Packaging Digest

Toy packaging merges sustainability, fun

Green Toys Inc. will introduce an exciting assortment of US-Made, safe, earth-friendly fun at the American International Toy Fair in New York, February 12-15, 2012 (booth #1768). Green Toys' tradition of sturdy, award-winning vehicles continues in 2012 with the new Green Toys Mini Fastbacks and Green Toys Mini Vehicles, which are offered both as a complete set and individually for impulse purchase. Extending its offering in play food, the Green Toys Salad Set offers a healthy play pattern for kids and our planet. Also new for 2012 is Build-A-Bouquet, an innovative construction product for preschoolers. Like all Green Toys products, these new toys are made in the USA from food-safe, 100-percent recycled plastic, saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"This year is all about growing successful categories. With the mini-vehicles, we now offer our classic, eco-cars at an impulse price point in addition to complete sets, and our Salad Set encourages healthy eating while kids play with our food-safe play food," says Laurie Hyman, co-founder of Green Toys Inc. "We are also excited to introduce Build-A-Bouquet, a construction product designed specifically with preschool girls in mind."

The retro-inspired Green Toys Mini Vehicle Set includes an Ambulance, Police Car, Fastback and Taxi, while the Green Toys Mini Fastback Set features the classic coupe in four fun colors - red, blue, green, and yellow. Each pint-sized vehicle has its own unique details and features a super-eco design with no metal axles. Measuring at 4 in x 2 in, each car in the fleet is perfect for little hands ready to explore and protect their world. Each set of 4 cars retails for $17.99, with individual vehicles priced at $4.99. Recommended for ages 1 and up.

The Green Toys Salad Set is the "greenest" salad on earth. The 20-piece set encourages healthy habits and includes a serving bowl, salad plate, two serving utensils, three lettuce leaves, three sets of cucumber, two tomatoes, two red peppers, onions, mushrooms, and fold-your-own oil & vinegar and salt & pepper. Dishwasher safe and compliant with FDA food contact standards, the Salad Set will retail for $19.99. Recommended for ages 2 and up.

The Green Toys Build-A-Bouquet is full of flower power! With 44 brightly colored interchangeable pieces, including 24 flower pieces, 16 stem and leaf pieces, and 4 bases, budding preschoolers can stack and build vibrant petunias, daisies, lilies or their own varietal all year long. Designed for ages 2 and up, Build-a-Bouquet will retail for $27.99.

In addition, Green Toys will release some classic favorites in new fun colors. It will now offer its Sand Play Set in pink and blue in addition to lime green. The Green Toys Tool Set has gone through its own remodeling and is now offered in blue and pink versions.

Green Toys' 2012 items will be available in early March via online retailers and at specialty stores worldwide, with Build-A-Bouquet available early summer 2012.

All Green Toys products are designed, manufactured, and assembled in California. Made from food-safe, 100-percent recycled milk containers; they contain no BPA, PVC, phthalates or external coatings and are dishwasher safe. Each toy is packaged in a 100-percent recyclable corrugated box printed with soy inks-no twist ties, plastic or cellophane.