December 2011 New Specialty Toys — Eco-Friendly

Nothing gets the green light from Planet Earth like the Mini Fastbacks from Green Toys Inc. Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and reduce greenhouse gasses, these four palm-sized cars are perfect for little hands ready to explore and protect their world. The red, blue, green, and yellow two-door coupes are high-design and low-emission, with a classic sloping roofline, racing stripes, and no metal axles. No BPA, phthalates, PVC or external coatings. Packaged with recycled and recyclable materials and printed with soy inks. Dimensions: 6"L x 3-1/2"W. Launch date: 2012.

Build a castle. Dig for buried treasures. No matter how ambitious the project, the world's most eco-groovy sand play set always leaves a light footprint. Like all Green Toys products, the Sand Play Set is made from advanced environmentally friendly materials, helping to reduce fossil fuel use and C02 emissions. 4 Pieces, including: Bucket, Shovel, Rake, Sand Castle Mold. For ages 18 months and up. Launch date: 2012.

Build a castle. Dig for buried treasures. No matter how ambitious the project, the world's most eco-groovy sand play set always leaves a light footprint. Like all Green Toys products, the Sand Play Set is made from advanced environmentally friendly materials, helping to reduce fossil fuel use and C02 emissions. 4 Pieces, including: Bucket, Shovel, Rake, Sand Castle Mold. For ages 18 months and up.Launch date: 2012.

No job is too big for the world's most environmentally friendly tool kit. This 15 piece set includes a tool box, phillips screwdriver, flat screwdriver, hammer, saw, wrench, pliers, 2 two-hole connectors, 2 nails, 2 bolts, and 2 nuts. Launch date: 2012.

No job is too big for the world's most environmentally friendly tool kit. This 15 piece set includes a tool box, phillips screwdriver, flat screwdriver, hammer, saw, wrench, pliers, 2 two-hole connectors, 2 nails, 2 bolts, and 2 nuts. Launch date: 2012.

City streets, busy highways, country roads. Whether it’s the Ambulance, Police Car, Taxi, or Red Fastback, the Green Toys Mini Vehicles are sure to stop traffic wherever little imaginations venture. These planet-pleasing automobiles are made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs, saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Each pint-sized car sports its own unique details, while the whole fleet features a super-eco design with no metal axles or external coatings. No BPA, phthalates or PVC. Packaged with recycled and recyclable materials and printed with soy inks. Dimensions: 6"L x 3-1/2"W. Launch date: 2012.

With the Green Toys Build-a-Bouquet, budding florists can create countless floral arrangements while saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs, this brightly colored 44 piece set includes 4 bases, 16 stem and leaf pieces, and 24 flower pieces. The vibrant lilies, petunias, and daisies stack interchangeably in the assorted stems for limitless fun that blossoms in all seasons. It’s no secret that this garden is as safe as it is fun, with no BPA, phthalates, PVC or external coatings. Packaged using recycled and recyclable materials and printed with soy inks. Launch date: 2012.

Kids can practice healthy eating habits with the fresh and fun Green Toys Salad Set. Toss up lettuce and veggies and top with a dash of dressing or salt & pepper for the greenest salad around. In this 20-piece stackable set, each realistic part is made in the USA from food-safe, 100% recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sized for Green Toys kitchen sets and interchangeable with other Green Toys play food products, the Salad Set includes a serving bowl, salad plate, 2 serving utensils, 3 lettuce leaves, 3 sets of cucumbers, 2 tomatoes, 2 red peppers, onions, mushrooms, and fold-your-own oil & vinegar and salt & pepper. No BPA, phthalates, PVC or external coatings. Meets FDA food contact standards. Dishwasher Safe. Launch date: 2012.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys, 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20

Earth—friendly reusable drawing and magnet kits. Contains everything neessary for everlasting fun, learning, and creativity! Each kit includes a magnetic dry erase board, over 30 magnetic play pieces, five dry erase markers in assorted colors and a write on/wipe off activity book filled with lots reusable activities and games. Kids will create rough—and—tumble trucks and make up their own on—the—go adventures. Launch date: February 2011.

It's easy to turn old paper into custom-made new paper. Take any type of paper, add water, and grind away. Place pulp on the screen, press and let it dry. Easy, simple way to recycle paper while creating greeting cards, bookmarks, tags, announcement and more. Grinder, screen plus ribbons and jewels for decorating.
— In a November 2013 survey, Linda Graham, president and co-owner of Scheffel's Toys, Inc in Jacksonville, Ore., told TDmonthly that Small World science kits are among her store's best-selling educational products.

