SECTOR FOCUS: SUSTAINABILITY
As consumer demand for ecofriendly products keeps rising, change continues apace across the preschool industry. PPS speaks to a selection of suppliers across key categories to find out more on the progress which is being made.
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GREEN SHOOTS
ccording to data from Kids Insights for Q2, 39% of preschoolers in the UK have environmental footprint awareness, while quarter on quarter, climate change related concerns among 3-5s in the UK have risen by 17%. Meanwhile, year on year, the number of British parents with preschoolers who state the environment as a key concern of theirs has grown by 4%. Now, 15% of these parents share such concern, making the environment the seventh biggest issue to this group. Interestingly, according to the Kids Insights’ data, almost half of parents with preschoolers (48%) say they are influenced by eco-friendly credentials when making purchases. This shift in attitudes is something which companies in the preschool space are certainly taking into account. “Consumers are definitely seeking to look for sustainable alternatives not only for the benefit of reducing waste, but with the cost-of-living crisis too,” Stephanie Revill, owner and founder of Modern Cloth Nappies, tells PPS. “I think that since the DEFRA report was released earlier this year, a lot more consumers are now more aware of the environmental impact of disposable
Above: Licences including In the Night Garden in Golden Bear’s portfolio have moved over from virgin to recycled polyester for both the outer fabric and inner stuffing.
nappies vs reusable and people are more keen to get their waste down and help to protect the environment. “We have received an increased interest in our business and products and we are always continuing to develop and meet the needs of this changing market. It has also helped us develop with new manufacturers to ensure we manufacture our products as ethically and sustainably as possible.” For Gareth Lloyd, commercial manager at Golden Bear Toys, people are making better choices in everything they purchase. “Not only do parents want the best for their children, but they also want to promote a positive message about sustainability and invest in products that will stand the test of time,” he comments. “With a bigger focus on sustainable products, parents can pass toys down from child to child without compromising on quality. “We’ve always strived to consider the environmental impact of our product development and distribution – so having parents and consumers be more on board with products that prioritise this is an added bonus for
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14/08/2023 16:51