As I’ve researched this post, and the plastic used by the company, Green Toys, I came across a lot of negative press on plastics. It seems among purists there is a belief that all plastics are 100% unsafe. However, the more I’ve researched, the less I’ve seen that would validate this sentiment. I’ve come to the conclusion that while it may not be politically correct in some circles to promote plastic toys as safe, that there is no reason to believe that Green Toys’ plastic toys are any less safe than Haba. They may, in reality, be safer. But I’ll save that for another post.
Moving On…
This post is about Green Toys, our experiences, our research, and our belief that they manufacture safer toys for kids.
We bought our first Green Toy as soon as Amazon posted they’d be carrying it. The Green Toys Tea Set.
We eagerly awaited its arrival as the release date was pushed up another month and then another. It turns out is was worth the wait! Green Toys quickly became a family favorite. We now own the tool set, and both my girls are vying for the dump truck and recycling truck.
So What Makes Green Toys a Safer Company?
- Green Toys uses High-Density Polyethylene or HDPE, plastic symbol #2, a durable milky or opaque plastic, commonly found in milk and water jugs. Green toys primarily uses recycled milk jugs for the manufacture of their plastics. HDPE is generally accepted as a safer plastic, though opinions vary on how safe. I did find a number of sites where in the comments section where identical passages have been posted by the same poster stating that “…almost all plastics sold today, including some of the “safer” plastics– polyethylene (HDPE or LDPE), polypropylene and PET… plastics advertised as BPA-free or phthalate-free are not Estrogen Activity-free…still leach chemicals having EA – and often have more total EA than plastics that release BPA or phthalates.” I can’t find other opinions to verify this, however, and I find it notable that this information was posted by the founder and CEO of two alternative plastics companies.
- Green Toys products are tested by nationally recognized, independent, third-party labs (located, yes, in the USA.) They contain no traceable amounts of phthalates or BPA. They are also designed without any external coatings, eliminating the fear of lead paint.
- Green Toys are certified by the following
–Consumer Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)
–Consumer Products Safety Standard Specification, ASTM F963
–California Prop. 65 restrictions on lead & cadmium
–FDA regulations for food contact
–Voluntary testing for no BPA (Bisphenol-A)
–International standards EN71 and ISO 8124
Of course, as with all plastics, it’s smart to be mindful of things which speed up the degradation of these materials, like excessive exposure to sunlight, exposure to strong chemicals and consistent high temperatures. So, don’t leave them outside, don’t boil them and don’t close them up in a hot car, or soak them in a strong chlorine solution. Duh.
Bottom Line…
Green Toys make great, fun, simple toys. The plastics they are made of are rigid, sturdy, and pleasant to the touch – they don’t feel cheap. I can imagine these toys holding up for many years to come, no matter how roughly they are played with. There’s no surface paint to be gnawed off and ingested, no BPA, no phthalates.
HDPE itself seems like a relatively safer plastic, and one that – to a great extent – is already a part of our lives. Despite the fact that it is recyclable, it often is not. And because it does not degrade quickly, it is an environmental issue once it reaches landfills.
I can’t imagine a better idea than recycling this plastic – an effort in preserving our Earth for future generations – and manufacturing it into useful, exciting toys for kids – the things that will help better the current generation.
So, my hat’s off to Green Toys. I think they’re a fantastic company. In fact, I’ve had to contact them for a missing part in our tool set, and they very kindly, and quickly responded with an offer to ship the missing part, so they’ve got good customer service too. I guess they prove that if you’re looking for a safer toy from a better company, it may just be closer than you think.
