10 BEST NON-TOXIC, ECO-FRIENDLY BEACH TOYS FOR LITTLE BEACHGOERS
This blog post is all about the best non-toxic, eco-friendly beach toys!
Whether you live by the shore or are planning a beach getaway with your family this summer, bringing a variety of beach toys is essential so your kids can have fun and make unforgettable memories.
But here’s the catch: most traditional sand toys nowadays are made from plastic that breaks easily and often hides toxic substances.
It’s definitely not what we want near our little ones!
The good news is that there are healthier options on the market that are not only better for our kids but also for the planet.
In this article, I share with you 10 of the best non-toxic, eco-friendly beach toys!
I’ve made sure to choose products that suit every play style, preferences, and budget.
Also, none of the options here are made of virgin plastic.
This blog post contains affiliate links which means that if you buy something through such links, I will get a small commission without any extra cost for you. Please read my Disclosure for more details.
Why choose non-toxic, eco-friendly beach toys for your kids?
The problem with almost all beach toys available to us is that they’re made of plastic.
While plastic has some advantages, it’s terrible for the environment and our health.
Why are plastic beach toys bad for the environment?
First, plastic is derived from petroleum, one of the most polluting industries in the world.
And it’s one that massively contributes to climate change!
Plastic sand toys are also often lost on beaches and end up in the oceans.
They then start deteriorating and breaking down into smaller pieces, which are more likely to be ingested by marine animals.
Since they’re not biodegradable, those plastic parts will keep on polluting the seas for hundreds of years.
Pool toys like floats also sometimes contain microbeads and glitter.
If those items rip and burst open, they risk generating yet another source of plastic pollution.
Did I mention that plastic beach toys are rarely made to last?
They break super easily, meaning that we regularly need to throw them away and repurchase new ones.
This is super wasteful!
Why are plastic beach toys bad for our health?
Another huge issue is that plastic toys often contain harmful chemicals such as BPA or phthalates.
Those can leach out, especially when exposed to the sun and heat.
And all parents know that kids love putting stuff in their mouths, which further increases their exposure!
Research found that chronic exposure to phthalates can negatively impact the endocrine system and functioning of organs in the body, decrease fertility, and adversely influence child growth and the reproductive system in children.
Exposure to BPA, on the other hand, may impact the brain and prostate glands of children, babies, and fetuses.
It also has a possible link with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and increased blood pressure.
Not to mention it is a known hormone disruptor and may cause fertility issues in men and women.
Plastic beach toys are also often made from PVC, whose precursor chemical is a known carcinogen.
Those are just a few types of chemicals often found in plastic products, but many others can hide in them.
So for both health and environmental reasons, it’s worth switching to eco-friendly, non-toxic beach toys!
What should you look for when shopping for eco-friendly, non-toxic beach toys?
If you want to get safer, non-toxic beach toys, make sure to avoid those made of plastic.
While some plastics are better than others, the safest option is to avoid this material altogether.
Instead, choose toys made from some of the following safe materials:
- Natural rubber
- Platinum or food-grade silicone
- Wood or bamboo (ideally, choose FSC-certified options to ensure it comes from responsibly managed forests)
- Stainless steel
If you end up choosing plastic beach toys, pick models made from safer types of plastic such as HDPE, LDPE, ABS, or TPU.
Those are not perfect but they’re still much better than PVC!
Also, prefer brands that clearly state their toys are free of harmful chemicals like BPA, lead, and phthalates.
For more eco-friendly beach toys, recycled plastic and bioplastic are two other options worth considering.
But here again, check that they don’t contain any nasty chemicals.
I also recommend buying from brands that have implemented sustainable practices throughout their supply chain and that prioritize durability.
10 best non-toxic, eco-friendly beach toys for little beachgoers
1. Moonkie
Categories: Bucket, Rake, Shovel, Sand Molds, Stacking Cups
Materials: Food-Grade Platinum Silicone
Moonkie offers this gorgeous sand toy kit available in three color combinations.
It includes a bucket, a rake, a shovel, ten cute sand molds, a reusable cotton mesh bag to carry it all, and a gift box.
Made from food-grade platinum silicone, each piece in the set is unbreakable, flexible, and non-toxic.
These toys have been tested to be free of BPA, BPS, phthalates, PVC, lead, PFAS, latex, and fillers.
They’re also designed to withstand years of use in the sun, heat, sand, and saltwater.
