Here is an eco-friendly toy from Apple Park made of organic cotton and stuffed with a bio polymer derived from corn, purchased 2022. This is a company we recommend for both their high quality materials and their ease of care. Due to the corn-based filling, the toy is easy to wash and dry like a typical polyester stuffed toy. There are no plastic parts and the details are stitched in. The tag proudly describes its eco-friendly credentials. These toys are also available in a wide variety of sizes and animals.
Reading on the fabric:
| Element of Interest | Parts per million (ppm) | Error Range |
|---|---|---|
| None detected | ||
| Other Elements | ||
| Fe | 55 | +/- 15 |
| Ni | 13 | +/- 7 |
| Sn | 14 | +/- 9 |
| Bi | 4 | +/- 2 |
All samples were tested in consumer goods TestAll mode using a Niton XL3t 700S for at least 30 seconds. Results are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Test Summary:
No elements of interest were detected.
Note that this toy is a rattle. The rattle sounds like it is made from plastic pellets. We do not disassemble toys and we are not concerned about internal components like this in new toys.
The federal lead restrictions for children’s products are 90-100 parts per million lead, for coatings and substrates, respectively. This item is a new children’s product and is subject to this regulation.
Antimony is frequently detected at trace levels in new polyester toys or in cotton toys with polyester stuffing. This is due to antimony’s use as a catalyst in the manufacture of PET plastic. Toys made entirely from natural materials and bio-based polymers, like this product, are typically non-detect for antimony.
We Prefer:
We like toys like this one from manufacturers who use natural materials such as cotton and wool. As a bonus we prefer toys that are GOTS certified, which regulates both how cotton is grown and chemical treatments applied to the fibers. The textile industry is a major source of industrial pollution and we prefer to purchase things that have a minimal impact on the environment.
But don’t feel bad if your toy is made of polyester or contains trace antimony, as polyester does. It is important to keep risks in perspective and it is unlikely that a polyester toy or other product will have any meaningful impact on a child’s health. Some parents prefer to buy toys made from natural fibers and are concerned about the body burden of micro plastics, which is an emerging area of research. We’re not perfect either: we own both cotton and polyester toys.
Where You Can Buy Similar Products:
Disclosure: These are Amazon affiliate links. By shopping for any item on Amazon starting with our links, you help support our business and testing.
Under the Nile Scraptopus Stuffed Octopus Baby Toy Organic Cotton (Pink)
Why we like it: It is a soft gentle toy perfect for babies to mouth and it is easy to wash and dry. Here is the original toy on Amazon.
Under the Nile Organic Cotton Carrot Veggie
Why we like it: This option from Under the Nile is both hilarious and affordable.
Organic Farm Buddies Plush Toy, Boxer the Dog
Why we like it: Here is a toy from a company named Apple Park made from natural organic fabrics and non-polyester stuffing. The outer fabric is organic cotton and the filling is a biopolymer derived from corn. The inner fiber washes and dries easily, and behaves like polyester filling.
Disclaimer: Our recommendations have not always been personally tested by us but are likely to be lead free or low lead and/or cadmium based on our research into the materials, discussions with manufacturers, and/or testing on similar products. We only recommend items we would use love and ourselves.
We provide our XRF testing for general educational or informational purposes only to help consumers identify low lead and lead-free products. We hereby disclaim any and all warranties, expressed or implied, and assume no duty or responsibility with respect to how any person or entity chooses to use the information on this website.