Large plastics float across oceans and sometimes collect together to form garbage patches such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This is just one of the many chemicals found in plastic toys. All rights reserved. The majority of the world’s plastics end up in the garbage, rivers, and eventually in lakes and oceans. First, let’s get real: Not all plastic is bad. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images, Plastic toys are actually a huge environmental problem. Plastic toys can often only be used for their purpose and can restrict children’s thinking skills. “We found chemical pollutants in many different types of plastic toys and articles of clothing, like boots and sandals made for toddlers,” she says. Many parents have already questioned the chemicals used to create certain toys, and many of them try to skip certain pollutants when picking out toys for their children. One of the sturdiest types of plastic on the list, polyethylene comes in two forms: low- and high-density. You’ll typically find No. “There’s no reason why these chemicals need to be in these products, in children’s toys,” she says. This kind of plastic that’s used only once before being thrown away is called single-use plastic , and it makes up more than 40 percent of all plastic trash. The kind you see with toys is the thicker and sturdier high-density, whereas low-density polyethylene is more commonly used for trash bags and similar items. Giving away used plastic toys to others is a good idea, but it doesn't solve the problem, because you're still buying into that wasteful cycle in the first place. Many large toy companies are trying to become more eco-friendly after decades of relying on environmentally destructive plastic in their products and packaging. Why is plastic bad for the environment and how much is in the ocean? If your dog loves plastic, rubbery toys, it’s not so far-fetched. Many toys that are “bad ” for your child aren’t necessarily dangerous or harmful to their physical health, but they don’t engage the areas of learning that help a child reach their full academic potential. We need alternatives, of which some may not be convenient. Dump the Plastic: Why Plastic is Bad for Your Health. The health effects of the chemicals used in the manufacturing of plastic toys are not fully known, but at least one type of common chemical, called phthalates ― which is used to soften soys ― has been linked to a number of health issues, including birth defects, cancer and diabetes, The New York Times reported in 2014. Chalk it up to weak regulation–the U.S. isn’t party to the Stockholm Convention, which handles this sort of thing–or corporate greed, but a whole lot of children’s toys are contaminated with industrial chemicals and the source is not mysterious at all. (Many of them are also way cooler and more durable than plastic toys. The longer a product is stored in that plastic the more BPA’s are leached into that item. Many school districts have a zero-tolerance policy. Chelsea Ritschel. There are plenty of good things to stick to, but plastic gadgets aren't on the top of the list. Hospital Bag Checklist: What to Pack for the Birth of Your Child, Don’t let children put items in their mouths, even if they seem safe. Luckily, people are becoming much more aware of the havoc plastic can wreak on our planet, and there are many plastic-free toys for kids out there. But what about PVC in plastics and other products? The good news is … According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, plastic toys may contain lead, which is added to the plastic to soften it. Wary of falling on the wrong side of school policies, many parents attempt to squelch all toy gun play at home, lest it follow kids to … Sign up for the Fatherly newsletter to get original articles and expert advice about parenting, fitness, gear, and more in your inbox every day. This widely used plastic often contains harmful chemicals, including such known carcinogens as vinyl chloride, dioxin and phthalates, which are linked to asthma, allergies, and reproductive problems. There is no straightforward answer to “how long does it take plastic to fully decompose?” 