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Sustainable, ethical toys have been getting a lot of press lately – as they absolutely should! Modern living needs to be more ethical and eco friendly if we’re to protect the earth for our ancestors. The only trouble is, if you haven’t seen any ethical toys, your imagination might not do them any justice.
When I speak to my friends about making an effort to go for more sustainable toys, it’s clear that words like ‘ethical’ and ‘sustainable’ can conjure images of beige lumps of wood, rather than the colourful, exciting toys we see today.
I think the ethical toy market has come on leaps and bounds (even in the years between having my eldest who is 13 and my youngest who is just two). So many more toys can pass the checks to call themselves vegan, and beautiful plastic-free toys can bring hours of fun without leaving their mark on the planet.
Reasons to Choose Ethical Toys for Your Little Ones
With so many options for toys available, I’ve put together a list of why you should make the effort to choose ethical toys for your little ones.
The meaning of ethical toys
Ethical toys encompass a few wonderful traits to look out for. They are generally made with minimal impact to the environment, and are likely to be both vegan and plastic-free. This means you can buy toys for your kids and enjoy a clean conscience. Shops like Luna & Cash pride themselves on stocking a great range of ethical and sustainable toys, clothing and homeware.
Modern ethical toys are beautiful
If you’re keen on the aesthetics of your toy room, it’s likely you’ll have noticed just how beautiful ethical toys can be. From the whole range of Grimms wooden toys (with their rainbow gaining the most fame), to the Maileg Mouse collection, almost every ethical toy you can think of is incredibly photogenic. This makes for some very pleasing photos on Christmas morning, when your cute little one is playing with their ethical gifts from Santa.
Sustainable toys can be handed down to younger siblings
Because sustainable toys often avoid using perishable plastics, they tend to be made of more durable materials (such as wood). This in turn means the lifespan of that toy is much longer, meaning you’ll get much more play value for your money compared to plastic counterparts. The great thing about buying sustainable toys is that they can be passed down to younger siblings, friends and cousins. By passing down toys to younger children instead of buying new toys for each, reduces your carbon footprint by sending less to landfill (compared to buying toys with a shorter lifespan).
Creative toys encourage creative play
Most ethical toys will offer much more than a long shelf life and a pretty aesthetic. A lot of them will have been created with creativity in mind. Toys such as Grimms wooden building sets allow your child to get creative and build whatever their imagination dictates – from a colourful city to interesting mandala designs. These kinds of toys grow with your children, as they become more advanced, so do their creations.