Did you know that plastic first originated in 1600 BC? Ok well maybe not the plastic we know and have become so accustomed to today, but it was the Mesoamericans that first used rubber for balls, bands, and figurines. Jump forward a few hundred years and we were treating milk proteins with lye creating a hardened substance not unlike horns on a bull. In the 1800‘s Charles Goodyear, yes of Goodyear tires discovered the technique of vulcanization solidifying items derived from natural rubber setting the wheels in motion for the development of what we now know today as plastic.

Of course there are and were many types along the way starting with bakelite; the first synthetic polymer. A hard substance that encased phone parts, adorned the necks, wrists, and body parts of many women and men, and served purposefully on hundreds of other items, but let’s jump to today.

It was just a matter of time before the world of sextoys would be on the plastic band wagon churning out toys at lighting speed. Day after day, week after week, year after year, that makes up for a lot of product, a lot of packaging, and a lot of waste. Up until recent years manufacturers and designers didn’t give much thought to the toxicity issues surrounding plastics, especially ones that ended up in our bodies, mouths and other parts not worth mentioning. Phthalates, Bisphenol A, DEHP, off gassing PVC’s, hormone disrupters, the list is lengthy and not very pretty and some with names so long they are almost impossible to pronounce.

What’s a person to do when done with it or it breaks? THROW IT OUT! That’s right throw it out, and that’s just what folks did and are still doing, throwing it out. I am not just talking about the toys but all forms of plastic products, products that for some reason are just not making it to the recycling depot, or the processing plant, but into our environment. The world’s water, land, and of course the animals, the worlds beloved creatures big and small.

Plastic is easy to produce and easy to throw away, it surrounds us daily, it’s virtually impossible to avoid. It’s so cheap and easy to produce it’s being used to create cheap products, products that are disposable and bought by all. A fact that applies to our beloved sextoys. There is a lot of good ones out there, but there is also a lot bad, and downright ugly toys out there, but that doesn’t mean they should find themselves choking up our planet because of careless disposal.

If your like me, you’re aware of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, you’re aware of the birds starving to death from ingestion, you’re aware of how next to impossible it is to dispose of, plastics that are slowly making their way into our food chain. All at the cost of the planet and the life on it.

Ok so I have gone off topic just a tiny bit, but only to make a few points, points on conscious thought and choice. Plastic isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon, not until the same mind set is shared by many, but in the meantime a little conscious thought can be done to make the right choice. The choice to buy a better product that will stand the test of time and not end up being tossed to soon. The choice to dispose of it properly, or return for repair, or replacement.

I’m certainly by no means an angel here as I certainly love my toys and have a fair amount with different functions to meet my many needs. Even though I try to cut out as much plastic as I can in my home, my kitchen, my bathroom and the storage products I buy, I can’t get it all.

If you’re wondering what else there is why try something made of glass, steel or wood? They’re out there and if you stick around I’ll show you!

All I am asking is to just be aware of what you are buying and what you are doing with it when it comes time for disposal, that’s all.