"Eco-friendly" has become the most overused word in the toy industry. Here's how to decode what a supplier actually means:

**FSC™ Certified Wood.** The Forest Stewardship Council chain-of-custody standard. The logo on a product means the wood can be traced back to a responsibly managed forest. FSC is the only wood certification broadly recognised by EU buyers.

**GOTS Certified Organic Cotton.** Global Organic Textile Standard covers the entire supply chain — from the farm (no synthetic pesticides) to the mill (limited chemical use) to the finished textile. We use GOTS cotton in our Organic Cotton Bunny and several plush ranges.

**GRS Certified Recycled Materials.** Global Recycled Standard verifies recycled content and chain of custody. We offer GRS-certified recycled fiber fill at a small premium (typically +$0.20–$0.40 per plush unit).

**Bio-based plastics.** PLA (polylactic acid) made from corn starch is compostable under industrial conditions. Home compostable claims should be treated with caution — most home composters don't reach the required heat.

**What to ask:**
- Show me the certificate number. Verify on the certifying body's website.
- What percentage of this product is the certified material? A "100% organic" plush with a polyester bow is still mostly polyester.
- Is the packaging also certified? Often the most wasteful part of a toy is the box.

We are happy to walk through the material composition of any of our products in detail. Just ask.