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I know it seems a tad early for a Christmas article, but the following revelation has implications that go way beyond the world's prime shopping season: around 80% of all toys are made in heavily polluting Chinese factories. By young children.
This launches a load of ethical and environmental questions about where and how we're getting our toys--and what they're made of. It's no secret that environmental codes and labor laws are much more, let's say 'lax' in China (but really mean 'borderline human rights violating'). But American consumers might not be familiar with exactly where toys they buy are coming from--though all those 'Made in China' stickers should be a clue.
Take Hasbro, for example; the toy giant that makes such popular action figures as Transformers. The factories that manufacture the toys are based in China--and they're made with PVC to boot. PVC contains trace amounts of carcinogens, and is most certainly not the ideal material for youngsters--if anyone--to be playing with. And according to the Guardian, Hasbro has also been challenged in court for employing many underage workers in Chinese factories. Very nice, Hasbro.
That's what I call a lose-lose-win: Chinese children expose themselves to unhealthy materials like PVC for low wages, in order to ship an unsafe product to American children, who may get sick from playing with it. So who wins? Only Hasbro, which reaps the profits.
So perhaps it's time to stop supporting such gargantuan companies that reap profits at the expense of human health and the environment--start making your gift lists this year with more ethical toy companies. The Guardian has a few good ideas:
Holz Toys only uses European factories where labour rights are guaranteed while all its wooden products come from FSC-certified and sustainable forests. Maya Organic, which also produces wooden toys, is an umbrella organisation providing training, marketing and other support to a range of small worker-owned cooperatives in Karnataka, India and was established with the aim of alleviating poverty and empowering workers.
There are a slew of other options of course--for a couple good ones, look into the How to Go Green: Kids' Toys guide.
More Green Kids' Toy Ideas
Milk Jugs Recycled Into Green Toys
Rent-A- Toy Offers Solutions for Frugal Green Parents
Top Green Kids' Toys Tips
Lovable Baby Toys
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