PlanWood: nothing goes to waste
Making wooden toys creates a lot of sawdust. Rather than throw it away, PlanToys turned it into a material of its own. In 2010 their research team worked with Prince of Songkla University in Thailand to develop PlanWood, made from the sawdust left over in their own toy factory.
How it's made
- Sawdust from cutting, sanding and drilling rubberwood is collected and cleaned.
- It's mixed with organic pigments, made from plants, flowers and minerals, and PlanToys' non-toxic, formaldehyde-free glue.
- The mixture is pressed into heated moulds. This allows shapes and textures that traditional woodworking can't make. Some pieces get a water-based lacquer so they're happy in the bath.
- Each piece is trimmed and polished by hand, ready to become part of a toy.
Why we love it
PlanWood is dense, smooth and tough, so it stands up to years of play. It also means more of every rubberwood tree ends up in a toy rather than in a bin.
