Sleep. Play. Swim. Plastic-Free.
Raising children in today’s world means navigating a sea of synthetic materials, hidden toxins, and ever-growing plastic pollution. As parents and caregivers, we want to make the safest choices possible, but knowing where to start can be overwhelming.
The truth is, plastic has crept into almost every part of our children’s lives, from their beds and clothes to their toys and swimwear. Microplastics are now being found in human blood, placentas, and even testicles, with studies showing that babies and toddlers are exposed to 10–20 times more microplastics than adults. These exposures happen through skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion, often from everyday products we assume are safe.
But knowledge is power. And small, intentional swaps can make a big impact.
Sleep: Creating a Safer Sleep Environment
Babies spend up to 16 hours a day sleeping, often nestled into plastic foam mattresses, polyester-fill sleeping bags, or synthetic, chemical laden sleepwear. Many conventional baby products are made from polyester, a plastic derived from PET (yes, the same material as water bottles). This fabric sheds microplastics with every toss and turn.
Even more concerning, studies have found high levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) released from mainstream baby mattresses, adding to toxic air pollution inside the home.
This study measured VOC emissions from new and used crib mattresses and found elevated concentrations—up to 2.4 times higher in the infant’s breathing zone, confirming mattresses as a significant indoor air pollutant source
Safer swaps include:
- Organic Cotton Sleepwear and bedding
- Natural-filled mattresses (look for coconut coir, wool or kapok)
- Avoiding plastic mattress covers and synthetic blends choosing wool or other natural fabrics
Our Sleeping Bags, Blackout Blinds, and Travel Beds are made from plastic-free, breathable materials. Designed with low-tox living in mind – with a side order of temperature regulation and sustainability!
Play: Soft Toys, Clothing & Home Textiles
Over 95% of soft toys sold in the UK are made entirely from polyester, making them literal bundles of microplastics (polyester is classed as a primary microplastic). Add to this the fleeces, blankets, rugs and clothing made with synthetic fibres, and it’s easy to see how microplastics saturate our homes and little one’s bodies.
Children play on floors, snuggle into synthetic blankets, and mouth plush teddies. These everyday moments become points of exposure, especially in bedrooms and playrooms filled with plastic-based fabrics.
Plastic-free living starts here:
- Swap polyester soft toys for organic cotton alternatives
- Choose clothing made from organic, untreated natural fibres
- Reduce fleece and plush textiles in nurseries and bedrooms
At Pure Earth Collection, we offer a range of Organic Cotton Soft Toys, designed to limit microplastic exposure without compromising on cuteness.
Swim: The Truth About Swimwear
Most swimwear on the market is made from polyester, nylon or spandex, all of which release microplastics into our waterways AND our bodies when worn and washed. Even so-called “eco” options made from recycled plastic bottles may release more toxins due to chemical processing.
We took a different path. Our Organic Swimwear Range for kids and adults is made with natural, biodegradable materials. It’s breathable, safe on skin, and doesn’t contribute to the plastic problem, in fact, it helps solve it.
Safer swimming looks like:
- Made from breathable organic cotton, free from harmful chemicals (like PFAS and BPA)
- Gentle on skin, and minimising microplastics
- Swim safe colours
Fabric Deep Dive: What to Look For When Avoiding Plastics
Or Fabric Deep Dive: Plastic-Free Fabrics Guide
Here’s a quick breakdown of common fabrics to guide your swaps:
- Kapok: Naturally water-resistant, hypoallergenic, and biodegradable. This fluffy, cotton-wool-like fibre is used raw for stuffing in our Kids’ Travel Bed, requiring minimal processing. It’s harvested by hand from the fruit of kapok trees, which can grow up to 70m and live for 300 years.
- Organic Cotton: Gentle on skin, grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, and completely plastic-free like our Blackout Blinds. It significantly reduces water usage, consuming about 91% less than conventional cotton primarily due to being rainwater-fed.
- Bamboo: Organically grown crop that can soar up to 1m daily without irrigation, making it a rapidly renewable source. Turning bamboo into fabric involves breaking it down into wood chips soaked in a Global Organic Textile Association-approved solution to form pulp. The pulp is then transformed into sheets, ground up and spun into yarn, weaving into fabric that excels in temperature regulation like our All-Season Sleeping Bag.
- Modal: Derived from renewable beech trees, is produced through an eco-friendly, closed-loop process that involves pulping the wood into fine chips and spinning it into fibre without the use of harsh chemicals.
Join Us for Plastic Free Kids Day – July 8th
To celebrate and raise awareness, we host an annual Plastic Free Kids Day on July 8th.
Plastic Free Kids day 2025, you can expect:
- Instagram Lives with leading experts and conscious creators
- Honest conversations about toxic exposure in childhood
- Collaborations with aligned brands
- Special offers to support your plastic-free journey
Make sure you’re signed up to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram so you don’t miss a thing.
Together, we can raise a generation who sleep, play and swim – plastic-free.