It is our forests, oceans, soils and the living organisms that provide us with everything we need to thrive on this planet. These natural resources are vital to our existence and should not be taken for granted or jeopardised by overexploitation or pollution. In quest of preserving our precious resources, the use of renewable and sustainable materials has gained significance in just about every industry. For many years now, we at Hape have sought sustainable materials for our toys. And today, in celebration of the World Environment Day 2022, we want to take a closer look at the materials we use to make our toys greener and our play more sustainable.

We Build It Green

Our research and development in renewable and eco-friendly materials has been an essential part of our continued mission to protect the environment. We assess the sustainability of the materials used and – whenever possible – replace non-sustainable materials with greener, more environmentally friendly alternatives. For many years now, rice composite materials, FASAL, wood flour composite and bamboo have become imperative elements of our product material portfolio. In 2021, we added composite cork and natural rubber to our roster, as both materials are not only recyclable but also can be harvested without damaging trees.

In particular, bamboo as a sustainable material for toys has sparked our interest. Bamboo is a renewable and extremely versatile material, and there are many advantages to using bamboo as a raw material. So, in dedication to further developing our bamboo toy line, we established the Hape Bamboo Research Centre in 2021. 

Our Passion for Bamboo

Bamboo is technically a type of grass, not a tree, and the fastest growing plant on Earth. There are 1000 different species of bamboo scattered around the world, and some can reach their full height in just 90 days. Most types of bamboo are fully mature in a couple of years, and on top of  this astonishing growth rate, bamboo has the ability to regenerate itself; once harvested it simply regrows naturally from its own root system. 

Moreover, whilst bamboo is a very light building material, it’s 1-2 times stronger than most hardwoods. Another interesting sustainability fact about bamboo, is its ability to absorb carbon dioxide while producing oxygen…

Recognising bamboo’s sustainable properties and leveraging on the abundance of bamboo plants growing within the region of our biggest production facility in China, we started to explore bamboo as an eco-friendly building material at the beginning of the 2000s. Supported by the UNESCO, we launched our first Hape Bamboo Workshop in 2003 and, since then, we have successfully held nine additional Bamboo Workshops, regularly inviting designers and students from leading international universities to join our research and product development events.  

We are committed to protecting the environment and preserving the planet for our children and future generations, and we believe in the continued research and development of renewable and sustainable materials for our toys. Ultimately, our aim is to make our products more sustainable for both our consumers and for the planet writ large.