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Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Sex Toys: History & Materials Guide

Sex toy brands pink silicone vibrator tip.
Picture of Artemis

Artemis

Hi! I'm a sex-positive environmentalist. And this is How i Healthy.
The goal? Green Living: Kitchen to Bedroom.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

In This Article, We'll Cover:
  • The History of Sex Toys & Advertising, Bread Dildos, and “Hysteria”
  • Why Consumers are at the Mercy of the Sex Toy Industry
  • What Regulations (If Any) Do Sex Toys Have
  • How to Avoid Counterfeit Sex Toys
  • Greenwashing in the Sex Toy Industry
  • Why “Body-Safe” Doesn’t Mean Anything
  • Why “Recycled Aluminum” & “Biopalstic” Sex Toys are NOT Ethical or Sustainable
  • What Are Sex Toys Made From
  • How i Healthy’s Favorite Eco-Friendly Sex Toy Materials
  • How i Healty’s Favorite Eco-Friendly Sex Toys
Jump to The Takeaway Message!

We’ve covered Plant-Based Lubes, Greenwashed Sex Toys, Ethical Sex Shops, and Fair-Trade Condoms.

Now, let’s talk eco-friendly sex toys!

They come in many fun shapes, colors, and functions. But some toys might not be as fun as we think.

I’m talking about materials.

Specifically, those that are non-toxic and those that aren’t.

Sex toys can contain harmful chemicals and are sold with nearly no regulation in America. (1, 45)

Consumer protections for sex toys are practically non-existent. We are on our own to out safer alternatives.

And throw in Counterfeit Sex Toys and Sex Toy Greenwashing too, because things aren’t complicated enough!

What are the dangers some sex toys pose? What can we do about it?

Are there even sustainable & eco-friendly sex toys out there?

Honey, we are going to find out!

Sex Toys: “Hysterical” History

Sex toys have been a part of the human experience since the beginning of the human experience. It’s a history rooted in both pleasure and misconceptions. (4)

Some of the earliest sex toys were from the Upper Paleolithic period. Dildo-like objects were made from store, wood, teeth, bone ivory, and limestone. (4)

Entomology-wise, “dildo” is an enigma. We don’t know the origin of the word or any roots. (67).

There are a few word-origin theories, but nothing substantial. It shouldn’t bother me as much as it does, but…it does.

Depictions in Art

Sex toys make appearances throughout the centuries, both in image and written word. Here’s just a few:

  • Women with dildos appear on several ancient Greek vases. (4)
  • A “bright red dildo” appears in Aristophanes’ 411BCE comedy, Lysistrata. (56)
  • Shunga, or Japanese erotica from the 17th and 18th century, depict woman buying buffalo horn dildos. (4)
  • A lithograph from De Figuris Veneris (1906) shows a couple using a strap-on dildo. (57)

Hysteria, The Ancient Misunderstanding

The antiquated medical condition “hysteria” was once a common diagnosis. Typically for women who displayed symptoms of anxiety, fear, fainting, insomnia, sexual desire, loss of appetite, and “acting bizarrely” (7, 9). Very scientific.

Ancient Greek philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Hippocrates agreed that a “wandering womb” caused hysteria. The womb migrated throughout a woman’s body because of a lackluster sex life. (9)

Masturbation, Dildos, Exorcism, & The Wandering Womb

“Hysterical behavior” in ancient Greece was thought to be cured through wine and orgasm. Like the Maenads of Euripidy’s myth, raving women could be cured through intoxication and orgies. (9)

Hippocrates detailed hysteria as a condition more likely to plague virgins, widows, and single women with “unsatisfied wombs”. A childless womb caused tremors, syncope, and hysterical behaviors. Hippocrates suggested these women marry, have sex, and bare children. Thus, curing their ailments. (9)

But there were other, more ingenious ways of sexual satisfaction in ancient Greece.

Dildos.

Before silicone and plastic, there was... bread.
Bread dildos. Dildos made of bread.
A dildo breadstick to be exact.
(5)

Yes, bread, like the kind you eat.

Dildos in ancient Greek were “olisbos”. In 1986, a professor stumbled across the word olisbokollix. Kollix means breadstick. Yes. A dildo breadstick. Since the discovery, examples in Greek art have confirmed the breadstick dildo. Bread wasn’t exclusively used though. Wool-stuff leather dildos lubed up with olive oil were popular too. (5, 6)

The Greeks were amongst the first to refer to dildos as “toys”. (4)

Hysteria cures via sexual satisfaction didn’t last though.

