Eco-Friendly Toys for Kids and Pets

If you plan on toy shopping this Earth Day, or any day, here are a few options for environmentally friendly products for kids.

Not Just a Cardboard Cutout
The Benz Bench is a kid-sized bench (shown at left) and storage box that’s strong enough to hold a parent and child at the same time.  It’s made of smooth, more than 60% percent recycled corrugated cardboard that’s non-toxic.  It’s also fire retardant, withstanding as much as 15 seconds of open flame, without affecting its recyclability.

Green Lullaby, the Benz Bench maker, also makes a cradle, storage blocks and other furniture for kids.

Price: $67 for the bench at ArtLook-store.com; $100 for the cradle and $60 for the blocks at Shopoliveandbean.com.

Learning Balance
The Skuut balance bike helps kids develop coordination, balance and steering skills needed to ride a real bicycle, and it might even be better than a bike with training wheels. This bike without pedals, meant for kids aged 2 to 5, allows them to kick off the ground. It’s like a scooter with a seat.

And thanks to a partnership with Trees for the Future, which has helped thousands of communities in Central America, Africa and Asia improve their livelihoods and their environment, a tree will be planted for every bike sold. 

Price: $92 at RunBikes.com.

Green Blocks
No living tree is harmed in the making of hand-cut branch blocks called Tree Blocks.  They’re made of wood from managed paper forests and abandoned fruit trees that would otherwise be piled up and burned. They come in different shapes and will keep your toddler stacking for hours. They are finished in flax oil and are safe for kids 3 years old and up. 

Price: $42 for a 36-block set at CreativeKidStuff.com.

Puzzle Fun
Made by poor artisans in La Paz, Bolivia, Ecowoods three-dimensional puzzles are made from discarded scraps of wood from larger companies that are part of a sustainable conservation program. The toys are are finished with natural flax oil, eucalyptus oil and bees wax.

Price: $20 to $24 at One World Projects.