Don't play with safety

With the Christmas season in full swing one thing that's on a lot of people's minds, whether they're manufacturers, retailers, parents or children, is toys.

This year, they have been big news, with several high-profile product recalls and safety scares, as well as concerns about conditions in the Chinese factories which produce a significant proportion of the world's toys.

In addition, the amount of packaging that's thrown away and the batteries needed to power electronic toys have a great impact on the environment — and that's a worry.

UK manufacturers sub-contracting in the Far East are continually trying to hammer down product costs, but there's no way they can maintain standards of quality and service if they keep doing this. Factories that are subject to the sorts of financial pressure aimed at driving down prices will struggle to maintain a good track record and uphold the procedures and processes guaranteeing safety.

These concerns can be addressed by taking a fresh approach to design and the manufacturing process. Companies can continue to make traditional toys, but 'traditional' doesn't mean that they have to be stuck in the past when it comes to safety or the environmental impact of products.