Eco sex toys – good for health and planet

17 September 2019

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Eco sex toys? Really? Well, ecology is hardly the first thing we think about when buying erotic accessories. But why? Sex toy industry is thriving like never before. Increasingly aware of their sexuality and open-minded women who are the main buyer of bedroom accessories, more often and more willingly reach for them. For every growing market, at some point, there is a problem with the growing mountain of non-recyclable waste or chemicals harmful to health and the environment. Attempting to solve these problems and caring for the planet should therefore be a priority for companies developing with the twenty-first century’s spirit. After all, modern sex toys industry (of course those of good quality) very well adapts to the tastes of consumers, including those who want to take care of the planet. The producers still have a long way to go but eco sex toys are not an unnecessary invention, but a need that can be – quite pleasantly – met.

(un)healthy and (not so much) eco sex toys

What should we look for if we want to buy erotic gadgets responsibly? First of all, for our own health. Safety should definitely be put first – and in most cases, ecology goes hand in hand. The first thing we need to check is whether the gadget we want to buy is not made of plastic. Even toys made with it as an additive can contain harmful bisphenols (e.g. Bisphenol A) that harm both people and the environment. Another substance, which – horribly – is often added to “flexible” toys (especially those of poor quality) are so-called phthalates. Their purpose is to increase the elasticity and softness of the material. However, it turns out that a large part of them can cause fertility disorders, defects in the construction of male genitalia at prenatal exposure (e.g. in the case of pregnant women who use gadgets from an unknown source), or even increase the risk of breast cancer [1].

To be sure, it’s worth buying sex toys clearly marked by the producers, not containing the above substances. It’s also good to choose products made of 100% silicone (and here the note – “made with silicon” doesn’t mean that there are no other additives in the composition!). Although silicone is not biodegradable, unlike plastic, it’s not toxic to the environment. It’s also not as ubiquitous as microplastic, which is largely a fragmented form of plastic.

Wood, stones and glass make perfect eco sex toys

If you don’t really care about flexibility, softness or realism, but you value minimalism and beautiful design, there are a few other solutions other than silicone. Eco sex toys such as balls, eggs, dildos and – slightly less foten – vibrators are also being made of wood (including bamboo), gems, stones and minerals, as well as glass or metal. No, there are no splinters from wooden toys, minerals have a regular shape, glass doesn’t cut your skin, and metal doesn’t corrode. These types of gadgets are usually of a higher shelf, and their manufacturers take care of every detail. Wooden and stone dildos are completely harmless to the environment, and glass can be safely recycled. Assuming, of course, that they will not be rejected as a so-called “Biohazard” – in the end they have contact with love body juices.

Problematic recycling

Unfortunately, it is recycling that causes the most trouble. Still, most of the toys and gadgets available are products completely unsuitable for reworking. Although in countries such as the United States or Great Britain there are places (such as this) where you can give away an unnecessary, vibrating toy to recover at least some of its components, it is still a rarity. Really rare, even sensational. Unfortunately.

Recycling doesn’t cover toys made of mixed materials (e.g. silicone with metal), as well as all kinds of latex accessories, shoes and clothing. Even if we buy latex accessories from sustainable rubber crops, they will probably harm the environment one day (except for a few exceptions, when latex is recycled for the production of e.g. whips). Batteries that drive massagers and vibrators are not less problematic. These batteries, if not utilized at the right point, are highly toxic to humans and other animals. They contain, for example, heavy metals such as lead and mercury.

Disposables are passe

This problem cannot be completely eliminated – but it can be reduced. Instead of a vibrator powered by disposable batteries, one can (easily) buy a vibrator with a charger. This way, we significantly reduce the amount of garbage and make our lives easier – it’s always one thing less on our shopping list. These types of vibrators will probably also be of much better quality. Manufacturers of higher-end gadgets are well aware that the times of disposables come to an end.

Since we are moving with the times, why not charge toys with solar energy? Yes, such ideas have already appeared and even have their representation on the market (e.g. Solar Bullet Vibrator). For clarity – there’s no need to use it outdoors in full sun. All you have to do is put the cell element in a well-lit place (the vibrator itself can be disconnected) during the sunny day, and in the evening check if it has charged well.

Prima aprilis joke.. turned out to be a great idea!

For some, such solutions still sound like a joke and exaggeration. This is probably why one of the leading companies in the sex toys industry made its customers an April fool eco joke. The exclusive LELO brand announced the sale of vibrator made of bamboo and recycled tires on April 1st this year (by the way of self-assembly, parodying Ikea). As it happens on this specific holiday, people didn’t get the joke and flooded the company with purchase questions. Their enthusiasm was so great that LELO officially announced that they will introduce this type of eco sex toys into their offer. This time for real.

The need to sustain the economy in every segment is a priority today, also in the case of erotic gadgets. As you can see, both the planet and consumers need it. Producers will certainly profit here too!

As a bonus, several eco-conscious (and eco-random) erotic stores: