Sustainable toys provide countless benefits to both children and the planet yet, still, finding such toys can be difficult. What, exactly, makes a toy sustainable? Are wooden toys (ahem … Melissa & Doug) considered eco-friendly simply because they are made of wood? These days, most toys are made of plastics; stuffed animals and dolls are also made of artificial (read: plastic) fibers. Through a complex chemical process, plastic toys are made from fossil fuels and eventually break into many small pieces, or microplastics, that pollute our planet for the next 800-ish years. This week, I speak with blogger Christina Floyd. Like most parents, Christina found herself confused about the many issues surrounding toy sustainability so she started a blog to help others navigate the ins and outs of the toy market. And while I’ve done shows on *minimalist* playrooms in the past, this show is heavily centered around eco-friendliness. Indeed, Christina and I do a deep dive (and I mean real, real deep!) into the world of eco-friendly playthings for the children in our lives.   Here’s a preview of this week’s episode: [5:00]  Beyond wooden toys: The 4 qualities of sustainable playthings [7:00]  Is Melissa & Doug an eco-friendly corporation? [8:30] 3 things to look for when buying any toy for the children in your life [14:30] Non-plastic stuffed animal ideas [15:30] Why toy packaging matters   Resources mentioned in this week’s episode: * Christina on Instagram * Christina’s 13 sustainable toy recommendations * Sustainable Toys free Facebook group    * Thank you to Outrage + Optimism for sponsoring this episode! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts for new episodes every Thursday. * All I want for my birthday is your podcast reviews! On the Apple Podcasts app, hit the Library tab, scroll allll the way to the bottom past all prior episodes, then click on the stars to leave a review. (Thank you!) * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #164: Your Minimalist Play Room. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest. * NEW FEATURE! Leave a voicemail with your question and I’ll answer it on-air! Here’s how: State your name then leave the show a message at (508) 960-9046. (This new feature only works with audience participation, so don’t be shy!)