In the Middle Ages, darker/mythical forces, not biological/scientific forces, were thought to cause illness in women. This shift to demonic-induced hysteria led to exorcist styles of treatment. These witch hunts lasted for centuries. (9)

By the 16th century, hysteria theory swung from supernatural back to scientific.

Medical knowledge progressed dramatically during this age. Physician Thomas Willis theorized that hysteria did not link to the womb, but rather to the brain and nervous system. But this radical notion wouldn’t catch on for several more decades. Instead, doctors insisted that childbearing and exposure to semen, not masturbation or sexual pleasure, cured hysteria. (10, 12)

The Myth of Medically Induced Orgasm

Hysteria in the 19th century might be cured with manual stimulation of the clitoris until orgasm, according to hypothesis detailed in “The Technology of Orgasm”. Allegedly, physicians did not see the stimulation as sexual because there was no vaginal penetration. This “hysterical paroxysm” performed by physicians supposedly lead to vibrators marketed as medical devices. (9)

But this hypothesis has been challenged. Lacking both empirical evidence and misrepresenting the facts. (13, 60, 62, 63)

Also, clitoral stimulation and orgasm were understood in the 19th century. Further debunking the myth that physicians didn’t connect clitoral stimulation to sexual response. (60, 61)

In the early 1880s, British physician J. Morimer Granville, invented the first electromechanical vibrator. While intended to treat nervous problems, Granville did admit the device could have sexual uses too. (63)

But advertisements focused on non-sexual applications. Vibrators could relieve insomnia, paralysis, neuralgia, sore throats, epilepsy, malaria, gout, constipation, and a whole host of other things. Not sexual. (60, 63)

Medical rectal “dilators” around the turn of the 19th century are another example. “Dr. Young’s Ideal Rectal Dilators” supposedly cured “insanity” and constipation. But much like medical massagers, these did not explicitly have sexual uses. (58, 59)

One 1883 publication does detail vibrator use. But for patients with erectile dysfunction only. No mention of vaginas, hysteria, or the clitoris. (14)

Marketing A Banned Product: Vibrators in Disguise

As medical massagers failed to meet expectations as a cure-all, their popularity dwindled. Vibrator companies needed a new angle to stay in business. (60)

Marketing vibrators for sexual pleasure wasn’t simple.

Sex toys could not advertise as sexual devices due to their “obscene” nature. Thanks, but no thanks, 1873 Comstock Act. (16, 63)

Not deterred, companies marketed vibrators as beauty devices, home appliances, and personal massagers. They emphasized the non-sexual applications while using euphemistic language and erotic imagery that alluded to them. These encoded messages could slip past obscenity laws. (15)

Vibrator companies later marketed separate attachments, often phallic in shape. But they had to tread carefully. Some advertisements illustrated vibrators and attachments but described their use in a separate booklet. This furthered distanced vibrators and accessories from sex. (63)

The sexual uses of these “beauty products” by consumers are documented in medical accounts. (17, 18, 19)

By the late 1900’s, social revolutions of all kinds happened. Including a sexual revolution. Ever since, sex positive attitudes have only increased. And so has availability of sex toys. But it is still wrought with challenges.

Today’s Sex Toys: Still Deceptive And Dangerous

Archaic laws open the doors for unsafe products, misinformation, and illegitimate business enterprises in the US.

Obscenity laws, like the 1973 Texas “Obscene Device Law”, weren’t struck down till 2003. But it’s still illegal to have more than six dildos in Texas. Yep. (20, 65)

Sex toys are still illegal in Alabama. (64)

Plus, even though some laws ban them completely, where sex toys are legal, they still aren’t regulated. Canada, and many European countries have little to no regulations. (89)

And it’s not only vibrators. Dildos, strap-ons, anal plugs, air pulsation, packing, penis toys, penis rings, ball stretchers, masturbators, and sleeves all lack consumer protections. (1, 45)

Vibrators are “therapeutic devices” and need a doctor’s prescription, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (45)

But very few vibrators are approved as “therapeutic” and thus subject to regulation. (45)

So, if a sex toy isn’t classified as a therapeutic device, what does it get classified as?

