Do you know where your children’s toys and clothing come from? Or whether workers were paid a fair wage to create them? And how sure are you that they don’t contain toxic residues of pesticides or other chemicals?
If these things matter to you, you may want to consider buying fair-trade toys. Fair Trade is a social movement trying to reduce poverty in developing countries by encouraging fair global trade practices and ensuring an equal and fair partnership between marketers and producers. Fair Trade principles include paying fair wages; providing safe, healthy working conditions; ensuring gender equality; and practicing environmentally sustainable use of natural resources.
Here are a few websites where you can learn more.
www.theconsciouschild.com
Items for sale here include handmade animal toys and organic cotton clothing.
www.globalexchangestore.org
Find fun finger puppets, beautiful cruelty-free leather money banks, and felt bowling buddies, as well as soft blocks and music CDs.
www.underthenile.com
A whole line of cuddly produce is available here! Find plush watermelons, broccoli, beans, corn, strawberries and mushrooms for your baby to chew on.
www.kidbean.com
This is a great site for wooden blocks, bath toys, arts and crafts supplies, and games. It also has plenty of clothing, diapers, and bedding. Everything is vegan, too.
www.peapods.com
Wooden dollhouses, kitchen play sets, and furniture are featured on this site, as well as marble toys, mobiles, and trains.
www.northstartoys.com
North Star is all wooden toys, all the time. Find airplanes, boats, cars, rattles, people, dinosaurs, cameras, farm equipment, and lots of rolling animals.
www.bellalunatoys.com
Toys for all ages, from infant to school age, can be found here. Stock includes rocking toys, fairy dolls, wooden puzzles, push toys, nesting toys, games, music, and craft supplies.
Source: Green America
