“Toxic Slime and Gassy Trees: 3 Surprising Environmental Impacts of Christmas”

The Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) attributes increasing safety concerns to loopholes in the EU’s toy safety regulations. While the EU boasts some of the world’s “strictest” toy safety standards, TIE points out that these rules don’t extend to non-EU sellers using online marketplaces to reach consumers.

“This issue is escalating as these platforms grow in popularity,” said Catherine Van Reeth, TIE’s director general, in an interview with POLITICO. While online platforms in themselves aren’t problematic — especially since many TIE members like LEGO, The Walt Disney Company, and Mattel also use them to sell their products — Van Reeth emphasized the distinction between recognizable brands that prioritize safety and third-party sellers, often operating outside the EU. The latter, she noted, “don’t really care about safety.”

Statistics support this concern. In 2023, the EU remained a net importer of toys, with 80 percent of imports coming from China, according to Eurostat. Tellingly, nearly all toy-related chemical safety alerts issued within the EU in 2024 involved products imported from China.

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Environmental Costs of the Holiday Season

The festive season may be known for joy and celebration, but its environmental toll is hard to ignore. From excessive packaging to overindulgent meals and frequent travel, the holidays often spell trouble for the planet.

Take packaging waste, for instance — countless meters of wrapping paper contribute to staggering levels of waste. In Ireland alone, approximately 97,000 tons of packaging waste were generated during Christmas in 2022, according to the environmental non-profit Repak.

Food waste is another major concern. A study conducted by France’s ecological transition agency ADEME in 2022 found that 83 percent of holiday meals were prepared in surplus quantities — much of it ultimately going to waste.

With the growing popularity of global marketplaces and holiday habits that increase waste generation, advocates underscore the urgent need for better consumer awareness and stronger regulations to mitigate both safety and sustainability issues.