It’s complicated. Sex toys, and the sex toy industry, do not have their own category of retail with a unique set of standards. Sex toys are often vaguely classified as “novelty”, “adult bookstores”, and “miscellaneous retail”. That means little oversight or regulation. (1, 45)

The term “Intended For Novelty Use Only” has provided legal liability protections for sex toy manufactures whose products have harmed people.
(1,45)

Companies have claimed in courts that the sex toy was marketed as “a gag gift, not intended for actual use”. So, people harmed by novelty toys often loose court cases. (1, 45)

Another regulatory body is the Consumer Protection Service Commision (CPSC). The CPSC handles consumer product safety and oversees thousands of goods. Including sex toys. But it only works reactively. Instead of setting safety standards, materials disclosures, or warning labels before a product sold, the CPSC investigates injury reports from consumers. Sex toy injuries often go unreported. So, the products remain on the market. (45)

Okay, so there’s little regulation or accountability for sex toys, but what’s the big deal? It’s not like sex toys are dangerous… are they?

Problems with Sex Toys

Here’s the thing. Our sexual organs, mouth, and anus are extremely vascular, highly absorbent, and highly permeable. Because things can be easily absorbed, what we put in our body matters. (41, 42, 44, 43)

And, unfortunately, many sex toys do not come with material content disclosures. (21)

But researchers have found some answers.

Sex toys can have a few problems:

Plastics, Petrochemicals, & Phthalates

Lots of toys are plastic. Some plastics are better quality, like ABS plastic. But in the end, no matter the quality, plastic toys, even ABS toys, are plastic. Petroleum-based and non-biodegradable. (86, 87, 88)

Its creation requires crude oil or natural gas. This releases greenhouse gas emissions and VOCs into the environment. Thermal processing and 3D printing of plastics, including ABS, further releases VOCs and ultrafine particles. (80, 82, 83, 84)

Let’s make plastic worse. Add some phthalates. Now you got a more flexible and softer plastic.

Phthalates are a concern, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Because phthalates do not bind to plastics, it can pass transdermally into our bodies. (1, 2)

Pregnant people with high levels of phthalates in their blood and urine are more likely to have children with birth defects. (22, 23, 24, 29)

Phthalates link to lower testosterone synthesis, sperm count, decreased fertility, and could damage the DNA of sperm. (25, 26, 28)

The EPA deems no level of DEHP in drinking water is safe. California Proposition 65 lists DEHP a carcinogen. (1)

Because of these health concerns, some phthalates are banned in children's toys.
What about adult toys? Nope. We are on our own.
(1, 3, 45)

And it’s not a good place to be.

Sex toys contained “extraordinary high” levels of phthalates, according to a German study by chemist Hans Ulrich Krieg of the Cologne Eco-environment Institute. (1)

Sex toys had phthalate (DEHP) concentrations ranging from 0.07 to 70%, according to a study by the Danish Technological Institute. (21)

But not all plastics have phthalates. ABS for example (85). But there’s still the environmental impact to consider. There’s plenty of non-plastic toys out there with lower carbon footprints. So, ABS doesn’t make the cut.

Here’s all the plastics that don’t make the cut:

  • ABS Plastic
  • “Jelly” sex toys
  • PVC (polyvinyl chloride) toys
  • Elastomer, TPR/TPE

 (1, 21, 45)

Questionable Alternative Plasticizers

With the mounting research against phthalates, some manufactures sought alternatives like:

  • 2,2,4-trimethyl 1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate (TXIB)
  • Dioctyl terephthalate (DEHT)
  • 1,2-Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH)

But these alternative plasticizers are not extensively researched. Their risks and safety are not well documented. (31)

Porous Materials

Not only can sex toys contain materials that leech chemicals, but they can also be porous.

A material can have tiny pores where bacteria linger and germinate. Bacteria from bodily fluids, lubes, or other substances could degrade the material or increase risk infection. (31)

Porous materials like:

  • Plastic and jellies
  • Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE), “cyberskin”, “softskin”, and “reel feel”
  • Stone
  • Crystals such as lapis lazuli, turquoise, and “quench cracked”
  • Wood

A note on wooden sex toys:

Wooden sex toys are often sealed. But what is it sealed with?

I’ve seen “wax”, “oil”, “natural finish”, and “medical grade polymer” used as sealant on wooden sex toys.

These vague terms are red flags to me. Not only do I not know what the coating is, I also don’t know the best practices for cleaning it or maintaining it. Plus, how do I know if the finish is wearing off?

Then there’s “quench crackling” crystal dildos.

Some crystals, like quartz, are heated until the stone fractures (53). This creates an aesthetic effect, but those tiny crevices can also be a cozy home for bacteria.

