Plan Toys Introduces Plan Wood

One of our favorite eco toy companies, Plan Toys, just got a whole lot more green. They had a big announcement at the 2012 American International Toy Fair about a new eco-friendly material they’re working with. While their toys used to all be made from rubberwood, now the company is creating a new composite wood by putting the factory’s sawdust to good use – they produce two tons of sawdust daily! The composite wood needs only a small amount of formaldehyde-free e-zero glue in the formula to hold it together because the amount of pressure applied actually allows the wood to bond together naturally. Since it’s a composite wood, organic pigments can be mixed into the wood rather than finishing the toys with less-eco water-based paints. Another plus, the composite wood toys are dishwasher safe. The new composite wood toys, which include everything from train sets to tug toys to musical instruments to play food to a dollhouse will be available in March.

Moover Toys Truck

Tots can build this bright red truck from Moover Toys using an easy click key system and then once they’re done they can keep on playing with it. Kids will love pushing this truck around and it’s just the right size for foot-to-floor ride-on action too. The Danish company creates the toys from sustainably sourced  wood.

Begin Again Scented Scoops

Begin Again, the relatively new-on-the-scene green toy company from the brains behind Sprig Toys, introduced a brand new cornstarch bio plastic called Green Dot, which is 100% compostable. They can also mix in essential oils to make it scented. The new Green Dot material will be used to make the scented scoops that sit atop the wooden cones in Scented Scoops, which is expected to launch in September.

Alex Toys Birdie Banks

These cute Birdie Banks from Alex Toys are made from recycled paperboard. While we wish the rest of the materials included in the kit were more green, we couldn’t resist these adorable feathered-friends!

MiYim My Natural

This fall, you’ll be able to purchase MiYim‘s new My Natural line for babies 6 months and up. The toys will be made from certified non-toxic fabrics and MySpud, a bio plastic made from potatoes. The line includes You & Me Rabbit, Love to Know Bird Ring Stacker and Discovery Dog.

Hape Super Moose

Made from renwable bamboo, this cute moose has shed his antlers. The object of the bamboo game is to help him regrow new ones by adding one branch at a time. This balancing game from Hape is fun whether you get the antlers stacked super-high or if you see them all come crashing down.

Mudpuppy Finger Puppets

Not only are these double-sided finger puppets from Mudpuppy adorable, they’re also made from 90% recycled paper greyboard that’s phthalate-free and printed with non-toxic inks. Perfect for the 4+ set, you can choose from six different styles: fairy friends, party animals, hometown heroes, monsters, princesses and forest animals.

Paper Animal Sculptures

The one-sheet folding paper toy trend continues with Paper Animal Sculptures from Paper Art. They’re made from recycled paper and printed with vegetable inks, plus the factory is wind powered.

Tree Blocks showcased a new line at Toy Fair featuring forts and castles. The made-in-the-USA fort shown above for example is made from mixed Midwest hardwoods from Wisconsin that would have otherwise been used as firewood. Watch for the new line from Tree Blocks to come out later this year.

Anamalz Box Sets

We already love the bendy sustainable maple wood dinosaurs and animals that make up the Anamalz line. Now the eco company (that uses their wood scraps on a farm to grow mushrooms by the way!) is introducing four new anamalz box sets in farm, jungle, prehistoric and wild themes. We can’t wait for them to come out!

Brinca Dada Stunt Brothers

You probably know Brinca Dada for their amazing dollhouses, but at this year’s Toy Fair they forayed into a different type of toy. They introduced their Stunt Brothers set, which includes a race car, cannonball, trampoline, parachutes, bullseye and little wooden figures for acting out daredevil tricks. While just a prototype now, they anticipate that the set will be made from sustainable materials. Look for it this spring.

CitiBlocs Glow in the Dark

We love CitiBlocs eco-friendly building blocks and while the natural, colorful and camo varieties are all fab, the company is rolling out two new looks for 2012 – neon blocks, and our favorite, glow in the dark blocks. Now you can build with the lights turned out! How fun?

Green Toys Salad Kit

Green Toys’ Pizza Parlor won the Toy of the Year award at this year’s Toy Fair, and at the same time the company introduced a new food set. Now kids can pretend with play food that’s a little healthier – a salad!

Apple Park Who the Owl

The beloved Apple Park introduced a brand new Picnic Pal character at the Toy Fair – Who, the Owl. The sixth Apple Park friend is made from 100% organic cotton corduroy and filled with organic cotton and natural corn fiber. The cute little hootie design is available in a pacifier pal, picnic pal blankie, classic picnic pal plush, and a smaller plush called LIttle Who.