The “fast toy” or “fast fashion” of children’s toys: what alternatives?

The “fast toy”, but what is it? It is, in the same way as “fast fashion”, a way of consuming a product which causes problems of over-consumption and poor consumption (consuming too quickly to follow desires and trends). But what is this about children's toys? How to find an alternative? Answer in this article!

The toy industry and its current limits

If we had to select a few figures to highlight the limits of the toy industry, they would be these:

• more than 75,000 tonnes of waste each year in France alone
• around 70% of toys purchased are no longer used 8 months later and more than half of them are then thrown away
• 95% of toys sold in France come from abroad and the vast majority from Asia

What does all this entail? A catastrophic ecological and social impact as the carbon footprint of each toy is high and the working conditions are difficult and even toxic...

How and why did the toy industry get here? As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, the toy industry can be compared to “fast fashion”. A mode of consumption dictated by a rapid and inexpensive production rate of clothing. For toys, the pace of consumption is dictated by… the children. And yes ! Children get tired of the toys they get very quickly. Their desires evolve as quickly as they grow and so do their needs. Manufacturers have understood this well and are producing more and more to keep up .

Parents want their children to have the toys they love so that they can flourish and develop naturally through play. This very important role of toys for children therefore pushes parents to consume at a high rate. thinking well, wanting to please…

This is how the toy industry shows its ecological and social limits. However, alternatives exist!

The alternatives that exist in France against the “fast toy”

Toys made in Europe or France

Of course, the first idea that comes to mind is to consume toys from European or even French brands if possible. Indeed, buying toys in Europe and even better in France, considerably reduces the ecological impact of each toy . The materials used comply with European standards and labels such as the FSC label for wooden toys. They certify that the toy is made from wood from sustainably managed forests.

In addition, transport linked to the manufacture and delivery of the toy to the various points of sale would be reduced and the carbon footprint of these toys would, in fact, be lower. But to what extent?

As we have seen, children quickly tire of toys and their needs/wants evolve as quickly as lightning. So even if parents buy toys made in Europe or France, they risk being piled up in living spaces and finally, being thrown away .

Give away and resell your toys

To improve the first alternative, reselling or donating toys would reduce toy consumption in France. By using exchange platforms like Leboncoin, Marketplace, or by reselling them during a garage sale, the lifespan of the toys will be extended. Or by donating toys to associative organizations such as Emmaüs, the Red Cross, Secours Populaire, etc.

Extending the life of toys… wouldn’t that be the key?

Rental of games and toys: our favorite alternative

Do you know Petite Marelle? This concept offers the rental of games and toys to be received in a box! They started from the observation made in this article and to fight against waste, renting toys seemed obvious to them. Coming back to the basics: favoring use over possession .

What exactly does the concept consist of? It is very simple ! Parents create a box of 5, 10 or 15 toys by browsing the Petite Marelle online catalog and the children enjoy the games as long as they want, before returning them to receive new ones!

Thanks to rental, toys have an extended lifespan and families contribute to an eco-responsible circular economy. Children are getting used to prioritizing use over possession and becoming more and more responsible and aware of the climate issue. In addition, toddlers can grow and develop through play by having the right toy, at the right time . Parents choose the toys to receive in a few clicks and save time but also space in their living spaces by avoiding accumulating toys.

Finally, Petite Marelle is an online game library that comes into the home to make life easier for parents, promote the healthy development of children through play, while being eco-responsible!