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Natural and Handmade Toys Could be Made Illegal?

December 8, 2008 By 10 Comments

I’ve fallen in love with a new online toy store, Natural Pod. They use FSC certified wood, everything is either organic or as close to organic as possible and they buy as local as possible. They also have a relationship with their craftsman and when possible use pin or screws verses toxic sealants (see video review of one stand archway). Natural Pod uses a bees wax coating and water based glue and all-processing is formaldehyde free.  This company that I’ve fallen for might not be allowed to sell in the U.S. because of another law that is meant to “protect” us.

Here is an excerpt from the Eco Child’s Play article written by Jennifer Lance that first alerted me to this:

Due to under staffing at the CPSC and the flurry of toy recalls that have occurred, the agency passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in August, 2008. At first glance, this seems like good legislation, as it bans lead and phthalates in toys, mandates third-party testing and certification for all toys and requires toy makers to permanently label each toy with a date and batch number.  Such requirements will be easy to fund for large toy companies; however, small independent natural toy companies will not be able survive these extra requirements.

As a parent who just walked through my local stores and tried to find safe non-toxic home made toys for Christmas, I am frustrated. I don’t know what is lead free and what isn’t and if I had one of The Smart Mama’s analyzers I would have gone shopping with it yesterday.  Instead, I think I will place an order with Natural Pod before it is too late and urge you and everyone you know to do something about this and advocate for natural and handmade toys!

From the Hand Made Toy Alliance:C

Parents, grandparents, and concerned citizens:

Please write to your United States Congress Person and Senator and the CPSC to request changes in the CPSIA to save handmade toys.  Use our sample letter below or write your own.  You can find your Congress Person here and Senator here.  Write to the CPSC here.

Read the buzz and reviews on what others are saying about about Natural Pod and maybe you’ll do what I’m doing and fill your cart because until the end of December you can save 10% with the code GCM08 at checkout.

Front Page of the Nature Conservancy

“Few people know where the wood that makes up their purchased furniture or paper products came from.

And probably fewer know whether those forests were sustainably managed and legally harvested before that timber became a coffee table or a paper card. “

Recommending Natural Pod for using FSC certified wood.

Classy Mommy

About the tree branch blocks: “I’ve never seen anything like it on the market before.”

Teensy Green

“I’m especially in love with Natural Pod’s collection of blocks and stacking toys. We checked out the Tree Branch Blocks – from the moment the blocks were poured out of the bag, my girls found them irresistible. They couldn’t believe they were “really” trees, and it took some explaining about how and why they make tree branches into useable blocks that don’t splinter or smell like wood. The blocks come from naturally felled Alder trees, kiln dried and sealed. “

The Green Parent

“Simple is best when it comes to kids toys.  And with the holidays approaching, I was pretty excited to come across a company called Natural Pod that makes simple, creativity-sparking toys, like wooden puzzles and musical instruments, hand-sewn plush dolls, hand-dyes play silks and more. ”

Green Talk


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Filed Under: Green Goods and Reviews, Green Health, Green Homes, Green News, Green Parenting, Green Solutions and Tips, Green Sprouts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
  • http://www.recycleyourday.com Leslie- La Mama Naturale’

    Hi there,

    Thanks for linking up- and thanks for sharing the information. I will be blogging about this also. I hope we can change the law! :)

    Leslie- La Mama Naturale’s last blog post..The Advent Calendar Tradition

  • http://www.greenandchic.com/blog Carla

    It seems like if its not one thing, its another. Thanks for the heads-up!

    Carlas last blog post..Emperor “Clean Coal” has no clothes

  • http://www.green-talk.com Anna

    Thanks for adding my site to Natual Pod’s testimonies. I read your post today with shock. This is a company that should not be turned away at the US doors. I have to agree with Carla. It seems that one hand gives and the other takes away.

  • http://themodernhippy.com Missy

    Good grief. Though I do not have kids myself, I have plenty of nieces and nephews and worry about their health and wellness as well. Good post and thanks for bringing up the subject!

  • misty

    thanks so much! sending my letter right now!

  • http://www.momstylenews.com Angeline

    I find it confusing that groups that are forever lobbying for the government to get more involved in the regulation of toy safety (e.g., green moms) are now lobbying for the government to leave certain toy manufacturers alone. Which is it people? When it comes to government regulation it is all or nothing, our friends do not get special exception. That is why I always advocate for less government involvement and more personal responsibility when choosing toys. Carefully shopping for toys, as Sommer says she does, is the best way to make sure our kids have quality toys. This “Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act” is the direct result of parents constantly demanding that the government do more to make toys safer. Instead of writing letters begging special dispensation for Natural Pod, think of all the letters you have already written that has made this happen.

  • http://www.greenandcleanmom.org Green & Clean Mom

    Advocating for the government to not allow toy manufacturers to make toys with lead and unsafe parts because it is cheaper is a positive thing but I think you are confused because the letter is to advocating for something to be revised. All of us wanting government to regulate toy safety are pleased with the swift response but what is wrong with revisions that give us choices as consumers and protect handmade toy companies?

    http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/how-you-can-help

    “I urge you to quickly rewrite the CPSIA so that toys made in batches of less than 5,000 units per year or manufactured within the USA and trusted countries with established toy safety regimes such as Canada and the European Union be held exempt from third party testing requirements. Such toys could still be subject to random auditing by the CPSC.

    If you feel that testing should still be required, then the CPSC should be made to offer free testing services for USA toymakers and importers from Europe or Canada with revenues less than one million dollars.”

    This being said, it is still important that the government mandates for safer toys because big companies are importing things from China that can hurt our children and even if we as consumers make smart buying choices, we can be fooled by trusted bigger companies. Consumers need to have some safety and assurance. I can shop all I want for safe toys and make careful choices but this regulation verify the toys safety, there just needs to be some revisions.

    This is not a plea for just Natural Pod but all handmade smaller toy companies. Natural Pod is a great example that I can give my readers to help make this change in the legislation.

    I would also like to note that it might be necessary to thank all of us that have written letters and advocate for this legislation and want to make sure it is just and fair before it is passed. Because of us (e.g. green moms) your children will have safer toys without lead!

  • http://www.momstylenews.com Angeline

    Regarding Sommer’s response “Because of us (e.g. green moms) your children will have safer toys without lead!”:
    This boils down to a philosophical debate. I advocate and vote for less government regulation in all areas where personal responsibility and the free market can, in my opinion, create a better result. So any assertion that I, or people like me, appreciate being kept “safer” through the political advocacy of special interest groups is erroneous. I have full confidence that I can keep my kids safe without interference from government or other parents. For that matter I think that all parents have the power to keep their kids safe without interference from government or other parents. I would prefer to see parents who care about toy safety to use their energy to create safe-toy distributor collaboratives, rather than sending letters to government to create more laws to do so. We have the power to make the change we want to see, it is all about how we chose to use it.

  • Sarah Morrisseau

    I sincerely hope that this issue does not get pushed to the side with everything else that is on the gov’t plate. Safe toys for our kids is such an important issue and although i can see why this piece of legislation initially sounded like a good idea, we may have shot ourselves in the foot, yet again. Thanks so much for keeping me updated on issues like this one, that are so important. I have really enjoyed reading your articles, keep them coming and have a great week! :)
    -S

  • http://www.greenandcleanmom.org Green & Clean Mom

    Thanks for saying hello and for your support. I agree, this is such an important issue.