PlanToys is a sustainable and responsible toy brand entering its 40th year of operation.
We want to celebrate this by introducing PlanToys a little more to you so you might discover their wonderful products.
PlanToys – Pull Toy Rainbow Alligator
1. Where did the inspiration to start a toy company come from?
As early as 1981, seven university academics came together with a shared desire to instill positivity in the world. Vitool Viraponsavan, one of the group's strongest voices, went on to found PlanToys and has since inspired children and families worldwide.
To this day, PlanToys works with the vision that it is their duty to help educate and inspire the community by prioritizing environmental care, child safety, and development. By inspiring children to become self-aware, environmentally conscious, and imaginative, they hope these children will grow into individuals who understand the value of life, care for nature, and appreciate play.
If a small wooden toy can help a little child become a moral person who values the world around them, then PlanToys has proudly done its job.
2. How does PlanToys fulfill its mission to create "Better Kids, Better World"?
PlanToys' mission is defined by their sustainable approach, which includes the three pillars of their business model – sustainable material, sustainable manufacturing, and sustainable mind. With these three pillars in place, they strive to give children a better world.
Sustainable Material: PlanToys ensures the use of sustainable natural resources and creates minimal to zero waste through the production process.
Sustainable Manufacturing: PlanToys creates children's toys with love by using eco-friendly processes at every step of production.
Sustainable Mind: PlanToys strives to give back to the community and the environment through special environmental and educational campaigns that help make the world a better place for everyone.
PlanToys – Toy Food Birthday Cake
3. Why should parents choose PlanToys over other brands?
There are three main reasons why PlanToys believes they are the best choice for children:
PlanToys is passionate about child safety
PlanToys places great importance on safety standards associated with their production process. All their materials are non-toxic and eco-friendly, so parents can let their children play without worry.
PlanToys helps children develop through play
Every parent wants to see their child grow and develop successfully. PlanToys believes that creative and educational play can help them do just that!
By playing with educational toys, children learn and develop in almost every way.
PlanToys cares deeply about the environment
PlanToys uses water-based paints free from chemicals, E-Zero glue that contains no formaldehyde, and they maximize resource use by using sawdust to create a unique sustainable material called PlanWood.
4. How are PlanToys products designed?
PlanToys toys are designed through close collaboration with child specialists. This is to determine the appropriate age for each toy and its potential for the child’s development.
They also work with eco-design principles that help anticipate and minimize negative environmental impact from manufacturing (this includes things like sustainable materials and green production methods).
As a result, parents can be confident that PlanToys products are child-safe and of the highest quality.
PlanToys – Veterinary Kit
5. What does the concept of “learning through play” mean?
Play is a child’s work; they gain so much by exploring life through play. By playing creatively and freely, children develop physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually, and imaginatively. There isn’t a single aspect of a child’s learning that isn’t influenced by free play.
PlanToys toys are designed to help children develop, which is why they use the concept of “learning through play.”
6. What toys and types of play would PlanToys recommend during the first 3 years of a child’s life?
Good question! Let’s take a look at the early developmental stages of a child’s life and talk about the types of play that can support them as they reach different milestones.
Disclaimer: Below, PlanToys simply aims to provide guidance to parents. They do not claim medical expertise and believe you should always consult your child’s doctor if you have questions or concerns about your child’s development.
Newborn – 6 months
Visual and auditory stimulation as well as motor development are crucial during this time! Encourage your child to focus on objects with their eyes by visually stimulating them with toys like rattles or colorful pastel objects.
Toys that rattle, jingle, and make gentle sounds can stimulate a baby’s auditory cortex. Toys that encourage children to reach, grasp, and kick promote the development of motor skills, which also helps them become physically stronger.
When a newborn begins to develop and grow, it’s good to look at colorful pictures and read stories together; look into mirrors and start exploring sensory play!
6 – 12 months
At this stage, babies begin to further develop fine and gross motor skills – sitting up and starting to walk on their own! Sensory toys like PlanToys Square Clutching Toy encourage sensory development and also improve fine motor skills.
