changeadminApart from entertainment, toys play an important role in the development of children, like encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills and social and emotional development.
In India, toys have a long and rich history, with wooden animals, dolls, and games like Spinning Wheel, Gilli-Danda and Chaupar, which have been part of the Indian childhood experience for centuries.
Channapatna, a town in Karnataka is famous for colourful, handcrafted wooden toys. These toys are often painted with natural dyes and come in various forms, from spinning tops and rattles to dolls and animals. The tradition of Channapatna toy-making dates back to the 18th century and is recognized as a Geographical Indication (GI) product.
Similarly, puppetry is famous in Rajasthan, where colourful puppets made from wood, cloth, and thread are often used in storytelling and theatrical performances.
Elsewhere, toys made with clay and terracotta are fondly used by kids to foster creativity, social skills and cognitive development.
However, the influence of modern, commercial toys from global brands has also become increasingly prominent in the Indian market, especially made with plastic and artificial chemicals.
Considering the harmful impact of these plastic toys on children’s health, wooden toys are safer and environmentally friendly. In addition, toys made from sustainable materials, and non-toxic paints, are produced using less energy and fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to mass-produced plastic toys.
We have compiled a list of Indian companies that make eco-friendly toys with natural materials suitable for children’s growth and development.
Shumee
Shumee is a Bengaluru-based toy company that makes eco-friendly toys for children up to 7 years. Starting in 2014, Shumee has a vast collection of toys catering to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
The toys are made with natural wood and cotton and use non-toxic paints and beeswax or almond oil for polishing.
Apart from its online presence, Shumee has a physical store in Bengaluru. Indian film actress Dia Mirza is an investor in the startup.
Founder: Meeta Sharma Gupta
Bloon Toys
Bloon Toys is a Mumbai-based eco-friendly toy company that uses natural materials like wood, wool, natural dyes, and beeswax.
The company has a vast collection of pikler to encourage the habit of climbing in young children. They also have curvy wooden boards, and dinosaur-shaped toys, among others.
Founder: Isha Gopal
Ariro Wooden Toys
Ariro is a Chennai-based startup started by husband and wife duo Vasant and Nisha in June 2020. The company specializes in exquisite environment-friendly wooden toys for 0-3-year-old children. The wooden toys are made with Neem wood, which is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.
Ariro targets the Montessori kids as their customer base and offers an array of eco-friendly wooden toys, like neem wood teether, pikler triangle, jungle gym, and balance board.
In Shark Tank India 2021 edition, the company received a deal for a 10% stake for the investment of Rs. 50 Lakhs from investors Peyush Bansal and Aman Gupta.
Founders: Vasant Tamilselvan and Nisha Ramaswamy
Curious Cub
Curious Cub is a Punjab-based toy company that makes eco-friendly toys for children aged between 0 to 3 years. The toys come in a curated package with a mix of games and toys targeted at specific monthly stages before the age of 3.
Founded in 2021, the toys are made of wood and fabric without the use of toxic colours.
Founder: Shreya Mittal
WoodBee Toys
WoodBee Toys is an eco-friendly toy company based in Tamil Nadu which was founded by 64-year-old K Kokila alongside her daughter-in-law, Sukanya in 2020.
The company sources neem and pine wood from Kerala to make its toys.
WoodBee Toys’ product line includes wooden toys, teethers, rattles, shape sorters, counting frames and abacuses, alphabet and number puzzles, stacking towers, wooden toolkits, and building and construction toys.
Founder: K Kokila
Wrapping Up
By choosing eco-friendly toys from these startups, parents can ensure their children have safe, enjoyable, and educational play experiences. Further, they contribute to a healthier environment by reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability.
If you like the content and know any parents looking for eco-friendly toys in India, you can share this article with them.
You can read more about a study that found plastic in toys and what options you have for your kids here.
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