Toys go Green

In an increasingly environmentally conscious world, the range of sustainable toys on offer is constantly growing. This is exactly where the Toys go Green Special by Spielwarenmesse comes into play – your chance to showcase your sustainable products. We offer you a platform to present your environmentally friendly toy products to a wide audience. With Toys go Green, we are jointly creating a clearly organised platform that brings sustainable products closer to the trade.

Your benefits as an exhibitor

• Exclusive presentation area: Present your sustainable toys to an international audience that is specifically looking for environmentally friendly products.
• Free secondary placement: Benefit from a free secondary placement of your product in Hall 3C and on Spielwarenmesse Digital if your application is successful.
• Increased brand awareness: Showcase your company as a pioneer for sustainability in the toy industry.
• Direct access to buyers: Meet retailers and decision-makers who are looking for innovative and sustainable products.
• Digital presence: Your products will also be highlighted on Spielwarenmesse Digital with a detailed product description.

Your participation in Toys go Green 

Participation in Toys go Green requires that your products fulfil certain criteria that have been developed in close collaboration with experts. Based on the information you provide about these criteria in the application process, our curators will make the selection of approved products.

The criteria at a glance

Our criteria are not only used to classify the products during registration. They are also intended to help trade show visitors understand the advantages of the various products. For this purpose we have defined the following categories:

• Product material
• Packaging material
• Manufacturing process of the product
• Learning and playful knowledge transfer

The product material category is required for submission, while the other categories are optional but encouraged.

We look forward to receiving your submissions!

Your contacts for Toys go Green

Do you have any questions or need support with your application? Our contact persons will be happy to help you!

Product material

The presentation of your products on Toys go Green focuses on the use of sustainable materials. What materials are used in your toys?

Natural materials

This includes, for example, the following aspects:

• Renewable raw materials as essential components
• The origin of the raw materials excludes harmful effects, such as the clearing and conversion of nature conservation areas (primeval forests, moors, etc.)
• The use of renewable raw materials, the production location and the production standards are made transparent, e.g. through communication on the company or product website
• The origin of the raw materials is precisely known and the supply chain is certified according to sustainability criteria wherever possible (forestry raw materials: FSC and PEFC; agricultural raw materials: ISCC, RSB, RSPO, REDcert, Bonsucro, etc.).

Recycled material 

This includes, for example, the following aspects:

• Recycled raw materials (recyclates) have been used to manufacture the product and information on their use is verifiable and transparent (e.g., on the company or product website)
• Information on reparability or service life is verifiable and transparent (e.g., warranty statements, take-back obligations)
• Information on recyclability is verifiable and transparent (e.g., orientation towards the criteria for recyclability of packaging)
• Offers for take-back systems are verifiable and transparent (e.g. on the company or product website)

Bio-plastic, or materials made from renewable raw materials

This includes, for example, the following aspects:

• Significant proportions or essential components of the product are made from renewable raw materials (at least 30 %)
• The content of biogenic raw materials (biomass or biobased carbon) is measured/indicated and certified as far as possible in accordance with standards (e.g. EN standard, DIN standard; TÜV etc.)
• The origin of the biomass excludes harmful effects, such as the clearing and conversion of nature conservation areas (virgin forests, moors, etc.)
• The origin of the biomass is precisely known and the supply chain is certified according to sustainability criteria (forestry raw materials: FSC and PEFC; agricultural raw materials: ISCC, RSB, RSPO, REDcert, Bonsucro etc.)
• The use of renewable raw materials, the production site and the production standards are made transparent, e.g. through communication on the company or product website

Packaging material 

In addition to the product itself, the packaging also plays an important role in the design of sustainable toys. Do you use sustainable materials in manufacturing or have you reduced the packaging material? Explain to us how you have made the packaging more sustainable.

• Natural materials
• Recycled materials
• Organic plastic, or materials made from renewable resources
• Reduced material

Manufacturing process of the product 

It is also important that products are manufactured under fair and environmentally friendly conditions. Tell us how you support the entire life cycle of your toys with responsible manufacturing practices.

• Ethical and fair trade
• Use of sustainable (energy) resources

Learning and playful knowledge transfer

And not to forget: In addition to the type of materials, it is also essential if toys promote children's development on the topic of sustainability. Toys can be used to explain environmental and sustainability topics such as renewable energies, recycling and the like in a very simple and child-friendly way. After all, you can't start early enough to sensitize even the youngest children to the topics of environmental protection and sustainability. Does your product have this learning effect?