Moving toys that encourage vocalization and concentration. And when your baby starts taking their first steps, PlanToys strollers can support their mobility.
Finally, simple puzzles, floating bath toys, and active toys invite children to begin their journey of learning through play.
12 – 18 months
During this period, toddlers develop their motor skills and hearing rapidly. They can now stand and balance on their own, so pull toys and walking toys are a great choice.
Encourage your child and stimulate their senses with colorful musical instruments like xylophones or wooden drums!
During this time, children also begin to further develop social, emotional, and intellectual skills, so toys that introduce them to different shapes, colors, sizes, and patterns are beneficial.
Explore PlanToys sorting planes, kaleidoscope cameras, or other creative wooden toys.
18 months – 2 years
During this period, it’s good to support children as they strengthen their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination with toys that invite them to grasp, stack, sort, press, and pull.
Additionally, toys that stimulate emotionally – like fish castanets or accordions – help children express themselves creatively.
This is also a crucial time to introduce educational toys like stacking towers or sorting and counting toys because these toys intellectually stimulate young children and help them develop basic math and language skills early on.
2 – 3 years
At this stage, it’s especially important to challenge a child’s gross motor skills, social and emotional development, and creativity.
Toys that intellectually stimulate a child, like PlanToys number blocks, dominoes, balancing games, and wooden tools, encourage them to learn through play.
Additionally, pretend toys like play food or a mixing set can help children with their creativity and imaginative thinking. All these toys also invite children to play actively.
PlanToys – Wooden Game Timber Tumble
7. What makes PlanToys toys unique?
What sets PlanToys toys apart the most from other brands is their attention to detail. They deliberately consider every single step in their design, manufacturing, and delivery process.
• PlanToys craftsmen are experts in woodworking – creating unique toy designs you won’t find anywhere else!
• Simple design makes PlanToys toys classic, durable, and timeless.
• PlanToys uses non-toxic, water-based dyes that preserve the structure of their wooden toys – keeping them as close to their original nature as possible.
• Highest quality materials result in quality toys that do not harm the environment.
8. Does PlanToys cut down trees to make toys?
PlanToys has never cut down a single tree for their toy production!
Instead, they add value to rubber trees by using them to their full potential. Usually, when rubber trees no longer produce latex, they are cut down and burned.
This is where PlanToys comes in. They take these rubber trees and use them for their wooden toys. In 1981, they became the first company to do so.
PlanToys – Pull Along Puppy
9. What is the purpose of ASTM and EN71 safety standards?
Since 1982, all PlanToys toys have exceeded international safety standards – including ASTM (USA) and EN71 (Europe) – to ensure their toys are safe for children worldwide.
10. If a child has a latex allergy, can they play with PlanToys?
Usually, a rubber allergy is triggered by a protein found in latex (natural rubber). And since latex is not present in the rubberwood that PlanToys uses as material, children with latex allergies can safely play with their toys.
When it comes to PlanToys toys that contain 100% natural rubber as material, latex remains. This can trigger an allergic reaction. It is recommended that parents of children with latex allergies consult their child's doctor before buying a natural rubber toy for them.
11. Is it okay for children to put PlanToys toys in their mouths?
PlanToys makes toys with unique signature designs while always keeping the environment in focus. They are also very passionate about child safety and continue to exceed safety requirements.
Because they know children like to put toys in their mouths, they use pigments and materials that are safe for children to come into contact with. Examples include safe water-based paints and organic pigments in PlanWood products and a non-toxic glue called E-Zero glue.
12. What is PlanWood?
PlanWood® is PlanToys' own unique invention. The material comes from roots and other waste that is reclaimed, finely ground, and dyed with organic, water-based, non-toxic colors.
The binder/glue (1% of the material) is organic and non-toxic.
PlanWood enables the company to create various shapes in the toys that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to achieve with regular solid wood. PlanWood is a safe material and is free from harmful chemicals.
