With toy safety concerns continuing to make headlines—from recent research finding potentially toxic elements like barium, lead, chromium, and antimony at levels up to 15 times above legal limits in plastic toys—buying gifts for children requires more vigilance than ever. According to a 2024 Toy Association survey, 45% of parents under 40 now consider a toy’s sustainability credentials before purchasing.

To help simplify your shopping, we’ve researched environmentally responsible toy brands that make products you can confidently keep in your home and give as gifts this holiday season. These companies prioritize sustainable materials, safe manufacturing processes, and products built to last.

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A pioneer in sustainable toy manufacturing, PlanToys turns depleted rubberwood trees from Thailand’s latex industry into toys. By using preservative-free wood, non-formaldehyde glues, water-based dyes, and recyclable packaging, the company has achieved several sustainability milestones. It is actively working to achieve carbon neutrality this year, having planted 34,000 trees through its reforestation program since 2004.

PlanToys sources 75% of materials from within a 30 km radius of their factory in Trang, Thailand, significantly reducing transportation-related carbon emissions. The company’s PlanWood material, which is made from excess sawdust, is part of its zero-waste commitment. Top picks include their iconic Dancing Alligator, Victorian Dollhouse, and developmental toys designed in collaboration with child specialists.

Why we love them: All PlanToys exceed international safety standards, including ASTM (USA) and EN71 (Europe), and they utilize solar panels and biomass energy at their factory to reduce carbon emissions.

A definite favorite, Green Toys makes all of its products from 100% recycled plastic, primarily recycled milk cartons. The company has removed the equivalent of 54 million milk jugs from landfills to date by collecting, cleaning, and reprocessing this post-consumer plastic, which is then mixed with food-safe, mineral-based coloring.

Green Toys products are made in the USA and are free from BPA, phthalates, and PVC, with rigorous testing to ensure they meet the highest safety standards. Their ingenious packaging uses no twist ties or cellophane—just 100% recycled cardboard with soy-based inks. Top picks include the seaplane, dump trucks, tea set, and ferry boats.

Why we love them: Every milk jug toy you buy keeps plastic out of landfills and supports American manufacturing with minimal transportation emissions.

Lovevery is a Certified B Corp that creates Montessori-inspired play kits designed by child development experts. The company aims to source90% of the materials used in products and packaging from renewable, biobased, or recycled materials by 2025, and to achieve net-zero carbon across its supply chain by 2030.

Lovevery products are made with sustainably sourced FSC-certified wood, organic cotton, recycled paper, soy-based ink, and water-based paints, and the company purchases carbon offsets for all customer shipments. Their Play Gym and subscription-based Play Kits provide stage-appropriate toys that grow with your child from newborn through preschool years.

Why we love them: Each Play Kit is expertly curated for specific developmental stages, taking the guesswork out of choosing age-appropriate, educational toys.

Founded in Germany with 40 subsidiaries worldwide, Hape Toys is a member of the Forest Stewardship Council and makes products from sustainable sources, including bamboo and wood, and uses nontoxic, water-based paints and finishes. The company operates its own bamboo toy factory in Southeast China, maintains 16 acres of bamboo forest on-site, and has purchased 413 acres of bamboo forest as a sustainable material source.

Hape is ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certified, demonstrating a commitment to quality, environmental management, and occupational health and safety. Their extensive range includes wooden food sets, musical instruments, puzzles, dollhouses, and ride-on toys.

Why we love them: Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing renewable resources, and Hape’s direct management of their bamboo forests ensures sustainable harvesting practices.

Brothers Chris and Will Haughey created Tegu to build a sustainable, for-profit business in Honduras that would have a positive social impact. The result? Innovative magnetic wooden blocks that captivate children worldwide. Tegu pays Honduran workers a living wage, focuses on long-term career growth, works with cooperatives to sustainably select trees, and colors blocks using nontoxic water-based dyes.

The magnets hidden inside each building block create endless building possibilities, and all Tegu sets work together, making them truly intergenerational toys to be passed down and expanded over time.

Why we love them: Tegu blocks are solid wood coated with water-based paints; they don’t emit odors, and hold up well after years of play.

This German company is more than 70 years old and employs over 1,400 people. HABA produces most of its wooden toys in Germany, using nontoxic, water-based paints free of solvents and timber from sustainable forests in Germany, Finland, and Russia.

All their products are formaldehyde- and lead-free. Top picks include their Animal Upon Animal stacking game and other animal games, wooden play food sets, and beautifully designed dollhouses.

