The Plastic Problem: A Story of Change and Consequence
As parents, it’s easy to spot the little things that make up our everyday lives - like the way plastic seems to find its way into almost every corner of our homes. From the snack bags to the toy box, it’s everywhere. But plastic’s convenience comes with a cost that’s harder to see.
Last year, a monumental step was taken when 175 nations gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, agreeing to a treaty designed to tackle the plastic crisis head-on. It was a glimmer of hope in an otherwise overwhelming problem.
As parents, we know that what we do today shapes our children’s future. So, while the world debates policy, what can we do right now?
What’s Really Wrong with Plastic?
Plastic has become so integrated into our daily lives that it’s difficult to imagine life without it. But the current reality is that the world generates around 400 million tons of plastic waste annually.
What’s worse is that about 91% of it isn’t recycled.
Instead, it ends up in landfills or polluting our oceans, where it can take centuries to break down. What does this mean for our kids? The problem isn't just an environmental one - it’s a health issue too.
Plastic toys, for instance, often contain toxic chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and lead, all of which can leach into our environment or directly impact the health of our children. Research from the Environmental Working Group has shown that exposure to these chemicals may affect hormone levels, cause developmental delays, and even pose long-term health risks.
As plastic continues to break down into smaller particles - called microplastics - it enters our water and food supply.
According to a report from the World Health Organization, the average person consumes about 5 grams of microplastics each week - roughly the weight of a credit card.
The effects on developing bodies, especially young children, are still being studied, but early signs are worrying.
The Harmful Effects of Plastic for Kids
There’s no question that plastic plays a role in exposing our children to hidden dangers. Plastics impact kids in five key ways:
- Chemical Exposure: Toxic chemicals in plastic toys and packaging can interfere with hormonal development and contribute to cognitive delays.
- Air Quality: When plastics are burned or break down, they release harmful toxins into the air, increasing the risk of asthma and respiratory issues in children.
- Environmental Legacy: Every piece of plastic ever made still exists in some form. Our kids are inheriting a planet riddled with plastic waste.
- Choking Hazards: Broken or cheaply made plastic toys often become small, sharp objects that can pose immediate physical dangers.
- Overconsumption: Plastic toys are often made to be disposable, which encourages a “throwaway culture” that our children absorb, adding to environmental waste.
Plastic Toys and Their Impact
Plastic toys, while convenient and affordable, contribute to some significant problems. For starters, they are often made with harmful chemicals. According to the European Environmental Agency, some of the plastic additives found in toys are linked to hormone disruption, which can lead to developmental issues in children.
There’s also the issue of environmental waste. Most plastic toys cannot be recycled because of their mixed materials, meaning they’ll sit in landfills for hundreds of years.
In fact, the UK alone discards around 32 tons of plastic from toys every year. These toys also contribute to overconsumption, teaching our children that toys are easily replaceable, disposable objects, rather than durable items meant to last.
A Solution at Play: How Playper Toys Make a Difference
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when thinking about plastic’s impact, but there are tangible steps we can take as parents. One of them is rethinking the toys we choose for our children. This is where Playper comes in.
Playper toys offer a solution to the plastic problem with their plastic-free, eco-friendly design. Made from PlayperBoard®, a durable material crafted from recycled greyboard and chipboard, these toys are not only fully recyclable but also completely free from harmful chemicals like BPA, phthalates, or lead.
The toys are printed using soy-based inks and finished with a non-toxic, water-based coating, ensuring that they’re safe for kids while also reducing environmental harm.
For example, Playper’s Curious Kingdom Castle Playset takes the fun and imaginative play of traditional toys and wraps it in an eco-friendly package.
Kids get to create their own stories, engage in problem-solving, and explore their creativity—all while playing with toys that won’t add to the growing plastic crisis. Each toy is designed with the planet in mind, but that’s not the only benefit.
These toys encourage hands-on exploration, building essential skills like critical thinking and fine motor development.
Kids learn how to assemble pieces, problem-solve, and engage in open-ended play, all while using materials that will biodegrade naturally.
And perhaps best of all, Playper toys help foster an eco-conscious mindset. By playing with sustainable toys, children not only develop their skills but also grow up with an understanding of how their choices impact the environment.
What’s Next for Our Children?
As the world grapples with the massive problem of plastic waste, we have the power to take small but meaningful actions in our own homes.
By choosing sustainable alternatives like Playper, we can reduce our families’ plastic footprint while encouraging our children to grow up with values of creativity, responsibility, and environmental stewardship.
As I wrote about in our blog Raising a Green Family, there is much we can all individually do in instilling eco-friendly values in our children. While we can take a little comfort in this international agreement and efforts by governments around the world, it’ll be up to our children to make environmental progress a given, and something that makes headline news.
The global agreement in Nairobi is a promising step, but the real work begins at home, with the toys we put in our children’s hands.
The question is: what kind of future will we shape for our kids with the choices we make today?
