Baby & Nursery
PlanToys
Sustainably Sourced Wooden Toys
Wooden toys made from reclaimed rubberwood, finished with water-based dyes and natural pigments — a long-standing Thai company built around sustainability since 1981.
- Sustainably Sourced Wood
- Water Based Finishes
- Open Ended Play
- Family Safe
Our Editorial Standard
Every product in our directory is evaluated using the Modern Holistic Living Standard. We assess materials, ingredient transparency, long-term durability, everyday practicality, replacement availability, manufacturer consistency, and overall value before including any recommendation. We only feature products we would calmly recommend to our own families.
Editorial
Why we recommend it
- Made from rubberwood reclaimed from trees that have ended their latex-producing life, rather than from virgin hardwood — a material story consistent for over four decades.
- Finished with water-based, non-toxic stains and chlorine-free recycled packaging — material choices that show up across the entire catalog, not just hero products.
- Designs lean toward open-ended, classic forms (stacking, sorting, role-play) that age well across developmental stages and between siblings.
- A long, public history of sustainability reporting and third-party safety testing.
At a glance
Pros & cons
Pros
- Rubberwood sourced from tapped-out rubber trees — genuinely sustainable
- Water-based, non-toxic finishes disclosed on product pages
- EN 71 and CPSIA compliance published for every product line
- Wide product range at accessible mid-tier pricing
Cons
- Some smaller pieces use PlanWood composite rather than solid wood
- Finish colours are more muted than mainstream competitors
- Delivery times can be long for less popular items
- Small-parts pieces require age-appropriate supervision
Who it suits
Best for
- 01
Families building a mid-priced wooden toy library
- 02
Buyers who value sustainable-forestry sourcing
- 03
Households wanting a wide product range from one trusted brand
Transparency
Things to know
- 01
Some larger items use a composite wood (PlanWood) made from reclaimed sawdust and natural glue — disclosed clearly on the brand's site.
- 02
Wider variety of styles than heirloom Waldorf brands, with some toys aimed at structured play rather than purely open-ended use.
- 03
Mid-tier pricing — more accessible than Grimm's, more premium than mass-market wood toys.
Composition
Materials & ingredients
Wood
- Reclaimed rubberwood
- PlanWood (reclaimed wood composite with natural glue)
Finishes
- Water-based stains
- Organic pigments
- Soy-based ink
Independently verified
Certifications
- FSC
- ASTM F963
- EN71
The standard
Why it made the cut
- One of the longest-running sustainability stories in the wooden toy industry.
- Honest about its use of PlanWood composite, rather than marketing every product as solid hardwood.
- Catalog-wide commitment to water-based, non-toxic finishes and recycled packaging.
FAQ
Common questions
- What is PlanWood?
- A composite made from reclaimed rubberwood sawdust bound with a natural, formaldehyde-free glue. PlanToys discloses which products use solid wood and which use PlanWood.
- Are the paints non-toxic?
- Yes. All finishes are water-based and meet European EN71 and US ASTM F963 toy safety standards for surface coatings.
- How does it compare to Grimm's?
- Grimm's uses solid lime wood with simpler, more Waldorf-inspired forms at a higher price point. PlanToys uses reclaimed rubberwood with a broader variety of designs and more accessible pricing.
Materials Library
Materials behind this recommendation
Each material below has a canonical explainer in our shared Materials Library. Open one to see how it behaves, where it belongs, and where it doesn't.
Organic Cotton
Textile
Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides and processed under a defined list of permitted chemistry. In period care, skincare, and baby textiles it is the reference fibre for products worn against absorbent or sensitive tissue.
Read →
Lead
Metal
Lead is a potent neurotoxin with no safe exposure level in children. It rarely appears in modern products by design but persists in older homes, imported pottery, and some water systems.
Read →
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