3 question interview: Tracy with Green Town Toys
When we first spotted these corrugated cardboard structures by Green Town Toys, we were as excited as kids! They not only are made green, but of course will biodegrade. And very importantly, when it comes to toys, these stimulate rather than stifle imaginations. They inspire children to use creativity and help to build motor, social, and problem-solving skills.
Here’s a quick interview with Tracy Seaver, Green Town Toys product manager.
1. Where did the original idea for your corrugated products come from? We noticed that children really enjoy and are fascinated with boxes.
Our group always joked that when you bought your child an expensive plastic toy for birthday, Christmas, etc., they would always end up playing with the box the expensive toy came in.
We thought, why not create a product around the child’s interest and Green Town Toys was started.
Green Town Toys is focused on creating educational eco-friendly play structures for children ages 2-8 years old. We are a start-up company that makes these corrugated products right here in the USA! Our products are manufactured from corrugated fiberboard that contains up to 42% recycled content and is 100% biodegradable, no scrap is left behind!
2. Aside from ensuring your products are as eco-friendly as possible, what other things does your company do in terms of sustainability? We have received certification from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, an initiative that promotes and enforces proper forest management among loggers and other paper suppliers. As a result, we can ensure that our paper is originating from a forest that is properly managed and being re-generated. To make our products even more eco-friendly, we use only adhesive and ink products that are water-based. That’s how we are keeping our products sustainable but we are also working to sustain our community.
When school is in session, we head over once a month to a public school in our area and pair up GTT employees with students. I think that we get more excited about this activity than the students do! Our activities range from reading to one another to playing board games. It is such a great experience and I suggest more companies get involved in helping their own communities!
We also have installed energy efficient, motion sensor lights.
3. What has surprised, inspired or excited you about being a part of Green Town Toys? Green Town Toys is a start-up company which is exciting in itself. We are beginning from the ground up with a great product and a great group of people.
It has been surprising and exciting that we have had such a great response to our products. Of course we are biased and think we are offering the creme de la creme of corrugated play structures but children are truly enjoying these products and the parents are as well.
This is going to sound very cliché, but every day is inspiring for all GTT employees. We are continually looking for ways to grow our company and our product line. The more that we are able to grow, the more we are able to help our communities and non-profit organizations. We are in this for the children and the environment, all of which our future is depending on.
Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, and founders of Green Halloween®.
