A new library with a playful twist
Maisie Mould
Ireland’s first Digital Toy Library has been launched in an effort to make playtime more sustainable.
The innovative new Digital Toy Library aims to revolutionise the way toys can be accessed by tackling the growing problem of toy waste and making toys more accessible for all children. The Toy Library, led by a UCC researcher, invites families to share, swap or find toys for free via an online platform, ensuring children have continuous access to new play experiences while lessening environmental and cost impact. Through the online platform, families can list a pre-loved toy for another child to find and enjoy, or find a toy for their own child.
“We believe that by teaching children to take good care of their toys, give them away when they’re no longer needed, and experience the joy of sharing, we can make a positive impact on the planet,” said Giorgia Anile, Founder and Director of the Toy Library and PhD student in Human Computer Interaction at UCC.
80% of all toys made end up in landfills, incinerators, or oceans. The global toy industry is the most plastic-intensive industry in the world, research has shown.
Most toys are made from non-biodegradable, petroleum-based plastics, which do not break down for centuries.
Annually, 60 million Barbie dolls are sold, contributing emissions equivalent to burning over one billion litres of petrol.
Ireland has the highest level of plastic waste per head in the European Union, and one of the lowest recycling rates.
An estimated five-and-a-half million plastic toys are lost and discarded in Ireland each year, with that figure climbing for other countries.
Dr Maria Kirrane, Head of UCC’s Sustainable and Climate Development Office, and advisor on the Toy Library said: “When considering the environmental impact of toys, it goes far beyond the toy ending up in a landfill.
“The environmental impact of plastic toys is created throughout the manufacturing process, across packaging, transportation and marketing,” she added.