You can even have your kids’ names engraved on the items or the gift box!
Moonkie also has this set of seven silicone stacking cups, which feature a lovely pattern and a small hole, making them perfect for beach play.
Did I mention that all these products are carbon-neutral?
2. Minnow
Categories: Board Games & Playing Cards, Floats, Swim Masks, Sand Toys, Goggles, Beach Balls, Beach Bats, Cameras, Figurines, Kites, Fins, Snorkels
Materials: Natural Rubber, Recycled Plastic, Wood, Organic Cotton, Silicone, Bamboo, Bio-Plastic, Non-Toxic PVC
Minnow has some of the most unique beach toys for both younger and older kids!
It carries everything from sand toys, fins, and swim masks to beach balls, kites, and beach bats.
These are made from a variety of sustainable & non-toxic materials such as silicone, recycled plastic, natural rubber, and bio-plastic.
They also have colorful designs and are meant to be as beautiful as they are fun!
I love that the brand even has different playing cards and board games, like backgammon boards and a chess & checkers board made from an organic cotton canvas, which is ideal for playing at the beach.
3. MarcZero
Categories: Buckets, Shovels, Sand Molds, Watering Cans, Spoons
Materials: BPA-Free Silicone
MarcZero sells two different sand toy sets in a wide range of pastel and bold colors.
One of them consists of a bucket, a shovel, and eight different sand molds in the shape of sea creatures.
Besides a bucket and shovel, the other set also has a spoon and a watering can while the molds have fun cupcake and ice cream shapes.
These two sets are made from BPA-free silicone and have a soft, matte finish.
They’re also super flexible and travel-friendly: you can store everything in the included cotton mesh bag and carry them in your suitcase without having to worry about them breaking.
MarcZero beach toys also make great bathtub toys, and they’re incredibly easy to clean!
4. WEILAIDI
Categories: Shovels, Rakes, Spoons, Forks, Scoops
Materials: Metal, Wood
If you’re looking for a set of beach and gardening tools for your kids, check out WEILAIDI!
This 6-piece set features different shovels, a fork, a rake, a spoon, and a scoop, all made with a metal head and hardwood handles.
No plastic here!
Designed with children’s safety in mind, each piece has rounded edges and is sprayed with eco-friendly paint.
They’re made to be held comfortably by little hands and are resistant to corrosion and rust.
Plus, this set is incredibly affordable and well-made, and your kids will love the bright colors!
5. Green Toys
Categories: Wagon, Buckets, Shovels, Rakes, Sand Molds, Watering Cans, Flying Disc
Materials: Recycled Plastic
Trying to find sand toys made in USA?
Green Toys has you covered!
This brand offers several sets of beach toys all made in the United States from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic milk jugs.
The material is also completely free of nasty chemicals like BPA, PVC, and phthalates, and has no external coatings or paints.
You can choose from a set of sand molds in the shapes of sea creatures and shells, one with a bucket, sand mold, rake, and shovel, and another one featuring a watering can, rake, shovel, and seed packets (for gardening).
Green Toys also has a flying disc as well as a great wagon with chunky tires and a cotton rope so your kids can haul around their toys (or sand at the beach).
The company’s toys are designed to encourage open imaginative play and motor skills.
Not to mention they’re very durable and dishwasher-safe!
6. Inspire My Play
Categories: Bowls, Sieve, Scoops
Materials: Food-Grade Silicone
Inspire My Play’s nesting bowl set is designed for sensory and creative play and provides endless possibilities for imagination and exploration.
These three stackable bowls (including one sieve) are made from high-quality, food-grade silicone, which doesn’t contain any BPA or phthalates.
They’re made for both wet and dry activities and make great toys your kids can use at the beach or in the bathtub.
Very versatile, they’re also suitable for use in a sand pit, a mud kitchen, and a tuff tray!
You can pair these with Inspire My Play’s three nesting scoops (available in a mini version too) that are perfect for transferring water or making sandcastles.
They can also be stacked inside one another and can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
Both the bowls and scoops are sold in three different color combinations.
7. BLUE GINKGO
Categories: Sand Molds, Bucket, Shovels, Rake, Watering Can
Materials: BPA-Free Silicone
BLUE GINKGO creates beautiful sand toys that are both functional and stylish.
Its sets are made from 100% silicone that is free of harmful chemicals like BPA.
