{"id":5202,"date":"2020-01-31T11:38:52","date_gmt":"2020-01-31T11:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/?p=5202"},"modified":"2026-03-26T11:42:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T11:42:06","slug":"are-bioplastic-toys-eco-friendly-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/2020\/01\/31\/are-bioplastic-toys-eco-friendly-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Are bioplastic toys eco-friendly?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"et_pb_section_0 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section\"><div class=\"et_pb_row_0 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_0 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module et_pb_text_align_right\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span>Photo by\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@helloimnik?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\">Hello I'm Nik \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7<\/a><span>\u00a0on\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/s\/photos\/toy?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\">Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_text_1 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span>This is actually a complex question, that needs breaking down.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>Firstly, bioplastic is a material that will last for hundreds of years, so not something that should ever be bought with the idea of throwing it away in a couple of years and certainly not after one use.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Secondly, you can\u2019t throw bioplastic away in the recycling, because no one is recycling bioplastic at the moment, and if you do throw it in with the plastic recycling, it will ruin the whole batch. So it can only be burnt or thrown in landfill at the end of its use \u2013 unless it can be repurposed.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So first response, is \u201cno\u201d, its not a sustainable material to make toys from, currently. Some companies are undoubtedly using bioplastic as an eco product to increase their sales, and maybe even to increase the price, my opinion is that this is not ethical, in my opinion its \u201cgreen-wash\u201d. When companies say products \u201cCan be recycled\u201d that is an \u201cin theory\u201d comment, mostly not born out in practice. No one that I know is separating bioplastic waste \u00a0from oil-based plastic in order to throw it away. Do you have a bioplastic recycling facility in your location?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_text_2 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><span>However, lets look at this in more detail. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span>What are bioplastics\u00a0 made of, where and how? Can they be recycled or reused, perhaps sent back to the manufacturers to re-use?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>Bioplastics are not made of oil, which is good because as we know, oil is a finite resource, once its gone its gone, so its better not to use oil for anything that we don\u2019t absolutely have to. Plus when we burn any kind of plastic it produces carbon dioxide, which is\u00a0 causing damaging climate change, so we don\u2019t want to do that, however we can burn it more safely in a commercial incinerator that prevents the gas escape, so its not a total disaster. Growing anything is good for oxygen production and absorbing carbon dioxide,\u00a0 and that includes the products made into bioplastic, its just the making it into the bioplastic and what happens when we don\u2019t want it any more that is the problem! There are better things to grow however than products for bioplastics, such as food, and more effective carbon dioxide absorbers like trees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Bioplastics can be made from a large number of products such as sugar, corn, vegetable oil, recycled food waste, and agricultural by-products ... even plastic bottles and other containers. They may not be 100% bioplastics. So if you want to check the product you are thinking of buying then you need to find out what the bioplastic it is being made from. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><strong>I would try and avoid a bioplastic that is:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span> Made of food \u2013 that should be eaten not make into plastic. (food waste is better)<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Grown in areas that should be rainforest or trees \u2013 we shouldn\u2019t be cutting down trees, they make more oxygen than sugar etc. plus they provide habitats for animals and insects.<\/li>\n<li><span>Plants that have been doused in pesticides, herbicides, hormones, carcinogenics etc. that could be toxic if put into plastic that our children then handle and put in their mouths but may also be responsible for extinction of species.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>Plus do we trust the labelling \u2013 because if the manufacturer is touting bioplastic as the eco choice, when it is SO far from perfect, how can we believe the rest?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row_1 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_1 et_pb_column et_pb_column_&quot;4_4&quot; et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_image_0 et_pb_image et_pb_module et_block_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row_2 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_2 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_3 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Single-use aprons are even less necessary than gloves and we do not order any more at all now. If colleagues are concerned about being sprayed or sprinkled with urine during a nappy change they need to pay more attention to avoid that (watch for the warning signs, and place nappy in appropriate area to block the spray) and\/or wear an apron that they can wipe down or wash between changes if this happens, which is easier and quicker than changing clothes.<\/p>\n<p>Plastic one-use aprons are certainly not necessary for food service either, but again if you have children inclined to throw food or projectile vomit you might want to wear washable overalls, aprons or tabards to protect your clothes and prevent cross contamination when handling other children. At Tops we bought some attractive pink fabric aprons for general use, and also have some vinyl wipe down\/washable aprons available.