Crystal sex toys have quite a following. Many people use them without issue. If you prefer to use crystal sex toys, choose toys without “quench crackling”. And be sure to follow the care instructions. Some cleaners can be too abrasive or erode the stone. Also, when sanitized with heat, some crystals can crack further. (54)

Lead Contamination

Alarming levels of lead were also found in sex toys, according to The Danish Technological Institute study. (21)

Lead exposure links to a list of detrimental health effects. Here’s just a few:

  • Decreased fertility for all genders
  • Decreased libido
  • Decrease sperm count and testosterone
  • Miscarriage, prematurity, low birth weight, developmental delays

(33)

Note: The Danish Technological Institute study only tested plastic and rubber toys, no glass or metal ones (21). I found no research that examined the lead content of glass and metal sex toys.

But we know that lead can lurk in poor quality glass, plastic, ceramic/earthenware, enamel paint, and metal. (34, 35, 36, 37)

This guide about Lead Toxicity talks about lead, where it lurks, what damage it can cause, how to avoid it, and how it affected me.

I take extensive precautions to limit my lead exposure and scrutinize sex toys for possible contamination.

Overall Poor Quality

Some sex toys are poor quality. Subpar materials can increase exposure to chemicals, porosity, lead contamination, and other issues.

Some examples:

  • Low quality electrical components and wiring in sex toys can lead to unintended (45)
  • Poor quality glass sex toys…That’s almost self-explanatory. We definitely don’t want that breaking inside us. (32)

Unflared Anal Toys

Anal toys, whatever the function they serve, need flared bottoms. Otherwise, the rectum can retain it, requiring medical attention for removal.

According to studies, most retained objects in rectums are not sex toys. Still, a percentage of objects found in one study were unflared dildos and vibrators. (38, 39, 40, 45)

Inaccurate or misleading packaging might lead to improper use. (45)

Just because it’s a sex toy, doesn’t mean it’s designed for all the parts.

Not Very Ethical

Many sex toys are produced in countries lacking fair-labor and worker protections. (92, 93, 95)

Or manufacturers use mica minerals mined with child  and slave-labor. (90, 91, 95)

Very few sex toy companies have sustainable & ethical certifications for production and business practices, like a B-Corp® Certification or Green America Business® Certification.

Bioplastic and Sex Toy Greenwashing

Oh, bioplastic! My dislike for you is strong. I made a whole separate Greenwashing Sex Toy Guide because of you.

Such good intentions. But when science and reality weight in, bioplastic just doesn’t deliver.

Bioplastic sex toys do not mean eco-friendly sex toys.

Again: Bioplastic sex toys are not sustainable sex toys.

What is bioplastic? A material made from plants (often corn, sugarcane, or starch) instead of petroleum/fossil fuels. (110, 111)

Bioplastics vary:

  • Some are biodegradable.
  • Some are compostable under certain conditions.
  • Some are recyclable in the proper facilities.
  • Some can be engineered to last as long as petroleum plastic.
  • Some are a “mixed plastic” and still contain petroleum-based plastics.

 (110)

This bioplastic variety means that disposal is complicated:

  • “Compostable ” isn’t the same as home compostable. (102, 106, 108, 110, 111)
  • “Recyclable” doesn’t mean any municipality recycling facility can recycle it. (102)
  • And please, don’t put compostable bioplastics in the recycling bin. This can contaminate the recycling system & stream if mixed with petroleum-based plastics. (110, 111)

Why so much bioplastic fine print?

  • Because bioplastics need special conditions for end-of-life processing.
  • Because our home compost piles can’t compost it, it requires industrial compost facilities. And most recycling facilities can’t recycle it either.

(101, 104, 105, 106, 110, 11)

We can’t chuck bioplastics outside or in recycling bins. And, when bioplastic isn’t properly disposed? It goes to landfills, contaminates recycling streams, or harms marine life. (101, 104, 105, 109)

Here’s more bioplastic cons:

  • Bioplastic needs similar amounts of energy as petroleum-plastic to produce.
  • Bioplastic needs water, land, pesticides, and herbicides for crop cultivation.
  • Bioplastic in the ocean still harms marine life like petroleum-based plastic.
  • Scientists haven’t concluded the full impacts of bioplastic both environmentally and socially.

(102, 107)

So, bioplastic might reduce fossil fuels dependency, but isn’t a perfect solution.

The world lacks the facilities, infrastructure, and regulations to process end-of-life bioplastic. There’s a risk we’ll just have a bioplastic problem on top of the existing plastic problem. (102, 105, 106, 109, 111)

But here’s the big issue:
Most folks know plastic isn’t great.
But they often think bioplastic is.
(108)

That misunderstanding means big money for companies.

