Toy Safety Information
Eco Baby Gear is committed to providing the newest, safest and most educational learning toys. Safety is our first concern and we want to provide our customers with the proper assurances and awareness to ensure the safety of your child. Below you will find information and facts about toy safety.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO READ & FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURES DIRECTIONS ON ALL TOYS.
The Toy Industry Association List
U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission
International Council of Toy Industries
European Safety Standards Commission
Toy Safety Information Provied by our Manufactures:
Maple Landmark
www.maplelandmark.net
Product Safety and Quality
The majority of our products are toys and we take toy safety seriously. On the technical side, we follow both the US Consumer Product Safety Commission rules and the voluntary standards ASTM F-963. These guidelines govern small parts, sharp points, chemical makeup, and many other aspects to avoid hazards.
Our efforts do not stop there. We strive to produce product that will last for generations. This means going beyond minimum guidelines. Everyone has experienced the toy that broke the day after Christmas. That probably isn't a lack following official guidelines but it is from a lack of concern for overall quality. For example, a softwood block is safe, a hard maple block is superior.
Finishes:
There is great concern about the components of finishes. We hear about things like lead in the paint of imported Chinese products. Again there are standards that are supposed to be followed. At Maple Landmark, we use a variety of finishes, depending on the specific product line. Some products have no finish, while others have whey- or beeswax-based coatings. We also use urethanes and lacquers, depending on the required appearance. Lead is illegal as a component in consumer coatings in the United States and we've occasionally had third-party testing for lead and other heavy metals, just to be sure we are getting what we expect from our suppliers.
The specific finishes we use on each product are listed with product as you browse our site. The coatings we use are:
- Dye Stains: These are water/alcohol based stains, specially made for dip finishing, which is the least wasteful application process. These are in a variety of colors and are primarily used on our NameTrain line. We typically overcoat with urethane to prevent bleeding when wet.
- Enamel: A lot of our round parts have a hard, colored coating. This is a tumbled-on enamel, a solvent-based finish. Most of our colored wheels and colored rattle parts are finished this way.
- Lacquer: Nitrocellulose lacquer is an age-old spray finish that provides a hard, shiny, paint-like coating. It can be clear or opaque bright colors. Historically used for Montgomery Schoolhouse products, though some are being shifted to other coating types. Lacquer is a petroleum-based finish.
- Nothing at all: Yes, no finish at all, as seen on our new Schoolhouse Naturals line. With an enormous number of queries about all our finishes, we thought we would try a line that has had all of the finish concerns removed. So far, we've seen great interest.
- Tung oil: A centuries-old finish, made from the oil in the nut of the tung tree. Our version is all natural, with pure polymerized tung oil, a citrus-derived solvent and beeswax. We use this on some rattle parts and on the finished natural classic trucks.
- Urethane: Another dip finish, more specially called oil-modified urethane varnish, not a polyurethane. It is a clear finish, using a mineral spirit solvent. This finish takes a little extra time to cure and products may retain an odor until unwrapped—especially during the busy season.
- Whey: Utilizing a byproduct of the cheese-making process, this was developed by the University of Vermont and now produced by Vermont Natural Coatings of Hardwick, VT. We use this finish on our oval rattle ends and an increasing number of other rattle parts.
As with our other materials, our finishes are purchased as locally as possible. Nearly all are produced in Vermont, by people we know and have worked with for many years. If you would like more information about the finish on specific products, feel free to contact us.
Age Grading:
Just as we have an obligation to produce safe product, it is always important to remember that appropriate use goes hand-in-hand with safe design and construction. Whenever necessary, we mark our products with the intended age of the child who may be using it. Giving a more advanced product to a younger child, no matter how "advanced" you perceive that child to be, can be a hazard. A marking of age 3+ is typically an indication of small parts hazards—it could be a problem for younger children who may be putting things in their mouth. Always monitor younger children when they are playing around older friends and siblings. What is okay for one child may not be okay for the next.
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Plan Toys
www.plantoys.com
Dear Valued Customers:
In response to the latest concern regarding the use of lead paint in the manufacture of toys, PlanToys would like to reassure all retailers and consumers that PlanToys are manufactured with the highest safety and environmental standards in mind. We build 100% of our products within our own factory, so we control the entire process from wood selection, to manufacturer, to shipping.
- PlanToys is manufactured from recycled rubberwood
- PlanToys uses a natural kiln dry process, in place of chemical treatment, to preserve and stabilize the wood, thus makes all PlanToys products preservative-free
- PlanToys uses natural, water-based dies in place of any type of paint to add accent colors
PlanToys has won the following awards for safety, environmental sensitivity and innovative design:
- ISO 9001
- ISO 14000
- OHSAS/TIS 18001
- SA8000
- ASTM & EN71
- Parents' Choice
- Oppenheim Toy Portfolio
PlanToys takes tremendous pride in providing safe toys that are manufactured with sensitivity toward our environment. For more information about PlanToys, please request a copy of the PlanToys Leaflet (item #84340), or contact our office at (866) 517-7526.