Anthea and Helen – Why did you found the ‘World Sustainable Toy Day’?
We set up our environmentally friendly toy company, Sustained Fun in 2021 after both Helen and I had run other sustainability companies. We saw toys as a wasteful industry but it wasn’t until we had launched our company that we realised just how wasteful it is! We were shocked to learn that toys are the most plastic intensive products in the world and children often loose interest in new toys after 1 week!
When these types of bombshells struck us, we decided to do something about it. We were already connected with some other inspiring people in the toy industry trying to reduce the impact that toys are having on the environment, so we set up ‘World Sustainable Toy Day’ to showcase these people that are working hard and to shine a spotlight on these scary stats we had been learning.
What do you want to achieve with the ‘World Sustainable Toy Day’?
Our goal is to show families that there are toys they can purchase that align with their values – they don’t have to buy cheap, badly made products for birthdays and festive days (despite this being the majority of options available).
We also work to highlight the issues with the currently linear system consumer model in which toys are created in high numbers from low quality materials. ‘World Sustainable Toy Day’ aims to catalyse change in the toy industry and create more circular and sustainable outcomes for all.
You started the initiative in New Zealand; how do you involve supporters from other continents?
Yes, we are based in New Zealand but we set it up as a global campaign to ensure that all of the people working hard in this space felt included in the movement and had opportunities to showcase their work and connect with others. We now have over 60 supporting organisations in 11 countries.
What activities are you planning for ‘World Sustainable Toy Day’, which takes place this year on Friday 15 November?
We have two events happening here in New Zealand the weekend of ‘World Sustainable Toy Day’. The events are free activities for families around this year’s theme ‘connecting with nature’ and include nature scavenger hunts, bingo games, toy swaps and a showcase of local toy companies working in this space.
Nature scavenger hunts: find a feather
Nature scavenger hunts: a miniature forest
‘Connecting with nature’ is this years motto. Would you like to tell us more about it?
Being in nature is good for our wellbeing and health – this is the same for adults and children. With more and more disconnect from nature from activities like TV and video games, we chose this theme to showcase ways that families can get outside and interested in nature.
Child in nature
Like any impact-driven initiative, it needs a lot of supporters to get the idea out into the world. What specific support would you like from whom?
At the moment we are running the campaign ourselves entirely voluntarily – we would love some financial supporters to help grow the campaign as well as any contributions in the way of activities and content. We welcome supporters in the form of individuals, businesses and organisations. Anyone that wants to see a more environmentally friendly toy industry is invited to join us!
A look into the future, into the year 2035: What does World Sustainable Toy Day look like?
Hopefully we will be well on the way to solving the climate crisis and World Sustainable Toy Day can be more about spreading the great options for families and less about the need to change the industry!
World Sustainable Toy Day
Anthea Ibell und Helen Townsend
Christchurch, New Zealand
www.worldsustainabletoyday.com
Fotos World Sustainable Toy Day