Thanks to greenwashing.

Greenwashing, or marketing a product as more eco-friendly than it is, happens everywhere.

And I loathe greenwashing with a passion.

That’s why I made a whole Greenwashing Guide and a Greenwashing Sex Toy Guide.

In recent years bogus claims like: “biodegradable”, “compostable”, and “bioplastic” vibrators have hit the market.

And greenwashed advertising has followed suite.

“Make your sex life sustainable!”

“Green sex toys!”

“Organic orgasms!”

Ug. No.

The sex toy industry has caught on. Folks will pay $$$ for ‘eco-friendly’ toys.

Let’s add one more layer to this mess.

Ethical manufacturing.

Some bioplastics are made in countries lacking meaningful environmental and worker protections. And most sex toys are too. (92, 112)

Personally, I would rather buy an ethically made, non-bioplastic sex toy over a bioplastic sex toy made with child or slave labor. See my top picks of Ethical Toys & Brands.

I have high hopes for bioplastic in the coming years, but for now, I’m left disappointed and angry.

What to Do

Citrus fruit and papaya halves on a white table.

We’ve covered the dirty side of sex toys, now what to do about it.

Report Unsafe Sex Toys

The regulatory case for sex toys is weak. Consumer injury reports are lacking. Without documented cases of sex toy related injuries, the Consumer Protection Service Commision (CPSC) is unlikely to investigate a dangerous sex toy, let alone impose industry standards. (45)

Reports can be made at saferproducts.gov.

Quality Control and “Body-Safe”

The sex toy industry has little regulation or safety standards for products. (1)

Plus, when it comes to sex toys, there is no independent third-party verifying its quality. (46)

To add to this mess, there’s “body-safe” labeling on packaging. This implies the materials used in the sex toy are safe for the body. This phrase has good intention. But there is no third-party verification unless the company has done independent testing.

“Body-Safe” is the “all natural” of sex toys. It has no cerification backing up the claim.

“Body-Safe” is not a regulatory agency, nonprofit, registered trademark, or even a company with a website.

So, with no third party verifications, are we doomed? Yes and no.

I still seek out “body-safe” toys. Because for the moment, I don’t have many other standards to guide me.

That said, there a certification in development.  National Association For The Advancement of Science and Art in Sexuality (NAASAS) proposed a program to test, verify, and certify non-toxic sexual products. I’m excited to see how this unfolds!

To tide us over, the NAASAS created the NAASAS Safe Sexual Products Campaign, it’s a list of companies who pledge to follow safer standards. (46)

And, the Coalition Against Toxic Toys (CATT) has a list of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers dedicated to non-toxic toys (55). It’s one of How i Healthy’s Goals to join this coalition!

Both of these resources are a starting point. There’s more to do though.

Don’t Get Scammed: How To Avoid Counterfeits

This Guide to Counterfeits details out how to avoid phony products.

And sex toys are no exception.

The increase in counterfeit sex toys on third party websites concerns Peter Phinney, founder of Porn Guardian, an anti-porn piracy organization. (47)

In response to the growing infringements, Porn Guardian established a new division to locate fakes and report them. Sometimes the reports are investigated, and the product posting are taken down. Sometimes not. It depends on the retail platform. (47)

Manufacturers of products, like Magic Wand, a heavily counterfeited product, have a dedicated page on their website on how to spot a fake. (48)

Because of counterfeit risks, I buy sex toys directly from the manufactures or from their authorized shops. I avoid third party markets altogether.

How i Healthy Standard for (Actually) Sustainable Sex Toys

With the rampant knockoffs and lack of standards, finding a non-toxic sex toy feels like an investigation.

For a healthy body, healthy planet, & healthy sex, here’s how I pick sex toys:

  • Listed on the NAASAS Safe Sexual Products Campaign Business Directory or Coalition Against Toxic Toys (CATT) Coalition Partners list.
  • Lead-free
  • Made in the USA, Canada, EU, or other country with meaningful worker & environmental protections. 
  • Non-porous and easy to clean
  • No Plastic/PVC, no “Jellies”, no “rubber” or other vague descriptions
  • Purchase from an Ethical Sex Toy Shop or Manufacturer. And never from Amazon® (Beyond sex toys, I don’t shop at Amazon® at all. I’d rather shop at an Ethical Marketplace, like EarthHero®).

In the end, few materials have the How i Healthy approval.

