You might be thinking, ‘Why does it matter to have sustainable toys?’ or even, ‘What are sustainable toys?’ Sustainable toys are those that keep waste out of landfill, out of the environment, and in circulation. They work under a circular economy model, meaning resources are used for as long as they can be, then repurposed or recycled into new products so they never go to waste.
Craft Your Toys From Waste
Creating toys from rubbish your centre or its families produce is not just a sustainable source of play equipment, it’s also a children’s activity in its own right. Find scraps in your storage rooms or ask parents to bring the necessary waste resources at drop off time. This method is a great way to recover your waste before it goes to landfill.
Some fun toy crafting activities to get you started
- Build and paint a cubby house using cardboard boxes
- Make sensory bags out of scrap fabric, yarn and paper
- Make papier mache sculptures using scrap paper
- Engineer cars and trains out of plastic jugs, bottles, and aluminium cans from your kitchen
Each of these craft activities can also be paired with a design phase where children brainstorm and draw their ideas before starting each craft.
Second-hand Toys
Every year in Australia alone, about 27 million toys are thrown away. Many are made of plastic and 99% are never recycled. The Joy of Giving run Toy Swaps and have memberships to ensure high quality toys are kept out of landfill and live on to delight more children rather than discarded.
At your centre, why not organise a mini toy swap with the families and children who attend every day. Shop at the opportunity and charity shops or seek out toys on free community sites.
Recyclable and Recycled Toys
Buying new toys, even if they’re recyclable, should be the last option you consider for choosing sustainable toys because they may still use raw materials or end up in the waste stream. Toys made of certain materials can be recycled at the end of their life, and you may find toys already made of recycled materials. Whether they are made of plastic, fabric, or wood, they can be recuperated to repurpose the resource. Make sure you use them for as long as possible and recycle them when they can’t be used anymore.
Only If You Need Them
You shouldn’t buy sustainable toys to replace the ones you already have, unless they can no longer be used or you need more. If that sounds like your situation, get crafty and creative with the toys you buy or make!