13. Can you play in water with PlanWood products?
Not all PlanWood products are water-resistant. PlanToys toys that are waterproof and safe for water play are categorized in their Water Play category.
Customers can look for the special water play icon on their PlanToys packaging to determine if the toy is waterproof or not.
If the icon is not present, the toy should not be played with in water. Only PlanToys toys with the special icon are safe for water play.
Also, even if the toy is a product in the water play category, it should not be left in water for more than 24 hours. Take care of your toys to maintain their quality!
Here are some tips:
- Dry your water toys. When the children have finished playing, wipe the toys and let them dry completely before putting them away for storage to prevent bacterial growth.
- Avoid storing toys in high temperatures or direct sunlight. If you take care of the toys properly, their quality will be preserved, and when your child outgrows them, they can be passed on to another child who will enjoy them!
PlanToys – Doctor’s Bag
14. How should you care for your PlanToys toys?
PlanToys wooden toys should be cleaned often and stored in safe places to ensure their quality. If you take good care of them, they can last a lifetime!
Here are some tips and tricks:
• After your child has played with the toys a few times, it’s good to wipe them with a damp cloth. Then use a dry cloth to dry the toys.
• Avoid using cleaning products that contain chemicals and artificial fragrances. Instead, use natural cleaners.
• Avoid storing toys in high temperatures or direct sunlight.
• Regularly check toys for cracks or damage.
• Water toys should not be soaked in water for more than 24 hours. Use a clean cloth to wipe them off when playtime is over, then place them in a dry environment to dry completely before storing.
15. Are PlanToys toys biodegradable?
PlanToys toys are made from rubberwood, and rubberwood is primarily biodegradable.
It can take many years for a wooden toy to break down, but that is the natural process. PlanToys uses non-toxic dyes and no chemicals, so the wood is safe for the earth in the end.
Small parts in some toys are made of metal or plastic to ensure the toy's durability. These pieces are not biodegradable.
PlanToys is still searching for better materials to replace these small metal and plastic pieces.
PlanToys – Wooden Toy Camera with Kaleidoscope
16. Are all parts in PlanToys products safe and non-toxic?
Although some toy parts cannot be made in PlanToys’ factory due to their unique properties, they still care deeply about safety.
From time to time, they purchase other materials externally, and when they do, they carefully ensure the material meets their safety standards and is free from harmful chemicals.
Therefore, all toy parts are safe, non-toxic, and child-friendly.
17. Where does the material in PlanToys toys come from?
73% of the material PlanToys uses to make their toys comes from within a 30-kilometer radius surrounding their factory in Trang province, southern Thailand.
They source materials from nearby areas to reduce energy consumption and the carbon footprint from transportation.
18. Are PlanToys toys completely plastic-free?
Recyclable plastic parts are used less than 10% of the time during PlanToys’ toy manufacturing. And when used, it is because certain parts are much better as plastic than wood.
For example, rubber wheels are used in some toys because they are more durable and practical than wood.
PlanToys believes it is appropriate to use plastic as an exception to improve a toy’s functionality as long as it does not conflict with their sustainability strategy. After all, every step in PlanToys’ toy design and production is intentional, careful, and safe.
PlanToys – Baby Toy, Square Clutching Toy
19. How does PlanToys contribute to the community (locally in Thailand)?
By purchasing rubber trees from nearby plantations, PlanToys directly supports the local economy in Trang province. Additionally, they hire locals to help complete some of the features on their toys – like doll clothes, for example.
PlanToys regularly organizes volunteer activities to collect waste and keep surrounding neighborhoods clean. In collaboration with the Yan Ta Khao district and the police station, these activities are strengthened and encouraged throughout the community.
They also invite locals and other community members to participate in their work. They realize these actions may seem small or simple, but they believe that over time they positively impact the environment and society on a large scale.
PlanToys – Sort & Count
We hope you have learned a lot about the amazing and eco-friendly toy company PlanToys.
Please feel free to ask your own questions about PlanToys below, and we will get back to you with answers as soon as we can.
