Older toys often contain much higher levels of harmful chemicals than those produced today. This is mainly because previously there was a lack of knowledge about how many of the substances used in, e.g., plastic affected and still affect both humans and the environment. Therefore, it's a good idea to start by removing the oldest plastic toys from your home. Today, legislation is much stronger and modern toys are safer. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about more than 90% of all chemicals used in plastic, so it's best to avoid plastic toys as much as possible and instead choose toys made from safer materials, such as wood, rubberwood, wool, organic cotton, stainless steel, and natural rubber. Keep in mind that some soft toys that appear to be made of cotton may actually be made from textiles containing plastic.
Smell
Use your nose. If a toy smells plasticky or chemical – remove it immediately. This is a sign that it contains high levels of hormone-disrupting plasticizers. If the plastic toy feels slightly sticky or greasy, that's also a sign that it should be discarded and is not suitable for children to play with.
Choose toys of good quality
Invest in fewer toys of good quality. A child in Sweden today has on average more than 500 toys. Much of what is sold is of poor quality and breaks after only an hour of play. These types of toys are an enormous waste of resources and contribute to a significant burden on our planet. Avoid plastic toys as much as possible and instead choose toys made from natural materials. For example, choose a ball made of natural rubber instead of plastic, choose dolls and soft toys made from organic textiles, and choose animal figurines and characters made of wood rather than plastic.Toys made from natural materials are not indestructible and can break just like plastic toys. Often, you need to care for your eco-friendly toys differently than those made of plastic. The advantage of organic and toxin-minimized toys is that they don't contain harmful chemicals that affect children and the environment.
Electronics & other items
Don't let children play with old electronics (discarded mobile phones, broken old cameras, keyboards, telephones, etc.). Electronics don't fall under the same strict legislation as toys and contain both flame retardants and heavy metals that can easily leach from these products. They are completely unsuitable for children to play with and are classified as hazardous waste that should be taken to a recycling center. A good rule to follow is: If it's not a toy, it shouldn't be used as a toy! This applies to items such as keys, jewelry, handbags, belts, plastic hoses, tires, and remote controls.
Avoid flame retardants
Don't allow electronic products to remain in the room where your child sleeps. Flame retardants and heavy metals are released from these products, especially when they get warm, and end up in the dust of the room where they're located. If children sleep in the same room, they inhale these particles. Another alternative is to put away electronics and store them in closed containers with lids or in cabinets.
Flooring
Perhaps the biggest and most comprehensive change to make at home to reduce harmful chemicals is to review the flooring in your residence. Plastic flooring (PVC flooring) is a major source of hormone-disrupting substances that leak into the dust in the room where the flooring is installed. If you have these floors in your home, it's most important to replace them in children's bedrooms first, as children are most sensitive to these substances and they spend a large portion of their time in their bedrooms while sleeping. If you replace flooring, choose safer materials such as wooden floors or linoleum.
Original post written by Sara Mårtensson, founder of Lapland Eco Store which has been part of Glimja since 2021.
