This year, there has been a huge increase in sex toy sales worldwide. Many of us have been stuck at home and unable or unwilling to casually hook up anymore. We’ve taken our pleasure into our own hands! EMPOWERMENT! WOOOO!
But the downside to this is that this could also really negatively impact the environment.
At a time when David Attenborough is urging us to turn things around in the next 10 years, highlighting the critical decade ahead for our planet, many of us feel uneasy about buying anything that isn’t sustainable, biodegradable, recyclable, and all those good eco-friendly things.
There are more and more options available these days and there’s no reason to get stuck buying cheap plastic anymore.
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BioFeel : the biodegradable material of the future!
Are you eco-sexual? Do you like the idea of being penetrated by plants? BioFeel is made from plant material, uses less energy to make it than ANY OTHER sex toy material on the market, and is also biodegradable! How awesome is that? It can be recycled (though not every recycling plant is equipped to do so) but even if you don’t recycle it, it’ll break down on its own over time.
It feels like any other hard plastic; smooth, hard, and light-weight.
To take advantage of this new advancement, Blush now makes the Gaia Eco Series of BioFeel Toys.
The aesthetics of this line make me feel like I’ve stepped into the 1950s and I love it! They use creamy colors as a base and have a speckled pattern, like robin’s eggs. One is even robin’s egg blue! They aren’t trying to look remotely “realistic”, but instead look fun yet sophisticated and simple.
They are all splashproof, recyclable, biodegradable, body-safe, phthalate-free, and super affordable!
Gaia Eco Vibrator
Gaia’s eco vibrator is the world’s first biodegradable vibrator! It has your classic long and lean shape with a tapered tip for easy insertion.
Personally, I’m not a fan of internal vibrations, so I don’t think this toy is ideal for me, but it’s still pretty great. The vibrations are surprisingly strong and decently rumbly. It’s battery-powered (batteries not included) so if you have some rechargeable batteries that you’d like to use and re-use with it, it’s perfect!
I used my own rechargeable batteries and I wonder if that may have changed my experience of it. The box says there are different levels of vibrations by twisting the end. This was not my experience. For me, it was an all-or-nothing toy with no in-between.
Again, this may have been due to the batteries I was using, but I didn’t really mind it anyways. I found the powerful vibrations to be perfect for those moments when I’m fully dressed and want a quick little pick-me-up throughout the day. It takes 2 AA batteries.
Gaia Eco Bullet
The bullet is the mid-size option of the three, roughly the same height and width as my middle finger. Perfect. The on/off switch is a nice little push-button at the bottom and the vibrations are delightfully powerful, though a touch buzzier than the rest of the line. Like the original, batteries are not included and you can use your own rechargeable batteries. It takes 1 AAA battery.
The eco-bullet is cute and I love it! There’s only one vibration setting so there’s no fussing about whilst trying to get off. It’s also very affordable.
Gaia Eco Rechargeable Bullet
They also have a rechargeable bullet (in case the upfront costs of investing in rechargeable batteries is intimidating). It took me FOREVER to figure out how to charge it, but once I found it I was shocked it took me so long. There’s a little hole to stick the charger into that can be easy to miss if you’re not in a well-lit space.
However, this one really did have 10 different vibrating settings! From multiple intensities to different vibration patterns, this tiny toy delivers a lot. Just one button; long press for on/off or short click to switch between settings. The vibrations were shockingly rumbly for how little it is!
It’s both cute and mighty!
WHERE TO BUY
Biolene : the other biodegradable material of the future!
Most sex toys are made from ABS plastic, which has lots of great qualities like being ideal for molds and 3D printing while remaining resistant to impact and damage. It’s also not eco-friendly.
Biolene seems to be the most comparable bio-plastic that is also completely biodegradable. It’s indistinguishable from other plastics in its look and feel, so there’s really no downside to it, from what I can tell.
Womanizer’s Original Premium Eco
LET’S GET READY TO RUUMMMMBBBLLLLLEE!
Ahem.
