Summary: Sustainable toys provide countless benefits to both children and the planet yet, still, finding such toys can be difficult. What, exactly, makes a toy sustainable? Are wooden toys (ahem … Melissa & Doug) considered eco-friendly simply because they are made of wood?<br> These days, most toys are made of plastics; stuffed animals and dolls are also made of artificial (read: plastic) fibers. Through a complex chemical process, plastic toys are made from fossil fuels and eventually break into many small pieces, or microplastics, that pollute our planet for the next 800-ish years.<br> This week, I speak with blogger <a href="https://thebabypenguin.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christina Floyd</a>. Like most parents, Christina found herself confused about the many issues surrounding toy sustainability so she started a blog to help others navigate the ins and outs of the toy market. And while I’ve done shows on *minimalist* playrooms in the past, this show is heavily centered around eco-friendliness. Indeed, Christina and I do a deep dive (and I mean real, real deep!) into the world of eco-friendly playthings for the children in our lives.<br> <br> Here’s a preview of this week’s episode:<br> [5:00] Beyond wooden toys: The 4 qualities of sustainable playthings<br> [7:00] Is Melissa & Doug an eco-friendly corporation?<br> [8:30] 3 things to look for when buying any toy for the children in your life<br> [14:30] Non-plastic stuffed animal ideas<br> [15:30] Why toy packaging matters<br> <br> Resources mentioned in this week’s episode:<br> <br> * <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_baby_penguin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christina on Instagram</a><br> * <a href="https://thebabypenguin.com/whats-a-sustainable-toy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christina’s 13 sustainable toy recommendations</a><br> * <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/sustainabletoys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Toys free Facebook group </a><br> <br> <br> * Thank you to <a href="https://outrageandoptimism.libsyn.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Outrage + Optimism</a> for sponsoring this episode! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts for new episodes every Thursday.<br> * All I want for my birthday is your podcast reviews! <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sustainable-minimalists-podcast/id1329830361" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">On the Apple Podcasts app</a>, hit the Library tab, scroll allll the way to the bottom past all prior episodes, then click on the stars to leave a review. (Thank you!)<br> <br> * Want more episodes like this one? Check out <a href="https://mamaminimalist.com/164/">#164: Your Minimalist Play Room</a>.<br> * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SustainableMinimalists/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook,</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mommyminimalist/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a> + <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/mommyminimalist/pins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pinterest</a>.<br> * NEW FEATURE! Leave a voicemail with your question and I’ll answer it on-air! Here’s how: State your name then leave the show a message at (508) 960-9046. (This new feature only works with audience participation, so don’t be shy!)<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br>
