Bamboo Racer

Here he comes! Here comes green racer! Recently featured in the ‘Pulse’ section of the Sunday NY Times were a collection of kids’ items that adhered to a particular theme: simplicity. Of the items featured, the Bamboo E-Racer caught my eye with its sleek, somewhat natural design.

The cars appear to be cut from a raw stalk of bamboo, and they retain that curved shape. HaPe, manufacturer of the E-Racer, says that the car will “delight mother nature,” and that it is colored with “water-based paint.” Apparently, it took HaPe some time figuring out exactly how to fashion their line of bamboo toys. Why? “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.”

It can be difficult balancing simple design with sustainable practices, but HaPe manages to do this just fine. While at the HaPe site be sure to have a look at their other award winning toys.

Go green racer… Go green racer… Go green racer, go!