'Dune' Toys Are Already For Sale — But Where's My Giant F*cking Sandworm Toy? The fast food restaurant has claimed it will ban plastic toys and replace them with a new option for fans. At least harmful plastic isn't going to be used as frequently anymore! The fast food restaurant has claimed it will ban plastic toys and replace them with a new option for fans. If possible, avoid all plastic toys for infants and newborns. In April, IPEN released studies suggesting that 90 percent of children’s toys may contain either OctaBDE or DecaBDE, and that 67 percent may exceed Stockholm Convention hazardous waste limits for SCCPs. Since they often stick toys in their mouth, wood is indeed a safer alternative to plastic or metal. Why Is Plastic Bad for the Environment? It hit Rho just how detrimental plastic toys are after he took one of his daughters to a birthday party at a Chuck E. Cheese’s location in Los Angeles. Being caught up and choked isn’t the only way they harm and kill wildlife. Packaging accounts for over 40 per cent of plastic usage. We continue to see more and more children with learning issues that can be prevented with additional purposeful and meaningful play experiences. Waitrose to stop selling plastic toys in Christmas crackers from 2020. You must have observed that grocery shops these days do not use plastic bags. McDonald’s to remove plastic toys from Happy Meals ‘We care passionately about the environment and are committed to reducing plastic across our business,’ says spokesperson. But the recycling ban won’t take effect until 2030 and the move won’t affect manufacturers in the United States, where there is minimal regulation. Heard about miracle "plastic roads"? Most plastic products, including toys, can be identified by the little number inside the chasing arrows on the bottom of the item (see them all on the Plastics Industry website). because the bacteria in their stomach cannot break the plastic up into smaller pieces. There are also plenty of sustainable toy companies cropping up that either use closed-loop systems or no plastic. ), "You have all these toys ― they’re cheap, they’re made out of plastic, they break easily. “No contaminants can end up in toys.”. A study published last month found evidence of flame retardant chemicals in 61 percent of toys tested. Wooden toys are a better option for infants as well. Plastic water bottles can bring clean drinking water to people who don’t have it, and plastic straws can help people with disabilities drink. I don’t want parents to be alarmed unnecessarily, but I believe they have a right to know.”. The main reason is that kids simply don’t play with them. The BBC reports a poll from the British Heart Foundation that points to a problem. Not long after the Little Shop promotion launched, the plastic toys were being found washed ashore on beaches. These are usually phthalate-free. Be selective with toys: Make sure that plastic toys you buy for your children are made from BPA-free material — especially for toys your little ones are likely to chew or suck on. Children who have too many toys are more easily distracted, and do not enjoy quality playtime, a new study suggests. MCDONALD'S is making major changes to its Happy Meal toy options. This January, researchers in Sweden reported that children’s toys were more likely than sex toys to contain banned chemicals. Industry advocates maintain (correctly) that most of the research that has shown that these chemicals impact brain development and reproductive health has been based on animal studies, which may not translate to humans. Another factor contributing to why plastics are bad is when they’re directly ingested by animals thinking that they’ve been lucky to find a tasty morsel. Miller and others are sounding an alarm, going so far as to caution parents against purchasing plastic baby toys. Regulation, however, is only one piece of the puzzle. China, for instance, produced 3.2 billion tons of industrial solid waste in 2014. Once you start learning about the problems associated with plastic and other environmental issues, get your kids involved in making a difference. You’ll typically find No. Poly Vinyl Chloride . “We found them in plastic animal toys, balls, rubber duckies, jump ropes, and swim toys.”, “Rubber duckies look safe and should be safe,” Miller says. Jack Kirby's Son Says Capitol Rioters Defiled Captain America's Values, Here's What To Expect From Biden's COVID-19 Stimulus Plan, Here's Why Grown Men Are Singing Sea Shanties On TikTok. “If all waste contamination is known and controlled,” she says. But as it turns out, parents need to start being more mindful of the impact kids' toys are making on the environment, as well. Something went wrong. That means every single cheap kids' meal toy your child has brought home, every Barbie you've thrown out or given away, every LEGO piece you step on — it's still going to be on this planet long after you or your child (or their child) is gone. Kids are incredibly empathetic, and if you teach them about the dangers of pollution, they might even want to turn down cheap, short-lived toys of their own volition. Ok, so you know about the potential health implications of BPA in plastic and you do your best to avoid it. There's nothing quite like a toy store to elicit a sense of wonder in a kid, and seeing delighted children unwrap a shiny new present can bring anyone a dose of unadulterated joy. Rubber duckies laced with flame retardants. From medical devices that keep blood flowing, joints moving