Of course we want our play spaces to look great, but we also take great care to make sure they’re as environmentally friendly as can be. This in turn helps ensure our indoor playgrounds are as safe as possible for the little ones using them. Here we take a look at some of the key materials used in our bespoke play area designs…

Timber

We use a variety of FSC timber in our bespoke play area designs. Our timber comes from sustainable and regulated sources and we are now able to use timber from our woodland, which will be cut from windblown trees and those chosen for felling. We are also committed to a replanting scheme to further reduce the environmental impact of our installations, thereby helping our customers to start off on the right track in terms of running a sustainable business.

Soft Play Fabric

When upholstering bespoke soft play items, the key features we look for are durability, sustainability and safety. Most of our play spaces are upholstered with a faux leather from Chieftain Fabrics that is REACH compliant, phthalate free, is anti-microbial and has 1 million Martindale rubs (which in fabric-speak means it is extremely durable). It’s made, in part, by recycled cotton and can be recycled. And we think it looks great!

Cork Panneling

We love using cork in our play areas, it compliments most colour palettes, it offers a different texture and its soft on little hands and feet. We also like using cork because its biodegradable, self-regenerative and doesn’t contribute to deforestation. So for us it’s a win-win.

Stainless Steel and HIMACS Slides

We also use HIMACS to make slides (as above), a material made with recycled content. HIMACS has a low environmental impact during manufacturing, and can be repaired and recycled at the end of its life, reducing waste. Additionally, it meets high standards for indoor air quality and is certified by organisations like Greenguard and SCS Recycled Content Certification, further highlighting its sustainability.

Stainless steel is also a fantastic slide material, creating a focal piece of an indoor play area. Stainless steel is 100% recyclable and can be recycled an infinite number of times without losing its properties. Additionally, its long lifespan and resistance to corrosion make it a durable option, reducing the need for frequent replacement.

Foam

Take a peak inside one of our soft play items and you’ll see reconstituted foam, or ‘recon’ as we call it. Recon is made from recycled foam scraps, this process reduces waste and promotes sustainability by giving a new life to foam remnants.

Felt Acoustic Decals

We often use ReFelt in play spaces where there's a high ceiling or in a larger play area where noise levels are a consideration. At Cadbury Garden Centre (above), we made leaves out of ReFelt to hang from the ceiling, enhancing the outdoor theme whilst providing acoustic paneling in the soft play area.

ReFelt absorbs and dampens sound so that its reflections within a space can be significantly reduced. The unique material is made from recycled plastic bottles and can be recycled at the end of product life, too.

These are just a selection of examples of the materials we use in our indoor play areas. To learn more about how we work, contact our team today.

The Sustainable Materials Making Our Play Spaces