What does one do during a heatwave? Why head to the beach, of course! If you’re planning to take the family to Shek O, Big Wave Bay or one of Sai Kung’s many beautiful beaches over the summer, you’ve got to be armed with some form of entertainment, especially if you have small kids in tow.

Before you head to the supermarket to pick up those cheap and cheerful plastic beach toys you noticed hanging next to the grocery counter, why not do a bit of forward planning and consider some more eco-friendly toys instead?

Traditional beach toys are often made of cheap PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastics that contain compounds such as BPAs and phthalates, chemicals that have been proven to be harmful to humans. Since they also crack and chip easily, these toys are typically thrown out after just a few uses – where they can then take more than 400 years to decompose.

Some people leave their discarded toys on the beach too; these often end up washing into the sea, breaking down into microplastics and wreaking havoc on our ecosystems.

Thankfully, a growing number of toy makers have started using biodegradable materials such as bamboo fibre, bioplastic or recyclable silicone for their beach toys. Apart from being environmentally friendly, these are more durable and will serve your little ones longer than their plastic counterparts. Here are eight fun ideas to get you started.

LoveLotte Eco Beach Set

Made from soft-touch bamboo fibre, LoveLotte’s Eco Beach Set is biodegradable – and if lost in the ocean or buried in the sand, the toys will break down in approximately 12 months.

Available at Amazon

Hevea Flipper & Beach Toy Set

This pair of baby flippers and cute beach toy are made from a mix of natural and recycled rubber in order to reduce its environmental footprint.

Available at Smallable

Dantoy Toy Truck

This 29x17x15cm truck is made to last, created with bioplastic, 90 percent sugar cane and vinylon, without pesticides and comes in a recycled cardboard box. It’s even dishwasher safe too!

Available at Smallable

Liewood Sand Toys Set

Danish eco-brand Liewood has created this super cute ice-cream shaped sand toy set made from 100 percent silicone.

Available at Babyshop

The Beach People Beach Toy Set

Made from unbleached compostable bamboo and bioplastic with hemp rope handles, this set of four toys with a pail and three tools ideal for sandcastle building also comes in a handy canvas bag.

Available at The Beach People

Scrunch Sand Moulds Set

These super bendy sand moulds are made from 100 percent silicone and come in a set of four different animal shapes in a matching net bag.

Available at Baby Central HK

Scrunch Foldable Flyer

This 18cm-diametre frisbee is foldable, soft, weighs only 65 grams and is made from 100 percent silicone – making it ideal for throwing in your bag for beach days.

Available at Baby Central HK

PlanToys Penguin Sailing Boat

This colourful sailboat from award-winning sustainable Thai toy brand PlanToys is made from chemical free, kiln-dried recycled rubber wood and designed with water-based, non-toxic accent colours.

Available at Amazon

See also: 8Shades’ Guide to a Sustainable Beach Day

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