Why we love them: HABA’s 70+ year history demonstrates their commitment to quality and safety, with rigorous testing that goes beyond minimum requirements.

Gimme the Good Stuff celebrated Tender Leaf Toys, which are made of rubberwood and painted with water-based paints. Manufactured in Indonesia, Tender Leaf has achieved the ICTI Ethical Toy Program seal of approval for its ethical and sustainable supply chain, using handcrafted toys made from reclaimed rubberwood and nearly plastic-free packaging.

Their toys include charming dollhouses, wooden vehicles, pretend play sets, and educational toys that deliver quality craftsmanship and timeless design.

Why we love them: Tender Leaf exemplifies the zero-waste approach by transforming waste materials and reclaimed rubberwood into captivating playthings.

Begin Again emphasizes sustainable materials across all its toys while focusing on well-balanced play, in which children switch between various roles, including artist, writer, inventor, sportster, and hero. Their toys are designed to enhance different types of play with sustainably made products.

Their Tinker Totter sets, wooden puzzles, and building toys encourage creativity while using environmentally responsible materials and packaging.

Why we love them: Begin Again’s philosophy recognizes that children need diverse play experiences to develop fully, and they design their sustainable toys accordingly.

While most brands on this list make a variety of toys, Wishbone focuses on bicycles, tricycles, and ride-on toys made from sustainably harvested wood using nontoxic glues. The company’s sustainability initiatives range from plastic-free packaging to in-office composting programs.

Their signature 3-in-1 bike adapts as children grow, transforming from a rocking horse to a tricycle to a balance bike, embodying the principle that products should be designed to last as children grow.

Why we love them: One Wishbone bike serves three purposes over several years, dramatically reducing the need for multiple purchases and minimizing waste.

If you have little artists in your home, they are bound to love Eco-Kids products. Launched in 2008 by husband-and-wife team Cammie and Kip, along with their three children, Eco-Kids works with various U.S. manufacturers to create art supplies that are safe for kids. Top picks include their eco-dough, finger paints, and natural crayons.

Why we love them: Art supplies end up on hands, in mouths, and everywhere else. Eco-Kids ensures these materials are as safe as they are fun.

11. DIY Toys

This isn’t a brand, but for the crafty among you, making your own sustainable toys is wonderfully rewarding. A jumbo cardboard box can become hours of entertainment as a playhouse, and platforms like Pinterest offer countless DIY toy ideas. For those with woodworking skills, plans for wooden toys are readily available online, complete with instructions for safe, nontoxic finishes.

DIY toys offer unique benefits: zero packaging waste, customization to your child’s interests, and the opportunity to model creativity and resourcefulness.

Understanding Toy Safety: What to Avoid

Recent research underscores why informed toy choices matter for health and environmental reasons. A 2007 study by the Ecology Center and Washington Toxics Coalition that tested 1,200 toys found that nearly 50% were made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a plastic that can contain toxic additives such as phthalates.

A 2025 UC Davis study found that preschoolers are exposed to a broad range of potentially harmful chemicals through everyday activities, with two phthalates, bisphenol S (a BPA replacement), and pesticide biomarkers detected at concerning levels. Emerging research links microplastic exposure, which can come from plastic toys that are handled and mouthed daily, to inflammation and oxidative stress.

When shopping for toys, look for products that are:

• BPA-free and phthalate-free: These endocrine-disrupting chemicals can leach from plastics
• PVC-free: Polyvinyl chloride often contains harmful additives
• Made from natural materials: Wood, organic cotton, natural rubber
• Third-party certified: Search for FSC certification for wood, GOTS certification for organic cotton, or toy safety certifications like ASTM and EN71
• Free from formaldehyde: Avoiding this common chemical is especially important when shopping for plywood and manufactured wood products

The Future of Sustainable Toys

The toy industry is experiencing a green transformation. According to the Sustainable Toys Report from Sustainable Toys Action Consulting (STAC), 86% of the global toy industry’s leaders now acknowledge the importance of sustainability, with 90% identifying it as a top priority in 2024.

Even major manufacturers are changing: Mattel aims to use 100% recycled or bio-based plastic in its products by 2030, with Barbie collections made from recycled ocean-bound plastic, while Lego has switched to packaging its bricks in tree-based recycled paper pouches.

By choosing healthy, environmentally responsible toys, you’re supporting companies working toward a more sustainable future and teaching children that our choices matter.

Editor’s Note: Originally published on December 5, 2017, this article was most recently updated in November 2025.