and hearts beating to impact-resistant vehicle parts and safer infant car seats, plastic saves lives every day. Factories that make plastic have to make tons of them every day because people ask for plastic bags – … The problem is that most of us use and then toss way more plastic than we need: things like grocery bags, drink bottles, straws, food wrappers, and plastic packaging around toys. Even if you use your recycling bin dutifully, recycling toys is usually difficult, since most are made from several different materials — according to the David Suzuki Foundation, seeing toys made of "a combination of every type of plastic (numbers one through seven)" isn't uncommon. I wasn’t angry, just fed up. But if the flexible plastic toy isn’t properly labeled, don’t buy it unless it’s are labeled as PVC-free. She says the supermarket has taken a step backwards with their plastic toy campaigns, after banning single-use plastic bags last year. The Environmental Protection Agency describes OctaBDE and DecaBDE as “persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to both humans the environment.” One hundred and fifty two nations agreed to phase out HBCD in 2013, due to studies that suggested it affects thyroid function and brain development. Not only are they usually unhygienic, but researchers found chemical pollutants in many different types of plastic toys, balls, rubber duckies, jump ropes, and swim toys. A mother’s difficult quest to discover what her children’s toys are made of—and whether they are safe and environmentally friendly. If the toy is exposed to high heat, the lead may leach out in the form of dust, which may then be inhaled or ingested by a child or pet. And the International Agency for Research on Cancer considers SSCPs possibly carcinogenic, along with engine exhaust and welding fumes. Avoid BPA: Stay away from toys made with BPA by staying away from toys made with #7 plastic, especially if they’re going in your baby’s mouth. Tests have shown that dibutylphthalate (DBP) is released into … “A child crawling on his belly across the yard holding a stick-gun may be processing a pretend death and heroically pursuing a powerful enemy he will confront and defeat,” Johnson says. Within a child’s early years, plastic is seen everywhere — an abundance of color and toys that light up, make sounds and move — but many of the toys have limited play options. 3 stamped on teething rings, toys, plastic curtains, take-out packaging and personal care products. Thermally destructing pollutants in incineration plants. Treasure baskets offered in baby rooms give the children a sense of curiosity, enabling them to explore household items using all of their senses. Here's why it's not a solution to our plastic problem. Our exclusive interview with Mike Schade about our children's plastic toys that are toxic. While this process dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, the practice remains in use today with some toys, particularly high-end collectibles. 2021 Bustle Digital Group. “In the vast majority of cases the plastic used to manufacture new toys is, at least in part, recycled,” Antonella Guzzonato of Birmingham University in the UK, and authors of the most recent flame retardant study, told Fatherly. If possible, avoid all plastic toys for infants and newborns. It's their world we're living in, and raising kids to have respect for the environment is critical to ensuring a safe future for them. Many toys that are “bad” for your child aren’t necessarily dangerous or harmful to their physical health, but they don’t engage the areas of learning that help a child reach their full academic potential. That hasn’t happened and the U.S. lacks anything resembling those regulations embraced elsewhere. “And they are, in fact, quite harmful.”, Neither, apparently, is the international community. Instead of relying on plastic toys for older kids, teach them to find joy in other activities: making art, writing stories, reading, and adventuring outdoors (the last of which should help them develop an even deeper appreciation for the environment). One of the reasons plastic is so bad is because it does not degrade. Still, there aren’t very many robust studies on toddlers who have been exposed to these chemical contaminants and what little literature exists remains inconclusive. John Lewis Partnership also plans to reduce amount of glitter in products sold. Why I Took My Kids’ Toys Away (& Why They Won’t Get Them Back) I finally gave up and took it all away. Plastic toys are actually a huge environmental problem, and if we want to raise sustainability-conscious kids, it's important to raise them with … So what can you do if you want to teach your child, early on, to respect the environment they're growing up in? MCDONALD'S is making major changes to its Happy Meal toy options. Pretending that it