The Hape e-copter is ready for take off. The e-copter takes to the skies in style with its bamboo body and vibrant graphics.

A great variation on the classic ring stacker. This one has 7 rings and the top one spins like a windmill. The round pieces have 2 holes so kids can learn about 3D. Height is 18cm. Launch date: September 2011.

A deliciously beautiful patisserie tea set with 15 pieces and made from 100% plantation wood and non-toxic paints. Launch date: September 2011.

A Bi-Plane in which parts turn. Ideal for little aviators. The propeller and steering wheel spin and the little pilot comes out. The size is 28cm x 20cm x 18cm (3y+). "Dicoveroos toys are 100% Plantation Wood and only use non-toxic paints," Jane Wood, president of Bug In A Rug, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2011.

Crayons made from edible ingredients are hand to mouth safe. Crayon nuggets tuck into baby's palm, or can be used for stacking and building. Don't worry about petroleum or other toxic additives in our crayons; they are made with organic fruit and vegetable powders. VEGAN, no wheat, no sugar, no preservatives. Please supervise children at all times.  Not intended as food. Comes in 5 organic colors:  Green, Yellow, Orange, Red/Pink & Purple. Launch date: February 2011.
Awards: 2011 Dr. Toy Green Product Award

Blocks by brinca dada were designed to engage kids and adults. Unlike other blocks that fit together simply, these blocks are designed to conflict. We play with the simplicity of imperfection. They are a puzzle with infinite solutions. They are spontaneous, not pre-programmed--the opposite of video games. Handmade of teak hardwood. Launch date: November 2011.
Awards: 2011 New York Gift Fair Blogger's Choice Award

Squeeze-powered, kid-sized flashlights. Each animal's nose lights up when switched on. Side lever stores inside the body—release and squeeze to charge up the light.
— June Hargrove, co-owner of Black Forest Books & Toys in Charlotte, N.C., told TDmonthly in September 2011 that they sell 12 of this item each month.

Toobalink is the only construction toy that uses paper towel tubes and toilet tissue tubes as a main building element.  A Toobalink set comes with all the pieces necessary to build a wide variety of connectors, which are then used to hold the tubes together to build large scale structures. Each Toobalink kit comes with 39 pieces, including brand new tubes so that kids can get building right away. Kids love it because they can collect more tubes to build bigger, better structures and parents love it because the extra building material is FREE. Made in the USA. Launch date: June 2012.

Adopt a Plant - Save a Species. Encourages the public, one at a time, to adopt and nurture an endangered plant until it is sturdy enough to release back to nature or be re-potted as a house plant.  Kit includes actual rooted baby plant, plastic terrarium with small loop for attaching, coconut substrate and assembly instructions.  "Adopt a plant, build it a home, then take it with you wherever you roam." Launch date: May 2011.

Stay pretty in pink while getting down and dirty helping to save the planet. Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk containers, the Green Toys™ Pink Dump Truck is ready for any task, hauling sand and rocks or dolls and diamonds with ease. This durable, eco-friendly rig is both safe and stylish, with no metal axels and a workable purple dumper. No BPA, phthalates, PVC, or external coatings. "The Green Toys™ Pink Dump Truck is an innovative twist on a longstanding classic: USA-made, 100% recycled, high-quality design and construction -- and stylishly colored for even the most particular palate," Cameron Passmore, marketing manager at Green Toys Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2011.
— In a March 2015 survey, two out of 10 retailers told TDmonthly that Green Toys is their best-selling brand of eco-friendly toys.

School's in session with the planet's favorite new kid in class - the Green Toys™ School Bus. Made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this sturdy bus is ready to be loaded up for an earth-friendly ride to the classroom, a field trip, or whatever excursion little scholars see fit. The Green Toys School Bus goes to the head of the class for safety and eco-design, with no metal axels or external coatings. No BPA, PVC or phthalates. Packaged using only recycled and recyclable materials. "The Green Toys™ School Bus, like all Green Toys products, is made responsibly in the USA from 100% recycled plastic, and is still fun and appealing to youngsters of all ages," Cameron Passmore, marketing manager at Green Toys Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2011.
— Bebe Feimster, manager of Big Smile Toys/Hardware Center in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly in a March 2015 survey that the Green Toys School Bus is one of their best-selling "green" toys.