Waldorf, Pretend Play, Organic, and Wooden Toys, Doll Clothing, Games, Puzzles, European Art Supplies…

Safety - The safety of a toy is a self-evident demand. All of their products meet the requirements of the American Standards Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety ASTM F 963, as well as European Safety-Standards for toys.

In order to guarantee constant quality levels all their business processes and procedures, from product design right through to shipment and delivery, have been structured and standardized in accordance with the quality manual. In 1996 they were awarded the QM certificate DIN EN ISO 9001 for the first time for this quality management system and they have successfully passed all quality audits since.

In addition Habermaass is the first toy producer to have passed the audit for ecological friendliness. The company is deeply committed to actively pursuing further environment protection throughout every stage of production. Internationally, HABA® represents the family in the field of toys & games and nursery furniture. Their international presence has allowed them to develop products for their customer’s abroad and support their trade partners in various countries. This has made HABA® a well-known and reliable international partner, dealing with customers all over the world. They’ve been on the kids‘ side from the beginning. In 1938 working for children was already at the heart of their company philosophy. This hasn't changed. They have now been developing toys and furniture for children and kindergartens for more than 60 years. Playing is an elementary learning process for children: by touching, listening, seeing, combining, experiencing and comprehending they playfully discover their social surroundings. But what is just as important is that children enjoy playing with their toys and blissfully unaware of how this fosters their development.

Environmental protection is an integrated component of HABA® group policy. They use wood first and foremost for the manufacture of their products, as wood is naturally free of harmful substances. It is a sustainable raw material and thus ecologically harmless. Their careful workmanship makes sure no harmful substances are added. In the production of furniture and toys no tropical woods, but mainly indigenous woods are used, such as beech and maple. The material wood imposes a very high standard of quality in workmanship, combining craftsmen‘s traditions with modern technology. The same applies to all their products: attention to detail makes them something quite special! Right from the first idea up to the final product, their toys and furniture come from the town of Bad Rodach in Bavaria, Germany. Using wood and being inspired by children, they never run out of innovative ideas to convince customers with products of outstanding quality and original designs.

But it is not only in their use of materials, but also in their use of energy and the preservation of their natural surroundings, that thoughts on environmental protection play an important role for them. With this functional environmental management system the entire HABA® Family meets the requirements of the DIN EN ISO 14001 environmental standard. In addition, they were also certified to the EC Eco audit (EMAS) ordinance in August 1999.

Naturally environmentally conscious!
‘We assume responsibility for our environment’ – that is one of the principles of our corporate philosophy. For us, that means minimizing the ecological impact within the bounds of the financially defensible. We are therefore constantly upgrading our production processes and ascertaining, evaluating and minimizing the use of raw materials, emissions and waste volumes on an ongoing basis.

ISO 14001
The HABA corporate family passed Environment Standard ISO 14001. We therefore undertake to continue our policy of active protection of the environment – in every phase of production.

The tenets of our environmental policy:
• Environmental protection is an integral component of the HABA corporate family.
• The concept of protecting the environment pervades every function and day-to-day work at every company level.
• Environmental awareness is constantly promoted among our staff by means of training courses.
• Our suppliers are integrated into our corporate family’s environmental policy.
• We actively operate economic protection of the environment.
• We place a premium on and abide by the pertinent environmental legislation and regulations.
• Production processes have to be continually upgraded. We ascertain, evaluate and minimize the use of raw materials, emissions and waste volumes on an ongoing basis.
• We regularly provide our customers, the public and the appropriate authorities with information on the environmental pollution caused by the HABA corporate family and on the work we do for the environment.

Certification: The Käthe Kruse Factory is located in Donauwörth (Germany). Since the founding of the Käthe Kruse Company in the year 1905, the name Käthe Kruse has become synonymous with the production of high quality, age-appropriate toys for children. All Käthe Kruse toys are manufactured under stringent quality and safety standards, while articles are conceptualized, designed and produced on site. Because of this unique feature, Käthe Kruse products are still manufactured in Europe.

We own production facilities which are located in Donauwörth, Latvia and Belarus.
Most of the factories of our suppliers, for example of fabrics, are also located in Europe, as well as our paper and packaging suppliers. We purchase some items from overseas. All of which are tested by independent laboratories according to EN71, ASTM or Ökotex standards, depending on which is appropriate.

All our products are distributed from Germany.
We produce our toys according to the En71 part 1-3 and 9-11.
We receive certificates according to ASTM for all toys we distribute to the US.
We do/did voluntary testing of our toys as well as our production process by an independent international institute (SGS, TÜV, Intertek).
We receive certificates according to ASTM for toys we distribute to the US.
We monitor our own factories.

Code of conduct: As a worldwide operating company we must make sure our business partners have the same principles and values as our own employees.
To achieve this aim we require our business partners to act and deal compliant to the following guidelines.

Ethical standards: We respect the moral and ethical standards and beliefs of all peoples and cultures with whom we deal. We in turn expect our business partners to respect our rules and procedures.
Product safety:We only offer products that comply with applicable safety standards (ASTM, EN71), exercise due diligence in regard to the safety of our products and take effective action to assure the safety consumers when necessary.

Legal requirements: We expect our employees and business partners to abide by the laws of the countries in which we conduct business. We also expect that International law related to the conduct of business between Nations be followed at all times.

Health and safety: All work places are required to be safe and healthy working environments and to be in compliance with all local safety and environmental laws.
Environmental protection: We practice good stewardship of the environment by working to reduce the environmental impact of its operations and products through the promotion of pollution reduction and recycling where appropriate.
Product safety: We only offer products that comply with applicable safety standards (ASTM, EN71), exercise due diligence in regard to the safety of our products and take effective action to assure the safety consumers when necessary.

