Wooden tools for a sustainable future.

The cheapness and short life span of modern plastic toys is something that amazes the older generation. When a child is born these days, their grandparents found it very hard to come to terms with the range of plastic toys available.

Plastic toys have a large carbon foot print. They are often shipped a long way, are made from non-recyclable material, and are often made using cheap labour. In this modern age when we become much more aware of our carbon footprint and creating a sustainable future for our children, we need to consider the materials that our children’s toys are made from. First look to see if the toy is made from wood – this is an immediate tick in the box. Second, research a little further into the source of the wood. Rubber wood for example is used for some toys and is taken at the end of its lifecycle from replenishable forests.

Wooden toys are usually considerably more durable that plastic toys, which makes them considerably more environmentally friendly – in that one toys will last through several children’s childhoods with maybe just the occasional new paint work. Plastic toys on the other hand fade and get stress bends. When they break, they are usually unmendable, whereas wooden toys can usually be lovingly repaired with a touch of superglue.

If sustainability itself doesn’t win you round though, consider the other advantages. Primarily for a stressed parent, wooden toys are usually silent. If you compare the serenity of a wooden rocking horse to say a plastic, battery powered keyboard or a colourful, (and noisy) plastic trumpet , you can also factor in sustainability of your own sanity!

Clinching the deal though for the wooden toy versus plastic toy debate, is simple nostalgia. People enjoy giving a solid, traditional wooden toy, whether it is a train set or a puzzle.