Earth Day is right around the corner, which means it’s time to think about what we can do as individuals to make for a brighter, friendlier, more sustainable future for our kids. At Little Tikes, we care deeply about the Earth and recognize that there is always more that we can be doing to help keep it clean and green. That’s why we’re excited to tell you about our new line of eco-friendly toys made from recycled plastics: Go Green!™.
Using Both Recycled and Recyclable Materials
One thing you might not know is that Little Tikes toys have always been made with recyclable plastics (specifically High-Density Polyethylene, Low-Density Polyethylene, & Polypropylene). If your Little Tikes toy gets old or damaged, you can comfortably pop it into the recycling bin just about anywhere and know that it’ll eventually be reused in a different form.
Starting with our new line of Go Green!™ toys, we’ll be making more Little Tikes products with recycled plastic (including some toys that are made with 100% recycled plastic) while keeping the same quality parents expect from Little Tikes. By using recycled plastic, and making Go Green!™ toys right here in the U.S.A., we can dramatically reduce the environmental impact of creating these new toys. Using just one ton of recycled plastic is enough to make 80 Go Green! Cozy Trucks™, and saves 98 million BTUs of heat (enough to heat a house for 163 days) than using new plastic! Talk about a great way to reduce the impact our toys have on the environment. And we’re just getting started!
We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to make our toys more environmentally friendly and have more initiatives (like a special additive that helps our Go Green!™ toys break down faster in landfill conditions) planned to help the future be brighter and greener! If you have ideas for us you can send us an email at: [email protected]
Creating New Toys Using Wood and Natural Materials
We’ve also started using wood and other natural materials in select products. For example, our Wooden Critters line of infant toys is made using all-natural wood from a sustainable factory, and we’re actively looking at ways to integrate wood, cloth, and other natural materials in future products.
Making Toys That Last
Parents know they can trust that Little Tikes toys are durable and will last for many years. We’re always happy to see Little Tikes toys being passed from family to family, parent to child, or otherwise swapped or gifted to a new home. We’ve heard stories of Cozy Coupes® that have been passed down between generations of the same family, friends handing over Easy Store™ 3ft Trampolines to a new jumper, and tons of other stories about our toys finding new kids to entertain.
Our toys are durable enough to survive usual wear and tear for as long as you need them. If you’ve got a 2-in-1 Snug ‘n Secure™ Swing that has seen better days or maybe a Cozy Coupe® needs a new wheel (or four), we offer replacement parts and stickers for select toys. Repairing and mending an existing toy rather than throwing it away is another great way to help the planet and reduce waste.
Toys That Are Designed to be Upcycled
We take pride in designing toys that can be reused again and again and sometimes even serve a whole new purpose. We’ve heard stories of Turtle Sandboxes that have been turned into garden planters after the kids grew up and countless other tales of innovative second uses for our products. However you upcycle your Little Tikes toys, we salute you for making sure they continue to provide joy.
Do you have a well-loved, upcycled or otherwise green Little Tikes toy? We’d love to see your eco-friendly inventions Make sure to snap a picture of it with your kids, and don’t forget to tag us (@OfficialLittleTikes on Instagram, @LittleTikes everywhere else on social media)!
At Little Tikes, we don’t just make toys, we make play. Looking for more great active play ideas? Check out www.LittleTikes.com for all our latest play tips and tricks!
