be recycled more efficiently. PlanToys® |
| the USA and Green Toys is happy to oblige. | | | | integrates alternative energy, e.g. solar cell and |
| Making toys in California has a lot of other added | | | | biomass or wood scrap which can be used to |
| bonuses for parents and the environment. | | | | generate energy for machinery that kiln- dry the |
| California is a state known for strict toy safety | | | | wood and the paint. Every effort is made |
| and environmental laws. This makes the toys that | | | | throughout the manufacturing process to make |
| much safer for your children. Another added | | | | their toys safe for kids and the environment. |
| bonus is that transportation is one of the biggest | | | | |