Nowadays, porcelain dolls have become rare and are considered almost antiques. It seems that the same fate has been cursed upon physical toys. Physical toys are also slowly dying, losing to several factors and alternative toys. In 2013, US toy sales fell by 1%, according to market research firm NPD. Although this percentage is unimpressive, the toy industry is a grossing industry where billions of dollars are made annually.
But why so?
Toys have been made disposable, either for their short longevity due to the quality of the products or overconsumption. These two aspects are intertwined as some companies are poorly producing their items, leading the kid to boredom and requesting a new toy (Puntoon Kids, 2014). Moreover, three-quarters of the world’s toys are produced in China, where poor quality control and slave labor strikes (The Standard, 2012). These practices reinforce the unethical processes of capitalism. These issues add to those of overconsumption previously discussed – where marketing practices are pushed onto children to develop companies’ ideal consumption habits at an early age.
While most materials from toys, including the packaging, are made of barely to impossibly recyclable materials - e.g., plastic, and cardboard (Wong, 2018) and harmful chemicals can be found in plastic toys (Wong, 2018), toy companies are slowly beginning to look to alternatives in more sustainable and durable products (Clancy, 2024).
The fight is still not over yet.
While these changes have been made, plastic and physical toys are beginning to lose to a new enemy: electronics. Since the radio, children and teenagers have been turning to the latest trendy electronic toys. Recently, video-game consoles, smartphones, and tablets can now be found in the hands of these young consumers, leaving behind their dolls and toys (Trautman, 2014). As history has repeated itself, porcelain dolls yesterday are now physical toys today.