Eco-Friendly Sex Toy Materials

Sex Toy Greenwashing Citrus fruits cut in half and lined up by size.

A quick note: Lube can affect the integrity of sex toys.  It’s nice to have different types of Plant-Based Lube on hand. Oil based lubes can deteriorate some materials and should not be used with silicone toys. Oil based lubes are best suited for glass and metal toys. Read packaging and follow any guidelines listed.

Borosilicate Glass

My personal favorite sustainable sex toys material.

Elegant, non-porous, and a satisfying weight. Borosilicate glass sex toys are easy to clean and durable. It is temperature and shock resistant. Most borosilicate glass can be boiled, cooled, and sterilized without cracking. (50)

When it comes to glass sex toys, it’s all about choosing quality and buying from a trusted brand. Because when glass sex toys break in body cavities, it’s no joke. (32)

Inspect your glass toys before use. Check for cracks or chips, and follow product packaging to cleaning instructions. 

Borosilicate Glass Sex Toys Are Awesome Because:

  • All lube compatibility.
  • Easy to clean.
  • Durable.
  • Heft. There’s some weight to it.
  • Non-porous.
  • Often handmade by artists. Yay artists!
  • Recyclable.
  • Sustainable material choice.

Porcelain

This ceramic made from fire-kilned materials like kaolin clay, in non-porous. (96)

Porcelain’s strength makes it a popular material for dental veneers. (97, 98)

Porcelain Sex Toys Are Awesome Because:

  • All lube compatibility.
  • Easy to clean.
  • Durable.
  • Heft. There’s some weight to it.
  • Non-porous. (96)
  • Often handmade by artists. Yay artists!
  • Sustainable material choice.
  • Thermo conductive =Temperature play.

Quality porcelain isn’t cheap, but once you get your hands on a porcelain dildo…you’ll see why. Like works of art, most porcelain toys could grace the shelves of any china cabinet and feel luxurious to use.

Medical Grade Silicone

Silicone is complicated when it comes to eco-friendliness.

There’s pros and cons.

For this article I focus on the plastic-like silicones as it relates to sex toys. This Chemical Guide dives into oil-like silicones and silicone bakeware too.

Although not petroleum-derived like some plastics, silicone production still requires some oil or natural gas. But less than plastic does. (68, 69)

Silicone is not biodegradable. But it does not breakdown into micro plastics like many plastics do. So, it might be better in some ways compared to plastic.

But let’s back up.

What is silicone?

Well, silicon (no “e”) is the naturally occurring element, silica, heated up.

Silicone (with “e”) is a synthetic polymer that requires petroleum or natural gas to form. (68, 69)

Here’s how silicone is made:

  1. First, there’s Silica, or more accurately, silicon dioxide (SiO2) because it’s linked by oxygen (O). It’s the most abundance substance on Earth. It’s found in beach sand, quartz, and most rocks.
  2. Silicon dioxide is heated with carbon (typically charcoal). This creates silicon. Silicon is a semiconductor, perfect for electronics, circuits, and microchips. Silicon and computer tech? Ring a bell? Silicon Valley, in San Francisco.
  3. Silicon then reacts with fossil fuel-derived hydrocarbons, typically petroleum or natural gas. This creates Silicone, a flexible, heat-resistant, and plastic-like material used in many applications.

(68, 69)

When it comes to silicone sex toys, there’s only one way to go. Medical grade.

Medical grade silicone is a subclass under silicone that is designed, produced, and purified to medical industry standards. (66)

Here’s the thing, medical grade silicone isn’t cheap. Anything with a low price point is a red flag. A cheaper silicone product could a blended material and not 100% medical grade silicone. (32, 49)

Avoid vague terms like “rubber silicone”, “silicone”, “food-grade silicone”, “silicone-blend” or “silicon”.

Quality silicone sex toys will say things like “medical grade” or, even better, will list what biocompatibility standards they meet.

Medical grade/biocompatible USA certifications for silicone include:

  • USP Class IV
  • ISO 10993
  • OECD TG 439

(114, 115, 116, 117)

Medical Grade Silicone Sex Toys Are Awesome Because:

  • Easy to clean.
  • Durable.
  • Non-porous. (70)
  • Silky Smooth: It feels nice!
  • Vibrators!

But keep in mind that silicone isn’t so Earth-friendly.

Silicone sustainable sex toys is brushing up against greenwashing in my book.

That’s why I prefer ethically manufactured silicone for vibrators only and choose greener materials (like ceramic & glass) for dildos. Because I’ve yet to find a glass vibrator, ya know? (There are some aluminum vibrators out there, we’ll get to why I don’t like them in a bit).

