Got Milk? Recyled Material Toys For Kids!

Ever wonder what happens to all those plastic milk jugs you’re chucking in the recycling bin? Well, the luckiest among them are enjoying new life as totally cool, award-winning toys, thanks to Green Toys. The San Francisco-based company’s simple, imagination-friendly, beautifully designed toys are made in the U.S.A. from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs and are as sweet and satisfying as a gulp of organic moo juice. We especially love Green Toys’ new Recycling Truck—a peppy, metal-free, green machine with a movable recycling bed and open/shut rear door that helps turn playtime into a hands-on learning opportunity. Our wee ones also are nuts about the cool Green Toys Tool Kit, which features screwdrivers, a hammer, a saw, pliers and other building basics, all packed into a made-to-tote tool box. Got a girly-girl in the family? She’ll love the classic Tea Set, with teapot, sugar bowl, milk pitcher and service for four, and we love that it’s dishwasher-safe and meets FDA standards for food contact. And Green Toys are packaged in recycled, recyclable cardboard, with no plastic, cellophane or twist-ties. If you’re skeptical about letting your kids play with (and, if your kids are anything like ours, inevitably lick, bite or chew) toys made from, well, trash, consider this: The recycled milk jugs that go into Green Toys are reprocessed into super fresh, BPA-free, high-density polyethylene, considered one of the safest, cleanest plastics around. And, because Green Toys doesn’t import its raw materials from overseas, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions, making the whole world cleaner to play in. Sprig Toys wants our kids to get their hands dirty, and we couldn’t be happier. The innovative toy company’s products, all manufactured from Sprigwood®—a proprietary bio-composite material made from recycled wood and reclaimed plastic—are a refreshing alternative to the passive electronic playthings that clog big-box toy-store shelves. Our kids dig Sprig’s Adventure Series, with its awesome, battery-free Discovery Rig, Rally Racer and Baja Scout vehicles, great for zooming over dirt mounds and exploring backyard nooks and crannies. For preschoolers, there’s the whimsical Sprig Hollow series, which features the chunky, cartoon-like Bee, Butterfly, Dragonfly and Dunebug characters, along with the adorable HeliScoopter and handy SandTruck, among other accessories. Sandbox aficionados will have a field day with Sprig’s Excavator, Loader and Dump Truck vehicles, so get ready to shake out those socks and shoes—or better yet, let your little ones go barefoot. There’s nothing better than the feeling of a little Mama Earth between your toes! Now through July 31st, get 10% off on all Green Toys when you read up on this week's Kids section! —Natasha Garber Natasha Garber is the former editor of Los Angeles Family magazine. Currently, she is a contributor to numerous bridal, event and lifestyle publications across the country, where she covers green events and event planning, sustainable catering and cuisine, fashion and design trends. A mother of two and passionate proponent of eco-conscious family living, Natasha lives, writes, parents, plays and makes fresh, organic, totally delicious baby food in Los Angeles. Want a smaller carbon footprint? EcoStiletto.com is giving away a free pair of eco-friendly shoes worth $500 or more every month! Get the lowdown on shrinking your carbon footprint from an Ugg boot to a Manolo with daily green fashion, beauty, lifestyle, parenting, celebrity and eco-events nationwide and change the world, one small step at a time. Stiletto-size me!