picture of a mum and two toddlers playing with safe wooden toys for children

How to protect children from toxic toys

Environmental charity Wen (Women’s Environmental Network) is launching a powerful call to action for UK families on Green Baby Day (11 June) warning that children in the UK are increasingly exposed to toxic chemicals in toys, just as European regulations are being toughened. 

The campaign, now in its third year, coincides with new EU rules that will ban EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals), PFAS and Bisphenols in toys, while demanding accountability from the online marketplaces that sell them*. In contrast, the UK risks becoming a regulatory backwater, with toy safety standards falling dangerously behind. 

Ivie Itoje, Wen’s Green Baby Campaign Manager, says:

“Toxic chemicals including EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals), PFAS and Bisphenols are still ending up in our children’s hands - and mouths. The UK urgently needs to catch up with the EU’s stronger stance on toy safety. Right now, our ‘Brexit babies’ are growing up with weaker protections, especially when it comes to cheap, imported toys sold through under-regulated marketplaces. This isn’t just a regulatory failure - it’s a question of environmental justice. Every child deserves safe play, no matter where they’re born or how much their parents can afford to spend.”

With over 500 toy recalls in the UK since 2021 - more than half deemed serious** - Wen’s briefing “Playing Safe” lays out how cheaply made toys, especially those bought online or imported, often contain harmful substances linked to hormonal disruption, developmental and neurological disorders, cancer, and respiratory issues. Children are particularly vulnerable due to hand-to-mouth behaviour and still-developing organs. 

picture of a selction of brightly coloured wooden childrens toys

Dr Karen Joash, Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, says: 

“As a consultant working with mothers and babies every day, I see firsthand how early-life exposures can shape long-term health. Many parents assume the toys we buy for our children are safe - but in reality, toxic chemicals are still finding their way into our homes. These substances can interfere with hormones, affect development, and increase the risk of chronic illness - and it’s often families on the lowest incomes who are most exposed. We urgently need UK regulation to catch up with the EU’s new toy safety standards, but this is about more than policy. It’s about the right for every child to grow up safe from harm.”

Marginalised families are most at risk. Poorer households often rely on low-cost or second-hand toys, which are more likely to contain toxic chemicals. Limited access to clear product information makes it even harder for parents to make informed choices. 

Wen’s Green Baby Day - on 11 June 2025 - calls for a toxic free future for children and is urging parents to demand UK laws that match a ban on EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals), PFAS and Bisphenols in children’s toys, just like the new EU regulations. Wen is also calling for greater transparency, stronger enforcement for online marketplaces. 

picture of happy children playing with safe toys for children

Wen’s ‘Playing Safe’ briefing and Toxic-Free Toy Guide’, developed by WECF, are available at: www.wen.org.uk/greenbaby

Green Baby Day takes place on Wednesday 11 June 2025. Join the campaign: #ToxicFreeToysNow | #GreenBabyDay 

Play it safe - what parents can do today 

How to choose safer toys: 

  • Look for materials like FSC-certified wood and GOTS-certified organic cotton
  • Check labels for UKCA, OEKO-TEX®, and GOTS certifications 
  • Avoid toys with strong chemical smells, cheap plastic, or peeling paint 
  • Limit second-hand plastic toys from before 2013 especially if damaged 

Take action: 

Real-World examples of toxic toys

 

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