Toy reuse and supporting the second-hand toy market is an important when considering the environmental impact of toys and games. We have commissioned several independent consumer surveys which shows that toys are commonly reused, passed on, or stored away for future use. Encouraging parents and other family members to extend the life of a toy by passing them on for another child to enjoy playing with is important to have a positive impact on the environment.
Toys must be safe for children to play with whether they are new or second-hand. We have some of top tips to help consumers pass on their old toys safely when children having finished playing with them.
Our top tips when passing toys on
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Keep the packaging – toy packaging carries warnings, markings, and safety advice, so ideally this should be passed along with the toy. If you do not have the space, make sure you keep hold of the instructions and, if you can, cut out the warnings and markings, including the manufacturer’s address, and staple these to the instructions to store together. You will need this information to make sure the toy is played with properly, is suitable for the age of the child, and to contact the manufacturer if you have any problems with the toy. If you keep this together you will have the same information to pass on to friends or charity shops when your child has outgrown the toy.
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Before passing a toy on check that it isn’t broken, has no sharp edges, rough points or parts that have come loose.
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Soft toys – Check soft toys for sturdy, well-sewn seams. Be certain that eyes and noses are securely fastened and cannot be bitten off or pulled off by inquisitive little fingers. Check that fur or hair is not coming away.
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Electrical toys – Check that an electrical toy still functions then remove any batteries. If left for long periods batteries can leak. Remove any batteries and the toy can be safely stored for long periods of time. The new owner can add new batteries when they take over ownership.Make sure battery compartments are secure (e.g., opened by using a tool) and do not allow easy access to button cell batteries. Button and coin cell batteries are dangerous if swallowed.
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Outdoor toys – For bigger equipment, check that they are not rusty and have not been weakened by weathering.
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Be aware that over time legislation can change to control newly identified risks with toys. In particular be careful of loose high-powered magnets – we would not recommend passing these on. Also take care with stick-on suckers that could be swallowed, or older metal toys that may have sharp edges.
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Check the toy has not been withdrawn or recalled from sale for safety reasons. You can check all toys that have been reported through the Office for Product Safety & Standards product safety alerts, reports and recalls page.
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Often toys are put away by a previous generation so that parents and grandparents can share their favourite toys with their children and grandchildren. Be aware that the rules on toy safety have changed substantially (e.g., in 1950 toy soldiers would have been made of lead, in 2012 there is no lead allowed in toys). If you want to share these toys supervise children when they are playing and use your judgement.
You can find a downloadable version of our top tips here:
https://www.btha.co.uk/guidance/supporting-sustainability-in-toys-and-packaging/