Animal testing alert:

Medical-grade silicones, like USP Class IV, require animal testing to meet biocompatibility standards. Some tests are done on cells or in vitro, but not all. (119)

So, silicone isn’t perfect for some folks, but no worries! There’s plenty of non-silicone sex toys to pick from.

Medical Grade Stainless Steel

Medical-grade stainless steel is for medical applications (and dildos!). Because of its biocompatibility and durability, it’s a go-to for medical implants. A caveat is those with nickel sensitivities. (51, 52)

Not sensitive to nickel? Then stainless-steel sex toys might be an option for you.

Medical-Grade Sex Toys Are Awesome Because:

  • All lube compatibility.
  • Easy to clean.
  • Durable.
  • Heft. There’s some weight to it.
  • Non-porous.
  • Recyclable.

Note: I’ve yet to find a stainless-steel toy that is manufactured in a country with meaningful worker & environmental protections, so I don’t own any or have a brand I like.

My Favorite Eco-Friendly Sex Toys

When it comes to sustainable sex toys, I choose glass or porcelain first.

If there’s no options for those materials (like vibrators), I choose medical-grade silicone. And only from a manufacturer with sustainability and ethical standards.

I’ve yet to find a medical-grade stainless steel toy that states country of origin or can verify meaningful worker & environmental protections. So, I don’t have any brands I’d recommend.

Here’s How I Pick Sustainable Sex Toys:

  1. Non-silicone & non-electronic toys first. Batteries add electronic waste & make disposal complicated. Silicone also has an end-of-life fine print.
  2. So I choose glass or porcelain for dildos and butt plugs. Even with environmental complications aside, I’m not a fan or silicone dildos or butt plugs. I prefer firmer penetration. 
  3. But, because I’ve yet to find an ethically made, battery-free, non-silicone vibrator… I shop for vibrators exclusively at Fun Factory (Made in Germany & with German materials) or Doxy (Made in the U.K. & with UK. materials).
  4. The Whim by Pelle is a special outlier. It’s an external, non-vibrator, medical-grade silicone grinder. It offers something that glass/porcelain dildos and silicone vibrators don’t. It gets its own special sex toy category.
  5. Lastly, I make purchases through my local ethical sex shop. See why I Never Shop at Amazon®.

My All-Time Favorite Ethical & Sustainable Sex Toy Brands:

The Ethical Sex Shop/Manufacturer List dives into each of these companies more. 

Made In Canada:

Made In Europe:

Made in New Zealand:

Made In USA:

Because How i Healthy is all about options, here are two companies I’ve not personally tried, but could be an option for you:

  1. The Pleasure Tailor for custom made-for-you certified medical grade silicone dildos. USA-made, 100% recyclable end-to-end manufacturing process, and plastic-free packaging!
  2. The Bump’n Joystick. This disability-driven sex toy is the first of its kind. Designed by folks with hand limitations for folks with hand limitations.

Other Concerns

How i Healthy is all about healthy body, healthy planet, & healthy sex.

That means we’ve got more than sex toy materials to talk about.

Lube

Why go through all the trouble in picking an ethical & body-friendly sex toy to then ignore lube?

Some lubes have chemicals like Benzocaine, Nonoxynol-9, N-Nitrosamine, glycerin, parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol. (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)

And don’t be fooled by “All Natural” 1,3-Proanediol. Just because it’s made from corn doesn’t mean it should go in our bodies. (113)

Plus, some lubes don’t biodegrade. Like scilicone-based lubes. Instead, it pollutes water sources (even in the arctic ocean!) and suffocates small aquatic organisms.

Pair that sex toy with a Plant-Based Lube you can feel good about. Bonus? They’re made in the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand!

Condoms

Condoms have a few questionable things about them.

Things like Benzocaine, Nonoxynol-9, N-Nitrosamine, glycerin, parabens, and phthalates. (72, 73, 74)

So, if condoms are a part of your sex life, check out The Condom Guide. You’ll learn some random condom history facts and see my favorite (biodegradable & certified fair trade!) brand.

Sex Toy Greenwashing

Speaking of the environment.

I loathe any kind of greenwashing, or marketing a product as “eco-friendly” when it’s not.

I’ve already mentioned sex toy greenwashing in this article a few times. Well, I’ll mention it again.

Companies exploit our good intentions by marketing products with catchy green labeling & misdirection. And consumers buy in. At premium prices.