Fair Wages: Wages must be paid in accordance with the local and/ or national laws or regulations as a minimum standard.

Working Hours: Overtime hours shall be compensated at such premium rate as is legally required by national or local law.Child Labor: The use of child labor is not permissible. No person under the age of 16 (or older if specified by local law) may be employed in the production of merchandise.
Forced Labor: There shall not be any use of forced labor, prison labor, indentured labor or conscript labor. We will not knowingly utilize or purchase materials and/or product manufactured by prison or forced labor-indentured, bonded or otherwise. Nondiscrimination: All employees, suppliers, customers and business associates shall be treated with fairness, respect and dignity and without discrimination on the basis of race, creed, gender, age or sexual orientation.

Association: We recognize and respect the right of employees to associate, organise and bargain collectively in a lawful and peaceful manner, without penalty or interference. We expect our business partners to also adhere to these principles. Harrassment or Abuse: Every employee shall be treated with dignity and respect. No employee shall be subjected to any corporal punishment, threats of violence or other forms of physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse.

Selecta Simply feeling secure

Quality
Traditionally, we have always been the majority of our products in her own house, so that all products - with a few exceptions - with the sign "Made in Germany" are attached. From design to completion, all of us controlled products and offer our customers a high quality safety.
During the entire production process are all part of an ongoing quality control. Our goal is to ensure the high standard of quality.
Security
Selecta toys are manufactured in compliance with current European and international standards. Our products are tested in accordance with the European standard for toys, from the earliest development phases through to their introduction to market. Our products are also tested by the T?V Product Service for compliance with European Standard EN71 and are certified with the GS safety mark. Our products are also tested and certified to ensure compliance with US standard ASTM.

The surface treatment of Selecta’s products
As a natural material, wood can be safely put into a child’s mouth. Selecta only uses environmentally-friendly and totally safe paints and lacquers which comply with EN71 and US safety standard ASTM.
We were one of the first manufacturers to provide our products with an additional coating of beeswax, which naturally finishes the surface with a very soft, velvety coating. Using a special transfer printing process, we are able to print colourful illustrations onto the wood itself. This process enables us to produce very bright and brilliant colours, as well as providing a strong scratch-resistant surface which can withstand saliva.
Warnings
We are following the legal requirements kept the products appropriate warnings attached. This should ensure that the toy is used properly. They also provide additional information for the use and age use.
The legislature wants it risks posed by improper use could arise, said Monday. Please check the warnings carefully, and keep them on.
We are legally obliged to attach warning notices to our products. The purpose of these is to guarantee that the toy is used properly. They also provide additional information about its use and age-based suitability.
The intention of the legislature is that this will counteract any risks which could occur by children using the toys incorrectly. We would therefore recommend that you observe these warning notices and retain them for future use.

Environmental standards
Our goal is to preserve and protect our environment. We have a variety of measures implemented and are working on a steady development. We process so mainly indigenous timbers, preferably maple wood. So no more wood is beaten as nachwächst, we support a sustainable forestry by PEFC / FSC certified wood processing. The resulting from the production of wood waste, we cover the entire heating requirements in the enterprise. The production processes are ongoing on the possibility of further energy saving and the avoidance of emissions of CO ² investigated and constantly improved.
Our objective is to sustain and protect our environment and to this end we have already put in place a number of measures and are continuously working to improve these further.
We primarily work with native woods, especially maple and in order to ensure that we do not fell more trees than are re-planted, we support sustainable forestry by working with PEFC/FSC-certified timber companies. We use the woodchips left over from our production processes to meet our company’s entire heating requirement and continuously monitor and improve our production processes to make further energy savings and prevent CO² emissions.

Working Conditions
We commit ourselves to decent working conditions in our own production facility to offer and we demand the same from our suppliers. We treat our employees properly and offer them a safe and healthy work environment. Ongoing monitoring will ensure that all regulations on working hours and minimum wage, and the prohibition of child labor are respected.

Materials
Our toys are constructed to last through multiple generations and the materials that make up the toys are gathered through organized sustainability programs. We use the highest quality materials, all certified non-toxic. Toys made from natural materials such as wood, silk, wool or beeswax have a warm and honest quality that does not give a false impression of weight, mass or touch. It is our responsibility to provide an environment that tells the story of our world honestly and at the same time protects that world.
Production
Each item that we sell is meticulously constructed by craftspeople that specialize in their art. Our items are not mass-produced, rather they are created one-by-one, the old-fashioned way. Each item that we offer has been child tested and approved for safety, functionality and form.
Unless noted, ALL items offered by Camden Rose are made in the United States. This is also a choice in the protection of our future. By utilizing skilled American craftsmanship we assist in the renaissance of great American manufacturing. Items not created in the US are crafted by certifiable sources such as a fair trade co-op or worker-owned facilities.

Letter from Melissa and Doug:

Thanks Kathleen,

Yes, we definitely appreciate and understand your concern.
Please be assured, we test for lead VERY frequently.
It's quite possible to make great quality children's items in China, which meet all safety regulations, but the key point is that you have to test and inspect very frequently to be sure that your factories are always following your instructions explicitly. I assure you that's exactly what we do.
From our experience, the key to doing this correctly is not simply to insist that your factories follow your instructions, but then to go one step further and to AUDIT, INSPECT, AND TEST very frequently. That is the most important part of the process, and it's something our company has always taken VERY seriously.

Thanks again for asking, and for your support also.
Your Dedicated Customer Service Team

Melissa & Doug, Inc.
800-284-3948
Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00 EST