I t’s what parents have suspected all along. There have also been warnings for years about the presence of persistent organic toxins (POPs) in toys made of recycled plastic. 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. Plastic toys can often only be used for their purpose and can restrict children’s thinking skills. October 3, 2020 August 4, 2016 by Team SuperBee. He is always there to lend a helping hand, and he’ll drop what he’s doing to help someone. You’ll typically find No. “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. We all know by now that plastic is terrible for the environment, but why? If animals eat plastic, it gets stuck in their tummy and makes them sick. 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. It … 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. Dump the Plastic: Why Plastic is Bad for Your Health. 2021 Bustle Digital Group. 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. 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. That advice may sound extreme, but these are not benign chemicals. At least harmful plastic isn't going to be used as frequently anymore! “No contaminants can end up in toys.”. 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. The BBC reports a poll from the British Heart Foundation that points to a problem. What do you want the president to prioritize in the next four years? Lego is going to start making toys from plant-based plastic. You must have observed that grocery shops these days do not use plastic bags. 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. By Staff Writer Last Updated Mar 26, 2020 8:54:01 AM ET. Could your dog’s favorite toy actually be poisoning him? They can also optimize sustainable types and quantities of materials used. 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. These are usually phthalate-free. MCDONALD'S is making major changes to its Happy Meal toy options. 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. 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. Why Is Plastic Bad for the Environment? 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). along with engine exhaust and welding fumes, more likely than sex toys to contain banned chemicals, Two billion tons were subsequently recycled, what little literature exists remains inconclusive, The Best Toy Storage Organizers for Keeping the Toys at Bay, The 8 Best Discreet Sex Toys You Won’t Be Embarrassed for Your Kid to Find, The 6 Best SAD Lamps for Seasonal Depression — And Why They Work, 11 Great Play Food Sets for Your Kid's Play Kitchen. Plastics are indigestible and non-biodegradable and once produced, one cannot get rid of them. Many large toy companies are trying to become more eco-friendly after decades of relying on environmentally destructive plastic in their products and packaging. 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. And in 1999 the UK Department for Trade and Industry released a report that concluded that such fears were unfounded in humans, and merely “chemical paranoia.”, But Miller isn’t taking any chances. The question that rises now is – aren’t plastic toys becoming a problem for the environment? First, let’s get real: Not all plastic is bad. “But if you have toxic chemicals in the recycling stream and you’re putting them in children’s products…. 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. And PVC can be pretty common in toys. Plastic water bottles can bring clean drinking water to people who don’t have it, and plastic straws can help people with disabilities drink. And just how bad is the damage? 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. Bike helmets, car airbags, and many medical supplies made with plastic save lives. But hey, they're also kids. I calmly began packing up not just a toy or two, but every single thing. 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. MCDONALD'S is making major changes to its Happy Meal toy options. But if the flexible plastic toy isn’t properly labeled, don’t buy it unless it’s are labeled as PVC-free. In particular, more than a quarter of parents say they throw away perfectly good, working toys. Packaging accounts for over 40 per cent of plastic usage. "Plastic's inanimate, so it can't be bad, it's what people do with it that's bad," he said. Many school districts have a zero-tolerance policy. Here's why it's not a solution to our plastic problem. 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. Treasure baskets offered in baby rooms give the children a sense of curiosity, enabling them to explore household items using all of their senses. "It was totally incongruent for us to buy these toys for our kids for their edification and enjoyment. The fast food restaurant has claimed it will ban plastic toys and replace them with a new option for fans. “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. “We found chemical pollutants in many different types of plastic toys and articles of clothing, like boots and sandals made for toddlers,” she says. Visit BGR’s homepage for more stories. Plastic toys can end up in landfill and in the ocean A poll by the British Heart Foundation found that more than a quarter of parents admit to throwing away toys that are in perfect working … 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. Our exclusive interview with Mike Schade about our children's plastic toys that are toxic. Thermally destructing pollutants in incineration plants. The European Union recently cracked down on recycled materials that contain OctaBDE and DecaBDE, and Guzzonato says this is a crucial step. There are plenty of good things to stick to, but plastic gadgets aren’t on the top of the list. ), "You have all these toys ― they’re cheap, they’re made out of plastic, they break easily. Rubber duckies laced with flame retardants. Plastic debris is found absolutely everywhere, from the Arctic to Antarctica. Research has found most toys contain chemicals toxic to humans, according to the EPA. “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. “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. 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. Sign up for the Fatherly newsletter to get original articles and expert advice about parenting, fitness, gear, and more in your inbox every day. “If all waste contamination is known and controlled,” she says. If your dog loves plastic, rubbery toys, it’s not so far-fetched. Factories that make plastic have to make tons of them every day because people ask for plastic bags – … There are also plenty of sustainable toy companies cropping up that either use closed-loop systems or no plastic. First of all, help them consider less. Large plastics float across oceans and sometimes collect together to form garbage patches such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Toys are fun, and they can be very educational. 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. And the International Agency for Research on Cancer considers SSCPs possibly carcinogenic, along with engine exhaust and welding fumes. But plastic toys just felt so, well, childish. I don’t want parents to be alarmed unnecessarily, but I believe they have a right to know.”. 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. The reasons why plastic is awesome are almost too numerous to count, but here are five that really resonate for us: 1. Usually, this plastic doesn't get used inside the toy itself; rather, this is what much plastic packaging is made of. Often times, things like plastic bags floating in the water can easily be mistaken as a wandering jellyfish. That hasn’t happened and the U.S. lacks anything resembling those regulations embraced elsewhere. The good news is … 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. Metalworking runoff in Mickey Mouse slippers. 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. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock. PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Plastic can — and does — save lives. Regulation, however, is only one piece of the puzzle. A study published last month found evidence of flame retardant chemicals in 61 percent of toys tested. Something went wrong. Chelsea Ritschel. 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. Tests have shown that dibutylphthalate (DBP) is released into … 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. 3 stamped on teething rings, toys, plastic curtains, take-out packaging and personal care products. Treasure baskets offered in baby rooms give the children a sense of curiosity, enabling them to explore household items using all of their senses. We’re actually harming their environment that they’re going to live in for the rest of their lives.". There is no signs that will change anytime soon. Children who have too many toys are more easily distracted, and do not enjoy quality playtime, a new study suggests. 'Dune' Toys Are Already For Sale — But Where's My Giant F*cking Sandworm Toy? If possible, avoid all plastic toys for infants and newborns. 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 … “And they are, in fact, quite harmful.”, Neither, apparently, is the international community. Die-cast toys use real metal in the mold rather than just plastic, which is why they tend to be much heavier than their plastic counterparts along with earning the name die-cast. 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