PlanToys is a sustainable and responsible toy brand that is entering its 40th year of operation.
We want to celebrate this by introducing PlanToys a bit more to you so that you might discover their wonderful products.
A small child pulls a toy dinosaur behind them on a gravel road. Another child runs in the background.
PlanToys – Pull-Along Rainbow Alligator
1. Where did the inspiration come from to start a toy company?
As early as 1981, seven university academics came together with a common 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 around the world.
Even today, PlanToys works with the vision that it is their mission to help educate and inspire society by prioritizing environmental care, child safety and development.By inspiring children to become self-aware, environmentally conscious and imaginative, it is their hope that they will become individuals who understand the value of life and who care for nature as well as 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 encompasses the three pillars of their business model – sustainable material, sustainable manufacturing and sustainable mindset. With these three pillars in place, they strive to ensure that children get a better world.
Sustainable Material:
PlanToys ensures the use of sustainable natural resources and creates minimum to zero waste through the production process.
Sustainable Manufacturing:
PlanToys manufactures children's toys with love by using environmentally friendly processes in every step of production.
Sustainable Mind:
PlanToys strives to give back to society and the environment through special environmental and educational campaigns that help make the world a better place for everyone.
Two children sit at a table playing with a wooden toy in the shape of a birthday cake.
PlanToys – Toy Food Birthday Cake
3. Why should parents choose PlanToys instead of 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 emphasis on safety standards associated with their production process. All their materials are non-toxic and environmentally 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 colors that are free from chemicals, E-Zero glue that contains no formaldehyde, and they maximize resource utilization 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 a child's development.
They also work with eco-design principles that help predict 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.
A small child plays veterinarian with a stuffed dog and a toy doctor's bag.
PlanToys – Veterinary Bag
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 is not a single aspect of a child's learning that is not affected by free play.
PlanToys toys are designed to help children develop and therefore 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?
Great 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 make no claim to having medical expertise and believe that you should always consult with your child's doctor if you have questions or concerns regarding 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 stimulating them visually with toys like rattles or colorful objects in pastel colors.
Toys that rattle, chime and make gentle sounds can stimulate a baby's auditory cortex. Toys that encourage children to reach, grasp and kick encourage 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 the PlanToys Square Cluthing Toy encourage sensory development and also improve fine motor skills.
Movable toys that encourage vocalization and concentration. And when your baby starts taking their first steps, a PlanToys wagon can support their mobility.
Finally, simple puzzles, floating bath toys and active toys invite children to begin their journey with learning through play.
12 – 18 months
During this period, toddlers develop their motor skills and hearing rapidly. They can now stand up and balance on their own, so pull toys and push toys are a good option.
Encourage your child and stimulate their senses through 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 airplane, camera with kaleidoscope 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, push and pull.
Additionally, toys that stimulate emotionally – such as fish castanets or accordions – help children express themselves creatively.
This is also a crucial time to introduce educational toys like stacking tower toys or sorting and counting toys since these toys intellectually stimulate toddlers 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 stimulate a child intellectually such as PlanToys number tiles, dominoes, balance games and wooden tools invite them to learn through play.
Additionally, pretend play toys such as toy food or a mixer set can help children with their creativity and imaginative thinking. All of these toys also invite children to play actively.
A child plays with a wooden game. The game has wooden pieces and a wooden figure of a beaver.
PlanToys – Wooden Game Timber Tumble
7. What makes PlanToys toys unique?
What sets PlanToys toys apart 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 that cannot be found anywhere else!
• Simple design makes PlanToys toys classic, durable and timeless.
• PlanToys uses non-toxic, water-based dyes that maintain the structure of their wooden toys – and keep them as close to their original nature as possible.
• The 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.
A small child pulls two wooden toy dogs behind them on a string.
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 that their toys are safe for children around the world.
10. If a child has a latex allergy, can they still 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 rubber wood that PlanToys uses as material, children with latex allergies can play with their toys without any problems.
When it comes to PlanToys toys that contain 100% natural rubber as material, latex remains present. This can trigger an allergic reaction. It is recommended that parents with children who have latex allergies consult with their child's doctor before purchasing a natural rubber toy for them.
