Toy Review: Green Toys' Tea Set

I've become a plastic snob. And while I haven't eradicated every plastic toy from my house, I do inspect the safety of all of them and have become a wiser consumer. I vowed to discontinue buying any more plastic toys. Then I heard about Green Toys. I couldn't help but be intrigued. Toys made from recycled milk jugs? How cool is that?

Green toys, Inc.'s co-founder is Laurie Hyman, a mother of three who certainly knows the importance of safe toys. These cuties are BPA and phthalate free and because the toys are made without external coatings, that is, they're not painted, there's no fear of lead. Green Toys offers a dining set, a tea party set, a sand play set, and a indoor gardening set. Green Toys was kind enough to send me a tea party set to review and I was not disappointed.

First off, there was no plastic packaging at all. Only an encased recycled cardboard box and a single rubber band to hold the silverware. There was also an ample amount of smart wording all over the box boasting earth-friendly claims similar to Seventh Generation's labeling. But beyond the claims, the fact that everything is made and manufactured locally in California known for their strident toy regulation, makes this a lean green efficient company.

So how does the tea set stack up against the competitors? I have to say that this is the cutest, more durable plastic tea set I've laid eyes on and I have checked out many a tea set. There are other beautiful ceramic and metal galvanized tea sets, but this one is more affordable at $24.23 and if you have little toddlers at foot like I do, this is a safe option in my humble opinion. With Christmas coming up, you might want to add this toy in your shopping list.

My only complaint? I wish they had a wider toy selection. I just tossed my children's bath cups of mystery origin and am looking for a replacement.