Toy Brands
We carry a handpicked selection of toy brands, chosen because of their sustainable practices, materials and design quality. We focus on toys that are designed with children's development in mind.
Plan Toys is one of our favorite toy manufacturers. Their commitment to sustainability is outstanding and their toys are beautiful, safe and educational. Based in Trang, in the south of Thailand, Plan Toys was founded in 1981. They mainly focus on reclaimed rubber wood toys that enhance child development, especially during the first five formative years.
Around 70% of the materials used to produce their toys are taken from a 19 miles radius from their manufacturing plant in Trang, Thailand, providing income to their local community and reducing their carbon footprint.
Country of origin: Sustainably made in Thailand
Materials: clean, natural rubberwood from rubber trees that no longer produce latex. To keep the rubberwood pure, no fertilizer is added to the soil for three years before the trees are cut. To strengthen the wood, PlanToys® uses a special chemical-free, kiln-drying process. Organic pigments, E-Zero glue & water-based dyes.
Safety: All PlanToys products exceed international safety standards including both ASTM (USA) and EN71 (Europe)
Sustainability highlights
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Sustainable materials - see above.
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Reforestation program in place - thousands of trees are planted every year.
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Eco-friendly packaging: plastic-free, plant-based inks.
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Their factory is partially powered by renewable energy (solar, biomass and biogas).
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Provides a safe and healthy work environment for their diverse workforce, as confirmed by their OHSAS 18001 certification. They are also SA 8000 certified, providing full and equal opportunities to all employees.
Tender Leaf is a Company based in England that designs quality, sustainable wooden toys for inspiring children's imagination & creativity. From raw wood to finished product, all of their wonderful toys are made at the same family-run factory in Indonesia, Mentari International.
Country of origin: Sustainably made in Indonesia
Materials: Reclaimed rubberwood, a by-product of the latex industry. Water-based nontoxic paints
Safety: All Tender Leaf Toys meet the European, American, Australian and New Zealand toy safety standards according to EN71, ASTM and AS/NZS ISO.
Sustainability highlights
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For every reclaimed tree used, they plant a new one.
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Recycled cardboard packaging. Some boxes still have a clear plastic window for display purposes, but Tender Leaf is working towards eliminating single-use plastic in all their packaging.
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Their entire manufacturing process - drying of the wood, cutting, and painting is all undertaken at a single family-run factory all at the same location, reducing the carbon footprint.
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Their factory operates with high standards of training, wellbeing and respect and provides dependable employment for hundreds of local villagers.
Haba is a reputable German toy manufacturing company owned by the Habermaass family for more than 80 years. They are best known for their high-quality baby and children's toys, as well as children's games and block sets.
HABA takes environmental protection very seriously in all aspects of its business. They are constantly upgrading their production processes and ascertaining, evaluating and minimizing the use of raw materials, emissions and waste volumes on an ongoing basis.
Country of origin: Most of their wooden toys for babies are made in Germany. Their dolls and a number of other toys are made in China under direct supervision of HABA Germany personnel to ensure the highest quality standards and working conditions.
Materials: Beech and birch wood, plywood, BPA free plastic, solvent-free paints, water-based stains, cardboard, polyester, blended cotton fabrics, soft suede and plush, corduroy, velvet, felt and mesh.
Safety: All Haba Toys products exceed international safety standards including both ASTM (USA) and EN71 (Europe)
Sarah's silks is a small family business, based in Sebastopol, California.
Drawing from the philosophies of Waldorf education and her own childhood of imaginative play, Sarah has been designing Playsilks and other natural, eco-friendly wooden and silk toys for over 25 years.
The silk fabric used to make their wonderful PlaySilks is Habotai, a biodegradable ancient product from China. Silk caterpillars eat mulberry leaves so farms have to grow a large number of trees to produce silk, and the caterpillars are fed by hand on family farms. No pesticides or chemicals can be used as the caterpillars and moths are sensitive, which means that the finished product is 100% natural.
Silk making is an ancient tradition that is indigenous to China, and is still an important and celebrated process in Chinese culture today. Sarah's silks team has had the pleasure of visiting the facilities where their silks are made, meeting the skilled people who hand dye and hem their products in the village of Souzhou. Over the past twenty-five years they have cultivated positive working relationships with silk manufacturers in China, and continue to feel positively about working with them and are confident that the individuals producing their products are being paid a fair and competitive wage.
Country of origin: Made in China. Hand dyed and hemmed in the village of Souzhou
Materials: 100% natural silk colored with Jaquard acid dyes and white vinegar
Safety: Sarah's silks have all passed safety testing for children of all ages
Born from Petit Ami, a family business specialized in heirloom-quality garments, this company was launched in 2007 with a small line of 10 Zubels. Today, they have grown to over 150 different animals and characters.
Zubels is a (micro - cottage) small-medium enterprise. These types of companies make up the majority of Philippine businesses. In the cottage industry, they focus on incorporating communities, especially women, the elderly, and those socially marginalized.
Country of origin: Handcrafted in the Philippines by local artisans.
Materials: 100% Cotton (some organic) made with eco-friendly low-impact dyes.
Safety: All Zubels toys have been tested and graded safe for ages 0+ or "all ages".