The Good Play Guide has put together a collection of toys with a reduced environmental impact that it recommends for the more eco-conscious consumer.

With sustainability legislation tightening and consumers more attuned than ever about making more planet-friendly choices for their children, the number of toy companies developing more sustainable products is growing.

The Good Play Guide was founded by Dr Amanda Gummer to help parents sift through the myriad toys available on the shelves and spotlight the ones that are expertly reviewed and best suited for childrens’ imagination and development. With sustainability of growing interest to parents and caregivers, now the Good Play Guide in association with Products of Change, is using its expertise to highlight the toy companies that are endeavouring to provide more sustainable options.

Dr Amanda Gummer, founder of the Good Play Guide, commented: “At the Good Play Guide, we believe in the importance of choosing toys that not only support children’s development but also care for the world they’ll grow up in. As environmental awareness grows, the toy industry is beginning to respond with greener choices for eco-conscious families.”

What makes a toy more eco-friendly?

• Materials: Is the toy made from renewable, recycled or upcycled materials? Certified and ethically sourced materials such as FSC-certified wood, certified recycled plastics or GOTS organic sourced cotton, are all good signs.
• Packaging: Minimal materials, re-use/secondary life of packaging, high use of recycled materials and materials that are made to be curbside recycled, natural inks and no plastic ties shows thoughtfulness.
• Durability: Long-lasting toys that can be passed down, disassembled or reused to reduce waste and increase the product’s life.
• Repairability: Can parts be replaced instead of the whole toy being thrown away? Does the manufacturer sell spare parts?
• End of life: At the very end of a product’s life, can you send it back to the manufacturer for them to re-circulate materials, can the product be reused, rehomed or made from materials that can be easily recycled?

Toys with a reduced environmental impact combine fun with responsibility – and increasingly, brands are recognising that parents care about both.

Top environmentally-conscious toy picks from the Good Play Guide

Smoby Life Mud Kitchen

A feature-packed outdoor play kitchen with a water tank, mixing trays, cooking zone, and gardening tools. Encourages messy play, creativity, and teamwork, with plenty of storage and realistic accessories to spark imagination.

• Packaging is made from 100% of recycled material
• This toy contains at least 90% of recycled material

ECO Sockette-Hope

A bright, bold hand puppet designed for fun and expressive storytelling. Its oversized mouth, friendly face, and durable build make it ideal for role play, performance, and sparking confidence in children.

• Made from 99% polyester fibres from recycled plastic bottles.

Multi-Language Solar System Wooden Tray Puzzle

An engaging wooden puzzle that teaches planet names in six languages. Encourages early STEM learning, spatial reasoning, and language development through hands-on discovery.

• Made from FSC-certified wood
• Packaging is made from 75% recycled materials
• Packaging printed with vegetable inks

Little Library Storytelling Box

Packed with 40 double-sided storytelling coins and 10 mini notebooks, this set invites children to invent and record their own tales. Great for sparking creativity, vocabulary, and early writing.

• Made from FSC paper & vegetable inks

Light-Up Cubes 12 Pack

Water-activated sensory cubes that light up when wet — perfect for bath time or sensory bins. A fun way for children to explore cause and effect, colours, and imaginative play in a calming, hands-on way.

• The cubes are made from 100% recycled plastic and can be recycled after use

Eco Animal Puppet Buddies

A fun collection of over 30 soft animal puppets designed to fit both child and adult hands. Perfect for imaginative play, storytelling, and building communication skills through interactive fun.

• Made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Every single thing in each puppet, from the thread used to embroidery in the eyes to the stuffing making it extra cuddly, has been recycled and re-used – even the tags and the ink used to print on them have been recycled!

Eco-conscious toys aren’t just a passing trend – they’re part of a larger shift towards more mindful parenting and responsible play. The Good Play Guide applauds brands that are innovating for the planet, and encourages families to consider the impact their toy choices have, not just on their children, but on the world they’ll inherit.

Play can be powerful – and when it’s sustainable, it’s even more meaningful.