Visiting the trade fairs recently, one of the truly new innovations we found was the use of bamboo as a material for making toys. HaPe, a German company, have spent several years researching and testing the use of bamboo for toys and their first collection is now available.
Why did it take years? The challenge with bamboo, a giant natural grass that grows as tall as a tree, is its sensitivity to sawing, cutting, filing, dyeing, temperature and bending. HaPe realized the extensive amount of research and testing required but persevered due to the sustainability of bamboo and its economical and ecological values to the world. Once cut, bamboo grows back completely in a mere three years. Bamboo also combines lightness with stability and is flexible but very strong.
