The Great Ethical Toy Guide is released

Wood is in and plastic is out as gifts under the Christmas tree come complete with a clear conscience

By Jonathan Thompson

Sunday, 10 December 2006

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They've done the recycling, changed to low-energy light bulbs and buy only Fairtrade coffee. Now, parents who strive for sustainable living can make sure they only give their children ethically sound toys. A new guide reveals the "greenest" toys and games for children in the run-up to Christmas, with a "ethiscore" for the best, and the worst.

By their 16th birthday, the average British child will have owned toys worth £11,000. The toy industry, which has often been criticised for its lack of environmental awareness, is worth an estimated £8bn.

The guide, published this month by the Ethical Consumer Research Association (Ecra), marks toy manufacturers on factors as diverse as animal testing, workers' rights, supply chain policy, responsible marketing, product sustainability and contribution to pollution and toxins.

Top of the table, with 17 out of 20, is Escor Wooden Toys, a small company owned by Bournemouth county council. Escor attracted particular praise for the fact that its products are made from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood and that its workshop engages severely disabled individuals who would be unable to find employment elsewhere.

Also highly commended is Lanka Kade, a family-run, Fairtrade company which sources its products from Sri Lanka and has a PVC-free policy. Green Board Games, which makes its merchandise from recycled materials or wood from managed forests, also scored highly.

Ruth Rosselson, the report's author, said: "This has been the year of the environment, and consumers are waking up to the impact their purchases have. The good news is that there are quite a few companies making much greener products for children."

According to Ms Rosselson, too many big toy manufacturers are still using excessive amounts of plastic and electrical components in their products without thought for their environmental impact.

"There's still a long way to go with the mainstream toy industry, " she said. "The big companies are not doing enough to ensure that their materials are coming from sustainable sources, and that their factory workers are earning enough to live on. They need to take ethics on board as part of the way they do business, not as a management add-on."

Ethical gift-buying is set to be a major force this Christmas. A survey to be published this week by Friends Provident will show that as many as 25 per cent of shoppers now consider ethical issues when buying gifts for children. A further 59 per cent would prefer to shop at an ethical retailer if given a choice, with 13 per cent believing that ethical gifts give more meaning to Christmas.

David Hawtin, director general of the British Toy and Hobby Association, said the industry had a series of established international guidelines, and was taking steps to improve its ethical and environmental stances - but that the rules of the marketplace often overtook such worthy concerns.

"We've made huge progress over the past 10 years, and to us this is an open-ended, continuing commitment," said Mr Hawtin. "But all retailers need to provide toys at the lowest competitive prices. It's supply and demand: some people think this is the nub of the problem, but toys need to be made as economically as possible."

The New Way: The five most ethical toys for Christmas

1. Brand: Lanka Kade Toys

Ethiscore: 16

Top Toy: Brown girl doll

Price: £9

2. Brand: Green Board Games

Ethiscore: 15.5

Top Toy: Alpha Animals Family Board Game

Price: £20

3. Brand: Holz Wooden Toys

Ethiscore: 15.5

Top Toy: Wooden Pirates