was only because of my environmental concerns , I asked that any gifted toys be limited to wood or recycled plastic. They can also optimize sustainable types and quantities of materials used. The reasons why plastic is awesome are almost too numerous to count, but here are five that really resonate for us: 1. Give us a little more information and we'll give you a lot more relevant content, Oops! Because China’s product quality control isn’t as strict as it is in the US, it’s smart to steer clear of toys made in China. Treasure baskets offered in baby rooms give the children a sense of curiosity, enabling them to explore household items using all of their senses. But hey, they're also kids. Toys are fun, and they can be very educational. “It was a crucial achievement…that the exemption for recycling, which was called for by a few countries, was not granted,” Andreas Buser, scientific officer of the Industrial Chemicals Section for the Swiss government, told Fatherly. For all their flash and advertising, most toys are actually designed to break easily and end up in landfills at the end of a rather short lifespan. These items are made from polyvinyl chloride (generally referred to as PVC) and of concern is the release of phthalates, a binding agent that makes the plastic malleable and is in an innumerable amount of consumer products, not just plastics. The proliferation of toxins like OctaBDE and DecaBDE (components of electronic waste), HBCD (found in building insulation), and SCCPs (metalworking chemicals) comes courtesy of the plastic recycling process. Chinese-made toys came under attack a few years ago for having high levels of lead paint — and more than nine million of them were recalled. Plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces of itself, so it never really goes away. If you have something that is oddly sticky, here’s how to clean plastic that has become sticky, like remote controls and hard plastic toys. Skip Facebook. Of course, now you would want to know why. If animals eat plastic, it gets stuck in their tummy and makes them sick. Published: 21 Oct 2019 The negative effects of plastic vary depending on the type of plastic in the … In a global economy, where electronics are manufactured in one country, recycled in another country, and sold as plastic children’s toys in yet another country, no intervention can have a meaningful effect unless all nations sign on. Children have been suspendedfor pointing fingers like handguns. The question that rises now is – aren’t plastic toys becoming a problem for the environment? Most of the time they end up in the trash," Steve Rho, CEO of the sustainable Big Future Toys, told the Huffington Post in May. First of all, help them consider less. Get the best of Fatherly in your inbox. ↓ Why? Today’s chewed-up toys are yesterday’s obsolete office equipment, which sounds good in principle, but may prove disastrous in practice. “This means that if contaminated items unintentionally end up in the recycling mix, those contaminants will be found again in the new toy.” Countries that rely on cheap plastic exports lean heavily on recycled products. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock. I t’s what parents have suspected all along. 0 comments. The next time you can't get that Marvel or DC figure out of its plastic prison, at least you'll know your enemy's name. Bike helmets, car airbags, and many medical supplies made with plastic save lives. I calmly began packing up not just a toy or two, but every single thing. Is that Smelly Plastic from China Toxic? Usually, this plastic doesn't get used inside the toy itself; rather, this is what much plastic packaging is made of. There are plenty of good things to stick to, but plastic gadgets aren’t on the top of the list. And once you look at it that way, it'll seem hard to look at their usual toys in the same way you used to. That advice may sound extreme, but these are not benign chemicals. A Little Bit of Vigilance Almost all plastic children's toys are safe. Research has found most toys contain chemicals toxic to humans, according to the EPA. As evidenced by it ending up in 83% of the world’s tap water, delicious. The European Union recently cracked down on recycled materials that contain OctaBDE and DecaBDE, and Guzzonato says this is a crucial step. The next time you can't get that Marvel or DC figure out of its plastic prison, at least you'll know your enemy's name. “From a chemical manufacturing perspective it’s a cheap stream of plastics and, on the surface, recycling sounds like a good thing,” Pamela Miller, co-chair of the International Persistent Organic Pollutants Elimination Network, explains. Plastics are indigestible and non-biodegradable and once produced, one cannot get rid of them. Rubik’s Cubes leaking electronic waste. Plastic food storage, plastic