Eco Ellie can tell you all you need to know about our products! From materials to processes, Ellie explains what all the jargon actually means.
Q: What are FSC™ materials?
FSC™ materials come from trees that are grown in protected forests. So when one tree is cut down to make something, another tree is planted. FSC™ stands for “Forest Stewardship Council”. They manage the protected forests to make them healthier and more resilient. They also track the materials from forest to shelves. So when you see the FSC™ “check tree” label on one of our products, you can be sure it’s made using sustainable materials.
Q: What is FSC™ MDF?
FSC™ materials come from trees that are grown in protected, managed forests; when one tree is cut down to make something, another tree is planted.
MDF stands for “Medium-density Fiber”. It’s made using leftover wood fiber material that would otherwise go to waste. The leftover wood material is bound together with a resin. Using MDF reduces the number of trees that are cut down to make things.
So FSC™ MDF is a double win for the planet because it’s made using waste fibers from an already protected source!
Q: Is there any plastic in MDF?
Yes, there is. We use a resin that contains plastic and wax to bind the recycled wood fibers together to make solid pieces. This is necessary for us to build products that will last for years to come. The good news is that the resin doesn’t stop the products from being recyclable!
Q: Is MDF recyclable?
It certainly is! When a toy made from MDF has reached the end of its life---hopefully after it’s been played with, shared, and handed down for years---it can be taken to a recycling center so that the materials can be separated and used again. MDF can’t be curbside recycled right now because it’s a mixed material, but we hope that in the future local authorities will expand their recycling practices to include more materials in household collections.
Q: What kind of glue do we use to make our products?
We only use water-based glue that is formaldehyde-free. It’s like a stronger version of the PVA glue kids use for crafting!
Sustainable Sam is here to explain how we can all help to save the planet!
Q: What is recycling?
Recycling simply means to use again! Ever heard someone say, “throw it away”? Well, there is no “away”. Lots of stuff that gets put in the bin ends up in massive piles of waste called “landfill”, which isn’t good for people or the planet. So, the more we can use again, the healthier our planet will be!
Q: Why do we have to sort our waste?
Helping to sort our own waste really speeds up the process of recycling and reduces the chances of anything that could be recycled ending up in landfill. If we mix our cardboard, glass, and plastic waste, then someone else has to sort it all out before any of it can be reused. But if we sort our waste and put matching materials together, then it can be used to make recycled versions. For example, if all plastic waste goes together then it can be processed to make recycled plastic, and that means we don’t have to create new plastic, which is great news for the planet!
Professor Peggy can help you understand how we make our products safe and strong!
Q: How do we make sure our toys are built to last?
Before our toys get to stores, they are pulled, twisted, dropped, and soaked, then pulled, twisted, and dropped again! We put them through these tests to make sure they are strong enough to be played with for years.
Q: How do we know our products are safe?
All of our products have to pass very strict tests before you get to see them. We send everything we make to a team of safety experts who check the materials, inks, paints, glues, sizes, and much more! When a product passes the tests, it gets a special certificate to prove it is safe.
Q: Why aren’t all our products made for all ages?
It’s very important to us that you can find the right toys, puzzles, and games for the children in your life. That’s why all our products are printed with a minimum age guidance. Sometimes this is for safety reasons---for example, if a toy is labelled 3+, then it may contain parts that are too small to give to children under three years of age. Sometimes it’s for content reasons---for example, we label our Trivia sets as 5+ because the questions are suitable for children of that age and up. And sometimes both reasons can apply---for example, our board games are labelled 4+ not only because they may contain pieces that are too small for under 3s to play with, but also because anyone under 4 is probably too young to understand the instructions and join in the fun.
Q: How do we know that everything we make meets our high standards?
When a batch of any one of our toys, puzzles, or games is made, we send an inspector to randomly check hundreds of individual items in detail. This inspector makes sure there are no damages, weaknesses, or faults, and that every product looks and feels exactly how we want. When the inspector is finished, they send us a report to say they’re happy with the batch. Only then can the products be sent to the ships that will take them all over the world for children to play with.