You can choose between a set consisting of a bucket, scoop, four sea creature molds, and a cotton mesh bag, and one that comes with a watering can, a rake, a shovel, and four fruit-shaped molds.
The brand also sells four silicone toy molds in the shape of ice cream with cones and tops that can be mixed and matched.
These sets encourage open-ended play and creativity and are built to last!
8. EverEarth
Categories: Beach Kiddie Pool
Materials: TPU
Looking for a PVC-free beach kiddie pool for your little ones?
EverEarth has the only non-toxic options I could find!
Its two-in-one beach blanket can be transformed into a kiddie pool by simply digging a hole in the sand, flipping the blanket over, and filling it with water using the included storage bag.
Your kids will then be able to cool off and play in the water while observing the lovely underwater scene pattern.
This kiddie pool is made from TPU that is phthalate-free, recyclable, and biodegradable.
It also has a non-slip surface and its production generates 20% fewer carbon emissions than other PVC pools.
I also love that EverEarth has implemented different sustainable practices and is committed to forest conservation!
9. HEVEA
Categories: Beach Balls, Sand Molds, Shovels, Flippers, Figurines
Materials: Upcycled Natural Rubber
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly beach ball, you’ve probably seen that almost all of those we can buy online or at the store are made of toxic PVC.
Well, the good news is that HEVEA has a great, safe alternative for you!
Its star ball is designed to grow with your kids and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
It’s soft, bite-resistant, and easy to grip with tiny hands, and will help develop motor skills and stimulate your baby’s senses.
As your child grows, the ball can then be used for tossing.
HEVEA’s ball is made from 100% upcycled natural rubber, meaning that it’s biodegradable at the end of its life and doesn’t contain harmful toxins like phthalates, PVC, or BPA.
The brand also offers other biodegradable beach toys, such as rubber flippers, a sand toy set with a shovel and molds, and different figurines.
To top it all off, it received the B Corp certification, so it meets some of the most stringent standards in terms of ethics and sustainability!
10. Dantoy
Categories: Boats, Watering Cans, Buckets, Sieves, Shovels, Rakes, Sand Molds
Materials: Sugarcane-Based Bioplastic, Recycled Plastic
Dantoy beach toys are designed to develop your child’s motor skills, concentration, hand-eye coordination, and senses.
The brand offers everything from sand toy sets with watering cans and buckets to individual boats your kids can play with in and out of the water.
These toys are made in Denmark mostly from sugarcane-based bioplastic that is 100% recyclable.
One set is crafted using recycled maritime gear such as nets, ropes, and trawls from the fishing industry.
And another one from excess waste materials!
Dantoy’s beach toys are dishwasher-safe and feature lovely muted colors and light tones, making them very aesthetically pleasing.
They also carry the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, so they are non-toxic and certified to be free of phthalates and other endocrine disruptors.
Final thoughts on the best eco-friendly, non-toxic beach toys
I hope you’ve found this article about the best non-toxic, eco-friendly beach toys helpful and that you could find some that your kids will love playing with this summer!
Not only are these as fun as their traditional plastic counterparts, but they’re also better for your children’s health and the environment.
If you enjoyed this article, you may also be interested in:
- 7 best non-toxic kiddie pools for safe splashing & playing
- 12 best sustainable swimwear brands for a fun, eco-friendly summer
- 9 sustainable & organic beach towels for an eco-friendly beach trip
- 10 best sustainable sunglasses brands that protect your eyes & the environment
- 10 best non-toxic & natural sunscreen brands for healthy sun protection
- 7 best reef-safe sunscreen brands that protect your skin & the ocean
- 6 best non-toxic ice cream makers for healthier scoops
- 7 best BPA-free, non-toxic popsicle molds for your frozen treats
- 8 best non-plastic, non-toxic ice cube trays that are BPA-free & safe
- 8 best sustainable outdoor furniture brands for your dream patio
- 18 eco-friendly alternatives to balloons for sustainable parties
- 12 sustainable summer essentials to have fun under the sun
- 7 best PFAS-free, non-toxic sleeping bags to sleep safely under the stars
Which eco-friendly, non-toxic beach toys have you decided to get?
Please leave a comment!
Don’t forget to share this blog post with your friends so they can find safer, more sustainable options too.
Looking for more non-toxic & sustainable brands? Check out the Ethical & Sustainable Brand Directory!
It features conscious brands in various categories, from home goods and furniture to fashion and clean beauty!
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