bowls, toys, crates, chews, squeakies, gates, ball, Frisbee, pill bottles, and tags, to name a few. Plastic poses several environmental risks, including leaching chemicals and toxins into surrounding ecosystems, threatening the health of local animal populations and releasing greenhouse gases into the air. And just how bad is the damage? We’re actually harming their environment that they’re going to live in for the rest of their lives.". In 2015, IPEN tested a small sample of 21 children’s toys and found nearly half were contaminated with toxic flame retardants that originated from electronic waste. It … Usually, this plastic doesn't get used inside the toy itself; rather, this is what much plastic packaging is made of. In recent years, the use of plastic has been more heavily criticised than ever for the many problems it can cause. Normally, wooden toys are more durable. There have also been warnings for years about the presence of persistent organic toxins (POPs) in toys made of recycled plastic. What do you want the president to prioritize in the next four years? As I walked down the aisles of one of the pet product stores where I live every aisle was filled with plastic and every product was packaged in plastic. Until it does, Miller advises parents to avoid plastic toys that young children are likely to put in their mouths (so, basically everything) especially when those products are made from polyvinyl chloride plastics (again, basically everything). Manufacturers should design toys so that they have a long life and can be reused or passed on to others. LEGO bricks have the potential to last for up to 1,300 years if they end up in Earth's oceans. Toy weapons symbolize power, leadership, authority, strength and control.” Pretend arms give children the chance to unravel these complicated concepts in the safe realm of play. Alarmingly, they are probably playing with them. “But if you have toxic chemicals in the recycling stream and you’re putting them in children’s products…. These household items are usually made from natural materials such as wood and rarely contain hard plastic materials. In particular, more than a quarter of parents say they throw away perfectly good, working toys. Metalworking runoff in Mickey Mouse slippers. So he gave lots away to other kids. He is always there to lend a helping hand, and he’ll drop what he’s doing to help someone. PVC Toxicity. “But if a child is putting it in his or her mouth and sucking on it, it could be harmful.”. October 3, 2020 August 4, 2016 by Team SuperBee. But once you start delving into the enduring problems that come with plastics, you might start to notice just how much plastic is involved in creating kids' toys — and that might start to ruin the magic for you. Not only are they. But plastic toys just felt so, well, childish. Plastic debris is found absolutely everywhere, from the Arctic to Antarctica. But that takes work and requiring it might end up hampering recycling efforts without proving effective. "Plastic's inanimate, so it can't be bad, it's what people do with it that's bad," he said. Lego is going to start making toys from plant-based plastic. One of the biggest concerns around choosing plastic toys is that they easily break, thus leaving sharp edges that may harm your child. So what happened to the plastic bags that we used? Made from petroleum, most plastic toys contain toxic phthalates, BPA, fire retardants, and other chemicals that are neither safe for your child nor eco-friendly. Because he had so many toys, they didn’t mean as much to him as a child with only a few toys. They hand out all your things in either paper bags or cloth bags. Two billion tons were subsequently recycled, which would be an environmental coup if chemicals weren’t being recycled into jump ropes. The plastic toys are incredibly durable, but that makes them an absolute nightmare when it comes to ocean pollution. Plastic is ubiquitous. Plastic toys are actually a huge environmental problem, and if we want to raise sustainability-conscious kids, it's important to raise them with awareness of those issues. Plastic drinking straws. PVC (vinyl) is another nasty chemical to avoid when shopping for toys, and can contain known carcinogens like phthalates. The Stockholm Convention recently closed a loophole in that allowed manufacturers to recycle certain contaminants as long as they didn’t produce new ones. Something went wrong please contact us at support@fatherly.com. And PVC can be pretty common in toys. In 2017, the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) examined 95 Rubrics cubes and a further 16 items, such as combs and toys, from 26 countries. Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories. "Plastic's inanimate, so it can't be bad, it's what people do with it that's bad," he said. 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