I mean, Wow! Just, wow. The Original Premium Eco is the same Original Womanizer we’ve cum to know and love but made from Biolene and completely recyclable.
This toy continues to amaze me. From the moment I tried it, I knew that this would be a staple in my growing sex toy collection. It is the first toy I’ve ever had that seemed to be MADE for me.
Its shape feels great to hold in multiple positions and is the first vibrator I’ve had that seems designed for grinding. It also has a replaceable bit that comes in three sizes! I’ve got the medium, but I think I may go ahead and order the large head. The petite nature of this style of toy always bothers me, so I’m eager to see how big the large head really is!
The Premium eco has many settings to fulfill whatever sensation you’re after! It will keep going without even touching your skin, so long as you’re hovering close enough, and as soon as you pull it away from your body, it turns right off. This is great if you suspect your roommate or family member might burst in at any moment.
WHERE TO BUY
Other Eco-Friendly Materials
So, we’ve seen what bio-plastics can do but there are plenty of other options to keep in mind!
Porcelain
Porcelain is an eco-friendly, natural material that produces little waste.
All of the raw materials involved in the making of it can be recycled, including the water used in the manufacturing process. It’s durable, compatible with all types of lube, and easy to clean.
Desirables is one of the leading brands in porcelain toys and I’m currently testing one out for a future article on novel materials, so stay tuned for that!
Stainless Steel
Another great option for eco-friendly materials is stainless steel.
Steel is 98% recyclable and can be recycled infinitely! In fact, it’s the most recycled material in the world. There are also economic incentives to recycle steel so it’s more likely to actually be recycled.
Njoy is definitely the top manufacturer of high-quality stainless steel toys right now and I’ll be testing one out for the novel materials review as well!
Glass
And of course, there are plenty of options when it comes to glass toys. Glass is actually 100% recyclable, and all 3 of the ingredients to make it are abundant and natural. Even if it’s not recycled, glass does minimal damage to the environment when it breaks down because it doesn’t release any harmful chemicals into the soil.
Head on to my review of the most popular glass sex toy brands for more information!
How to recycle your old sex toys?
Glad you asked! Many are too shy to ask, and that’s actually a really big problem.
There’s still a big taboo on sexuality, especially for women and their vibrators, which means that a lot of people are too embarrassed to recycle them with your regular electronic waste even though they are electronic waste.
Battery-powered toys can be recycled with your e-waste but that’s not your only option!
Lovehoney also has a recycling program and they’ll take all the unwanted electrical sex toys you can throw at them, even if you didn’t buy it from them! If you live in Canada, Come As You Are has a sex toy recycling program. It’s the only one of its kind in North America. They even accept silicone menstrual cups, too!
LELO, on the other hand, offers a 50% discount on new toys in exchange for your old, dead Lelo branded toys. Plus, the whole company prioritizes sustainability. They aim to make their products long-lasting and of body-safe, phthalate-free materials. They also meet or exceed environmental standards and are always refining their processes to be as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible.
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
Rather than buying cheap plastic or petroleum-based toys that don’t last and are usually not body-safe, invest in toys that will stay with you as long as possible. When looking to buy new toys, investing in high-quality silicone, bio-plastics or other recyclable and/or biodegradable materials is one of the best things you can do for yourself and the planet.
If you have friends or lovers you don’t mind giving or receiving used toys from after a deep clean, reusing could also be a great option. Some toys can be boiled, others can be sanitized with a low-concentration bleach solution. Be sure to check the details about your particular toy beforehand!
Buying local reduces the emissions involved in transporting it to your bedroom, so it’s worth checking out where your toys are coming from.
When recycling, make sure to remove the batteries and dispose of them properly before recycling the rest. If you live in an area where Lovehoney, LELO or Come As You Are will accept your unwanted toys, take advantage of their recycling programs. When in doubt, clean it and send it to your electronic waste depot.
And above all, take care of yourself and make the best choices for you and the planet’s well-being.
Again, we would like to thank Shevibe, Desirables, and Womanizer for sending us some of the toys included in this review. This roundup wouldn’t’ve been possible without their help!
