Source: Spielwarenmesse eG

With the 72nd Spielwarenmesse International Toy Fair having been canceled for the second year in a row, the organizers at Spielwarenmesse eG are casting a spotlight on one big trend that they’d planned to showcase this year: sustainable toys.

The Toys Go Green “megatrend” was first revealed last October by the Spielwarenmesse TrendCommittee and comprises four key parts:

MADE BY NATURE: BAMBOO, CORK, AND MORE

Wooden toys such as building blocks and sorting games have long been firm fixtures in countless children’s playrooms. The “Made by Nature” section demonstrates that toys can also be made from many other natural materials. The range of raw materials that nature has to offer is broad and diverse and includes products such as maize, rubber, bamboo, wool, and cork.

INSPIRED BY NATURE: THE PLASTICS OF THE FUTURE

The “Inspired by Nature” segment likewise revolves around renewable raw materials. The production of plastics is heavily dependent on fossil resources such as oil, coal, and natural gas. This product category demonstrates that there are other ways, too. It presents toys made from bio-based plastics that are environmentally friendly.

RECYCLE & CREATE: NEW FROM OLD

Sustainably manufactured products are at the heart of the “Recycle & Create” category. On the one hand, it showcases toys made of recycled raw materials; on the other, it focuses on creating new toy ideas with upcycling.

DISCOVER SUSTAINABILITY: LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

Toys can help children to understand complex situations by simplifying and clarifying them. The segment displays toys that use play to explain topics such as environment and climate and to make children aware of the issues.

Related: Spielwarenmesse 2022: A Q&A with Executive Board Spokesperson Christian Ulrich

In lieu of the physical show, special Toys Go Green video presentations are being highlighted on the Spielwarenmesse Digital website. The content is being streamed from the Toy Business Forum.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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