Are wooden toys killing planet?
Well are they? Are wooden toys killing the planet?
Are too many wooden toys produced? Are enough old wooden toys recycled? Can wooden toys be recycled? Do people actually care?
I have always brought wooden toys whether it be for family or friends. There is something charming and quaint about wooden toys which is why I like to give them as presents. Children love them, parents know you have spent a bit longer choosing them, but until now I have never really stopped to think as to whether my liking of wooden toys is having a negative effect on the planet?
Does a simple product like a wooden toy have a negative effect on the planet - simple answer - YES, here’s how, in a very simplistic form.
Stage 1 - Fell tree (Needs cutting equipment)
Stage 2 - Transport tree (Needs transport, oil)
Stage 3 - Process tree (needs machinery)
Stage 4 - Processed timber shipped to toy manufacturer
Stage 5 - Manufacturing process begins
Stage 6 - Packaging applied
Stage 7 - Shipped to distribution centre
Stage 8 - Shipped to retailer
Stage 9 - Purchased by consumer
Stage 10 - Packaging discarded
Stage 11 - In the rubbish bin
Now we all know there are going to be a lot more wasteful processes when producing a wooden toy, but as you can imagine the periphery requirements from these 11 stages would be an enormous amount of resource - For just one wooden toy.
So are wooden toys killing the planet? You tell me?
Written by EcoGirl on June 24th, 2008 with
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