| It's difficult to imagine a piece of wood not being | | | | wooden train track pieces from local, responsible |
| safe, either ecologically or where our children are | | | | sources. Even when lumber is FSC (Forest |
| concerned. In reality, the wooden train track itself is | | | | Stewardship Council) certified, there is no guarantee |
| not the culprit, but the products used in | | | | that a company is not using toxic chemicals in the |
| manufacturing. | | | | manufacturing of their wooden track pieces. |
| So how does one tell when a product is truly green - | | | | Two Environmentally Friendly Wooden Train Track |
| or good for us, our children and the earth - when the | | | | Manufacturers: |
| Environmental Protection Agency deems the language | | | | The first, Maple Landmark in Vermont hasn't had to |
| used by companies to describe their green products | | | | scramble to rearrange the makeup of toxic |
| as "useless"? | | | | substances used in their wooden train track pieces |
| The answer lies in time, energy and research. We | | | | because they've never used any. They utilize local |
| wouldn't think twice about learning the safety rating | | | | lumber sources, finding the quality in Vermont is |
| and overall economy of a car before we make a | | | | better than the FSC certified lumber available in New |
| purchase. The same should go for the rest of the | | | | Hampshire. Even if the quality was the same, the |
| items we take into our homes, including wooden train | | | | lumber in New Hampshire takes a lot of time and fuel |
| track pieces. | | | | to transport which defeats the whole purpose of |
| Points to Consider: | | | | helping the environment. |
| Look for wooden track pieces made of the densest | | | | Second is Michigan based Mesko Toys. Not only are |
| hardwoods available, like beech and maple. These | | | | Mesko's wooden train track pieces manufactured in |
| woods are more durable, clean more easily, and have | | | | Michigan they are also made from "tree-cycled" solid |
| a smooth finish and edge. | | | | hardwoods. This means they use waste wood from |
| Be sure the wooden train track pieces are cut from | | | | lumber yard surplus and trees that have fallen in |
| a solid hardwood plank as opposed to wood chips | | | | urban areas. Using waste wood may cause |
| super-compressed together with a polymer | | | | discolorations and variations to the wood grain but |
| compound. These pieces can break apart and present | | | | with no bearing on the train track's functionality. |
| a choking hazard, and exposes the polymer glue | | | | Mesko Toys also uses non-toxic water-based wood |
| which is most certainly not safe for children. These | | | | glue for the building components attached to their |
| pieces are also more difficult to recycle. | | | | wooden track systems. |
| There is little need for wooden train track pieces to | | | | Smart Buying Choices: |
| be colored. If they are, confirm with the | | | | Always remember the old saying, "You get what you |
| manufacturer that the coatings are 100% non-toxic. | | | | pay for" and that informed buyers can be sure any |
| This goes for the trains themselves as well. | | | | money saved doesn't come at the cost of the earth, |
| Look for companies who source lumber for their | | | | or worse. |