The push for more sustainable, eco-friendly plastics has gained momentum in recent decades, affecting the plastics manufacturing choices made by most industries. The use of plastics in the toy industry is no exception, where sustainability goals must mesh with the durability, functionality, and safety necessary when it comes to products used by children.

What Are Eco-Friendly Plastics?

Eco-friendly plastic resins are those which are renewable, including bioplastics or bio-derived plastics, which are based on sustainable materials, and recycled plastics.

Bioplastics

Made from materials such as wood pulp, cotton fiber, sugar, starches, proteins, and vegetables, these plastics can replace traditional petroleum-based plastics.

Recycled Plastics

Just as they sound, recycled plastics are generally made by reprocessing many types of plastics to purify them and create new plastic resin pellets that are ready for use in the next round of injection molding. Industry regulations specify how and when recycled plastics can be used for pharmaceutical packaging to ensure safety and eliminate the risk of contamination.

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Plastics in the Toy Industry

Using eco-friendly plastics in the toy industry offers a variety of benefits to companies, customers, and the environment.

Reduced Environmental Impact

The manufacturing of plastic toys produces less waste than other production methods. The process often requires much less energy and fewer resources, too. From an emissions standpoint, the lightweight nature of plastic toys makes for a lighter vehicle. The lighter the cargo, the lesser the fuel consumption.

Customer Satisfaction

Many consumers have a negative impression of plastic toys used by babies, toddlers and even older children. Opportunities to be more environmentally-friendly and support sustainability can only improve matters. Bioplastics and recycled plastics approved for children's toys are safe and reliable, further enhancing peace of mind for parents and consumers.

Industry Benefits

Reliance on petroleum-based plastics means dependence on materials with often volatile price changes and potential for supply chain disruptions. Using more eco-friendly plastics can offset some of those cost concerns, particularly when locally-sourced bioplastic materials are available.

At Bennett Plastics, we are fully committed to sustainability from the materials we use and our manufacturing practices to our facility itself. Contact us today to learn more about eco-friendly materials and our full plastics manufacturing and secondary capabilities.