Earthopoly eco-friendly Game

Earthopoly is a new earth-friendly board game made by Cinncinati-based specialty game manufacturer Late for the Sky.  The game follows the format and style of the legendary classic Monopoly, only nearly every aspect of the game right down to the board is eco-friendly.

All the paper is recyclable. The ink is vegetable oil-based ink. The game pieces are either made by nature or completely recyclable and many are sourced locally.  The game's box and board are made from 100% recycled paperboard, the outer wrapping is made from Earthfirst PLA film which is a bio-plastic.

Late for the Sky says, "Our goal in making this game was to have as little impact as possible on the planet and at the same time create a game that shares helpful information."

The game is fun and gets quite creative having players become caretakers of many special places around the world.  It uses things like carbon credits, clean air and recycling as incentives to increase property values.

Sustainable is Good Products had the opportunity to test Earthopoly and we found it both entertaining and insightful.  One teacher in Chicago we shared Earthopoly with loved the concept saying she planned on using the game with her seventh and eight grade students. 

Its just that type of game - its fun but also allows players to pick up important earth-friendly facts and increases overall awareness green environmental issues. 

Earthopoly is a great choice for families or teachers looking for a fun and educational game focused on the environment.

The game is available through the company's web site and at speciality toy and game stores.

Green Toys Post Consumer Recycled Plastic Toys

San Francisco-based Green Toys is going strong and its latest line of greener more eco-friendly toys are now becoming available.

The eco-toy maker appeared on the scene at just the right time last year as many Americans dealt with concerns over Chinese made toys.

The toy market in the US is becoming increasingly focused on greener toys and toys made in the US. Green Toys makes its toys from post consumer recycled plastic in the US so its products cover two of the most important issues in eco-toys for the American market.

Green Toys are made in California and all the steps in the production process occur in California. The toys are made from post consumer #2 HDPE plastic.

Sustainable is Good Products had the chance to check out Green Toys Sand Play Set.  The quality of the toys are high and they resemble classics of years past.  Perfect for playing in the sandbox, or building a summer sand castle on the beach, simplicity, quality and environmental responsibility are the backbone of Green Toys products.

The packaging is also worthy of mention. The company uses as little packaging a possible. All Green Toys products are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties and are 100% recyclable.

"There is an overwhelming demand from consumers and retailers for toys that are both good for the environment and safe for kids.  Our new line of toys made from recycled plastic milk containers deliver on both counts," said Robert von Goeben, co-founder of Green Toys.   "By using post-consumer recycled plastic, we close the loop and demonstrate to kids the real world benefits of recycling."

Green Toys products made from recycled materials will be available in retail stores starting Spring 2008, and will include a tea set, indoor gardening kit, cookware and dining set and a sand play set.

Toys R Us Eco-Friendly Toys

Toys R Us recently announced the launch of an exclusive line of environmentally friendly toys that will be marketed under the Toys R Us brand.

The first toys in the collection – Natural Wooden Toys, Natural Cotton plush animals and Organic Cotton Dolls – will be available exclusively at Toys"R"Us stores nationwide and on their web site by Earth Day, April 22. Additional items in the line will be introduced later this year.

The toys come packaged in earth-tone colored boxes that bear a special "R" seal. This seal consists of a green version of the iconic Toys"R"Us reversed "R" logo with a green leaf, encircled by the words "Recycle, Renew, Reuse, Re-think," and signifies for parents that the toys are eco-friendly.

"We know that kids are becoming more environmentally conscious and are curious about how they can do their part to help protect the planet," said Karen Dodge, Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys"R"Us, U.S. "Going green is more than just a trend. It's becoming a lifestyle. This is just our first step in offering our customers the best selection of eco-friendly and organic products in all of our Toys"R"Us stores nationwide."

Crafted from natural materials, these items come in packaging that is made from no less than 70% recycled material.

The Natural Wooden Toys are decorated using a unique wood-burning technique, which offers a classic look. The Natural Cotton plush animals and Organic Cotton Dolls are colored using natural or water-based dyes and are made with unprocessed, unbleached and untreated cotton.

In addition, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified that the materials used to make the Natural Wooden Toys were sourced from well-managed forests, using a system of ten rules that define responsible forest management. Each wooden product in the collection is marked with an identifiable FSC logo.

The new toys represent a major advancement in the area of greener more eco-friendly toys and their availability to mainstream consumers. Making FSC certified toys available on a nationwide scale is a significant step in the right direction.

The toy retailer is hoping its new green line of toys will yield increased sales from consumers turned off by many of the problems with toys from China last year. The Chinese toy crisis has created a large group of more concerned parents who Toys r Us believes is the ideal consumer for its new green toys.

Natural Cotton Plush Animals

This collection includes a lamb, monkey, bunny and teddy bear. All ages.

Natural Wooden Toys

With eight toys in the line, including a fire engine, utility crane, shape sorter, trailer truck, racing car, formula car, alphabet blocks wagon and stacking train. Ages 2 and up.

Organic Cotton Dolls

The dolls are made with organic cotton and are available in pale pink and light brown. Ages birth and up.