Play is considered the primary activity of children, and toys are their essential tools. However, the toy industry extends beyond children, constituting a significant economic sector with annual revenues exceeding one hundred billion dollars and generating substantial environmental consequences. These include resource consumption, pollution during manufacturing, energy use, consumables during operation, and waste generation at the end of the product’s life cycle. This research presents a study of the state of the art of ecodesign in the toy sector and its potential within this field. Through the analysis of the available scientific literature and the expertise of the Toy Technology Institute (AIJU), experiences from companies in the sector have been identified and classified according to the ecodesign strategy wheel. Simultaneously, a survey of industry stakeholders compared the current situation with that of 30 years ago. The results reveal perceptual progress that is uneven across dimensions, with the strongest advances in materials and production, moderate gains in distribution and end-of-life strategies, and limited improvement in product durability, while innovation in new product concepts shows the highest growth. Correlation analyses indicate that experience and professional background influence how sustainability progress is perceived. Although most improvements have been motivated by cost reduction and regulatory compliance rather than environmental awareness, recent trends reflect a growing corporate commitment to ecological innovation. For consumers, it remains essential to overcome misconceptions about eco-friendly toys, while companies must continue to invest in new materials, technologies, and design strategies that support the transition toward circular and long-lasting toy products.
Berbegal-Pina et al. (Mon,) studied this question.