If the words “compostable” & “recyclable” bioplastic vibrators sound eco-friendly to you, read The Sex Toy Greenwashing Guide.

Your wallet, the Earth, and forced laborers will thank you.

The Takeaway Message

Eco-friendly sex toys pink silicone vibrator tip.

Sex toys go way back. Folks have been using them for centuries. (4, 5, 6, 56)

You’d think with that much history, humans would have perfected dildos and vibrators by now. Alas, sex toys are far from perfect. (4)

Sex toys have been swept under rug by “obscenity laws” and outright bans for centuries. Even to this day. (16, 20, 63, 65)

Because of these, there’s little governmental oversight, third party verification, or material content disclosures. But that didn’t stop the sale, advertisement, or use of sex toys, it only created a free-for-all for quality control, standards, and safety (or lack of). (1, 45, 21)

Because of this mess, it can be difficult to know what is going into our bodies.

The worst part? It’s probably not the safest. (1, 2, 21, 24, 85)

Until consumer protections exist, we are on our own.

Sex Toy Issues:

  • Counterfeit Sex Toys Purchasing from third party markets might increase the risk of buying fakes made with subpar materials. (47)
  • Phthalate-filled “Jellies”, PVC, latex, “rubber”, and plastics. (1, 21, 45, 85)
  • Greenwashing bioplastic toys. And other “organic orgasms!” advertising messaging.
  • Non-biodegradable plastics, like ABS. (87, 87, 88)
  • Low quality electric toys. Poor wiring can cause unintended shock. (45)
  • Painted/enameled glass or ceramic toys. These are more likely to contain heavy metals like lead. (34, 35, 36, 37)
  • Porous materials like “quench crackled” These can house bacteria and are difficult to clean. (52, 54)
  • Poor quality glass and metal toys, both of which can contain lead or break easily. (21,32)
  • Vague “natural oil” sealed wood toys.
  • Unflared anal toys retained in the rectum (38, 39, 40, 45)

What to Do: Choose Eco-Friendly Sex Toys

  • Know where your sex toy was made. All my toys are made in America, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the U.K., and the EU.
  • This Ethical Sex Toy Shop & Manufacturer Guide complies things like ethical & environmental standards, counterfeits, country of origin, the NAASAS Safe Sexual Products Campaign, and the Coalition Against Toxic Toys (CATT).
  • Choose medical grade silicone vibrators (Don’t settle for “silicone” or “silicone-blend”).
  • Choose borosilicate glass & porcelain for dildos & butt plugs.
  • Choose medical grade stainless steel toys (But watch out for country of origin. I’ve yet to find a brand I recommend.)
  • Pair toys with Plant-Based lube.

My Favorite Sustainable Sex Toys:

That’s How i Healthy!

-Artemis

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Want More?

Like sex toys? Like history? How about sex toy history? Support your local bookstore and learn about your vibrator’s origin story with:

Buzz: The Stimulating History of the Sex Toy

By Hallie Lieberman, Ph.D.

How did sex toys shed their taboos and stigma? Who were the folks behind the cultural and political shifts in America? What roadblocks do sex toys still face? Sex historian Hallie Lieberman lays it all out in easy-to-read prose.

This book started my fascination with the intersection of sex, politics, culture, and history. How could a vibrator cause so much turmoil and influence pretty much everything? Even in the 21st century! It’s angering and absurd. This book is the story of how far sex toys have come. And how far they still need to go.

Buy On: Better World Books®

Objects of Desire: A Showcase of Modern Erotic Products and the Creative Minds Behind Them

By Rita Catinella

Part sculpture, part fashion, part engineering feat, Objects of Desire is the coffee table look-book for all things erotic. Dildos that belong in a modern art collection, and lingerie for the runway. It all lives here on bold and colorful pages, like an portfolio.

Interviews throughout the book showcase inventors, their creations, and the meticulous thought that goes into design.

Though I normally go for eBooks, but I feel this book isn’t fully appreciated in digital format. It’s a work of art itself, and worthy of the pedestal that is my coffee table.

Buy On: Bookshop® or Better World Books®

Coming Soon!

  • Water-Free Hair Care: Solid Shampoo that Actually Works
  • 10 Eco-Friendly Sex Swaps
  • How to Keep Produce Fresher & Longer: The Veggie Saver
  • My Top 5 Ethical & Sustainable Sex Toys
  • PFAS In Sex Toy Storage Bags
  • Treeboard Review: The Best Solid Wood Cuttings Board

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