11. Is it okay for children to put PlanToys toys in their mouths?
PlanToys manufactures toys with unique signature designs while always keeping the environment in focus. They are also very passionate when it comes to child safety and continue to exceed safety requirements.
Since they know that children like to put toys in their mouths, they use pigments and materials that are safe for children to come into contact with. Examples of these include safe water-based colors and organic pigments in PlanWood products and a non-toxic glue called E-Zero glue.
Illustration showing the ingredients in PlanWood: sawdust, organic pigment and formaldehyde-free glue. A PlanWood toy submarine is also shown.
12. What is PlanWood?
PlanWood® is PlanToys' own unique invention. The material comes from roots and other waste that is utilized, finely ground/milled down and colored with organic, water-based colors without toxins.
The binding agent/glue (1% of the material) is organic and non-toxic.
PlanWood makes it possible for the company to create different shapes for 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 whether 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.
Additionally, 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 off the toys and let them dry completely before putting them away for storage, this is to avoid bacterial growth.
Avoid storing toys in high temperatures or in direct sunlight. If you take proper care of the toys, their quality will be maintained and when your child has outgrown the toys, they can be inherited by another child who will enjoy them!
A child with a face mask plays doctor with another child lying down. They use toy tools and a diagram of the human body.
PlanToys – Surgeon Bag
14. How should you take care of your PlanToys toys?
PlanToys wooden toys should be cleaned regularly and stored in safe spaces to ensure their quality. If you take proper care of them, they can last a lifetime!
Here are some tips and tricks:
• When your child has played with the toys a few times, it's good to wipe them off with a damp cloth. Then use a dry cloth to dry the toys completely.
• Avoid using cleaning products that contain chemicals and artificial fragrances. Use natural cleaning agents instead.
• Avoid storing toys in high temperatures or in direct sunlight.
• Regularly check the 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 play is finished and then place them in a dry environment to dry them completely before storage.
15. Are PlanToys toys biodegradable?
PlanToys toys are made from rubber wood and rubber wood 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 however made of metal or plastic to ensure a toy's durability. These pieces are not biodegradable.
PlanToys is still looking for better materials to replace these small metal and plastic pieces.
A little girl in a blue dress looks through a red toy camera.
PlanToys – Wooden Toy Camera with Kaleidoscope
16. Are all parts in PlanToys products safe and non-toxic?
Even though there are some toy parts that cannot be manufactured in PlanToys' factory due to their unique characteristics, they still care deeply about safety.
From time to time they purchase other materials externally, but then they carefully ensure that the material has matched their safety standards and is free from harmful chemicals.
Therefore, all toy parts are safe, non-toxic and child-friendly.
17. Where do the materials in PlanToys toys come from?
73% of the material that PlanToys uses to manufacture their toys comes from a 30-kilometer radius surrounding their factory in southern Thailand's Trang province.
They source materials from nearby areas to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint from transportation.
18. Are PlanToys toys completely plastic-free?
Recyclable plastic parts are used less than 10% of the time in PlanToys toy manufacturing. And when it is used, it's because there are certain parts that are much better as plastic than wood.
For example, rubber wheels are used in certain toys because they are more durable and practical than wood.
PlanToys considers it appropriate to use plastic as an exception to improve a toy's functionality as long as it doesn't conflict with their sustainability strategy. After all, every step in PlanToys toy design and production is done intentionally, carefully and safely.
A baby sits playing with a colorful wooden toy.
PlanToys – Baby Toy, Square Clutching Toy
19. How does PlanToys contribute to the community (locally in Thailand)?
By purchasing rubber wood from nearby plantations, PlanToys directly supports the local economy in Trang province. Additionally, they employ local people to help them complete some of the functions on their toys – such as 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 local residents and other community members to participate in their work. They realize that these actions may seem small or simple, but they believe that over time they positively impact the environment and community to a great extent.
A small child sits at a table playing with colorful wooden toys.
PlanToys – Sort & Count
We hope you've learned a lot about the fantastic and eco-friendly toy company PlanToys.
Feel free to ask your own questions about PlanToys here below and we'll get back to you with answers as quickly as we can.