<\/p>\n<p>In any case, products should be wrapped and delivered in cardboard, NOT in an unmarked crinkly plastic bag that could end up in landfill.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_section_1 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section\"><div class=\"et_pb_row_3 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_&quot;4_4&quot; et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_with_border et_pb_module et_d4_element et_pb_team_member et_pb_team_member_0 clearfix  et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_team_member_image et-waypoint et_pb_animation_off  et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" alt=\"&quot;Cheryl\" class=\"et_multi_view_hidden_image\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"et_pb_team_member_description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"et_pb_module_header\">&quot;Cheryl<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"et_pb_member_position\">&quot;GECCO<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div><p>Cheryl Hadland (MA Ed) is Managing Director of the Hadland Care Group - an umbrella company for Tops Day Nurseries and Aspire Training Team, Bournemouth. In 2018 she was named 'most influential person in childcare' at the NMT Top 20 National Nursery awards, and in the same year completed a Sustainable Leadership course at the University of Cambridge. Cheryl is an avid SCUBA diver with many years experience and has seen first-hand the devastating impact of plastic pollution on our oceans and the creatures that inhabit them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5204,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p>Plastic one-use gloves and aprons have been used for ten years or more in day nurseries, the reasons for use are to avoid cross contamination between children, and between children and staff, excellent reasons, which are still valid and many colleagues in the sector have been using protective clothing of this sort since initial training and their use is ingrained and managed effectively.<\/p><p><strong>However, times change, and we now know the damage we are doing to the environment with one-use plastic,<\/strong> and therefore we have to reflect and consider whether they are essential and whether any alternatives are acceptable.<\/p><p>Actually the skin on our hands is very resistant to infection, and as long as skin is intact, ie no cuts or abrasions, and as long as hands are washed properly between every change there is no evidence of any infection risk to adults or children, plus some people are allergic or intolerant to latex.\u00a0 Most adults changing nappies at home for their own children or relatives children have never worn gloves or aprons for nappy changing, including those professionals working in the sector when \u201cat home\u201d.<\/p><p>However, if adult hands are injured, or the child or adult is identified as particularly high risk (aids or hepatitis) and the adult is vulnerable (not inoculated against hepatitis or polio), or perhaps for a particularly messy poo, the option of wearing one glove should, in my opinion, be present.<\/p><p>You can buy organic one-use disposable gloves, made from plant-based PLA, a material produced from corn starch that is classified as a biodegradable material.\u00a0 The material of the gloves is transparent and very thin so you can move your fingers freely. The plant-based material will dissolve at above 40\u00b0C temperature \u2013 so don\u2019t throw them in the bin for landfill as that might not get hot enough, and certainly don\u2019t allow them to escape into the water, but also watch out if you have hot hands!<\/p><p>We did consider gloves for multiple use, but these present an increased risk of cross infection due to bacteria perhaps remaining on them \u2013 its actually easier to wash hands properly than wash gloves in between use.\u00a0 Hospitals do NOT use multiple use gloves, such as marigolds, but many do not use gloves at all, even in blood donating units, unless there is a specific risk, ie barrier nursing in place.<\/p><p>Marigold type gloves can be used for washing up after craft and food preparation if needed to protect from the hot water and staining, but rather than buying ordinary marigold types, try gloves such as Green Tips household gloves, which are made from 100% FSC certified rubber which means that when you make a hole in them or they start to break down, you can cut them up and add to your compost bin, or leave them in a hot sunny place, like a greenhouse and eventually they will become stiff, dry out and crumble into component latex parts<\/p><p>Ofsted inspectors and the HSE have confirmed on several occasions during 2018 that provided hands are washed properly between nappy changes that they are happy that this is effective protection against cross contamination and infection and several of the other mid sized chains such as Tops Day Nurseries and Kids Allowed, and many stand alone\/small groups of more environmentally aware nurseries have stopped one use gloves and aprons in general use.<\/p><p>Plastic one-use aprons are even less necessary than gloves and we do not order any more at all now.\u00a0 If colleagues are concerned about being sprayed or sprinkled with urine during a nappy change they need to pay more attention to avoid that (watch for the warning signs, and place nappy in appropriate area to block the spray) and\/or wear an apron that they can wipe down or wash between changes if this happens, which is easier and quicker than changing clothes.<\/p><p>Plastic one-use aprons are certainly not necessary for food service either, but again if you have children inclined to throw food or projectile vomit you might want to wear washable overalls, aprons or tabards to protect your clothes and prevent cross contamination when handling other children.\u00a0 We bought some attractive pink fabric aprons for general use, and we also have some vinyl wipe down\/washable aprons available.<\/p><p>In any case, products should be wrapped and delivered in cardboard, NOT in an unmarked crinkly plastic bag that could end up in landfill.<\/p><p><em><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Cheryl Hadland, 30\/10\/2018<\/span><\/em><\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5202"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5202\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13764,"href":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5202\/revisions\/13764"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}