By Jeannette Huang

Photo by Jeffery Cross

That action figure is so bad because it's made of plastic, PVC in particular. That stands for polyvinyl chloride, commonly called vinyl. "All plastics are bad for the environment, but PVC is the worst," says Emily Clayton, consumer associate with the environmental think-tank California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG). PVC wreaks havoc twice: it releases lead, cadmium, and other toxins into the environment during manufacture and disposal – and it's potentially dangerous to human health, especially children's.

"The health threat is because of phthalates, chemical softeners that make vinyl pliable," Clayton says. "Studies have linked phthalates to liver and kidney damage, cancer, and infertility. The trouble is, phthalates are not bonded to the plastic but can leach out, so young children who suck or chew PVC toys are most at risk from the chemicals."

Unlike in Europe, where PVC teething toys have been banned since 1999, there's no regulation on PVC in the United States. The national Consumer Product Safety Commission is still evaluating the danger of phthalates in plastic toys. Take a closer look at products like action figures, rubber duckies, molding clay, plastic books, and teething rings. Look out for the word vinyl or PVC in the content listings, or the recycling symbol with the number 3, which indicates PVC. When in doubt, call the 1-888 consumer information number on the product. Another easy way to check for PVC is to take a sniff! That plasticky smell you get when you unwrap a new toy or open a tub of Play-Doh? That indicates the presence of phthalates.

To get the lowdown on PVC, check out the Greenpeace toy company report (http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/), which evaluates and grades big-name toy brands on how much PVC they use. As of 2003, straight-A performers include toy makers Brio, Gerber, International Playthings, Lego, Sassy, and Tiny Love. CalPIRG also has a toy safety report (http://www.toysafety.net/), updated annually a week before Thanksgiving.

So if plastics aren't an option, what kind of toy is child-and earth-safe? "Unfinished, solid wood toys are the greenest alternative to plastic toys," says Parin Shah, executive director of Community Toolbox for Children's Environmental Health, a Bay Area parent-led grassroots organization.

To go even greener, make sure it's the most eco-friendly type of wood. Sustainably produced hardwoods are best. Avoid wood from threatened domestic redwood and overseas rain forests. Check the edges of toys and puzzle pieces for layers of pressed woods, such as plywood and particleboard, as they contain glues that emit toxic fumes.

It's wise to avoid paint finishes, which can contain lead, solvents, and other materials damaging to children's developing brains. Go for finishes of natural oils, such as linseed, flax, and walnut oils, or beeswax.

Now that you know what to look for, let's go shopping. Start with the Ark (3845 24th St., S.F. 415-821-1257; 1812 Fourth St., Berk. 510-849-1930), where you can find Plan City construction blocks, made of replenishable rubber wood ($40 for 50 basic unit blocks). These blocks create buildings that form endlessly expandable towns and cities.

Or go for toys made from natural-form reclaimed wood. Award-winning Santa Barbara-based Tree Blocks (http://www.treeblocks.com/; a selection is available at the Ark) recycles wooden leftovers from managed forests and orchards and turns them into free-form blocks ($27.95 for a 21-piece set), miniature furniture ($14.95 to $39.95), and even math kits ($49.95). The Build-a-Doll-House ($99), a no-tool-necessary open-ended construction project, is particularly good – and sensible enough to transcend gender roles! And for a touch of the Swiss family Robinson, peek at the tree houses ($139.95), with features like bark-edged platforms, a crane and load, retractable stairs, and a bucket on a working pulley.

The ultimate reusable toy is the humble board game. Ditch the Monopoly and Risk sets – they promote nothing but avarice and power-hungry ambition anyway – and choose kinder, gentler cooperative strategy games that teach teamwork and problem-solving. Family Pastimes games (http://www.familypastimes.com/; also available at the Ark) are made of 100 percent eco-friendly material. Check out the popular Round-Up ($15.50), set in the Wild West, or the adventure game Eyes of the Jungle ($21).

Who can resist a soft toy? For handmade eco-friendly fabric toys, try Global Exchange Fair Trade (4018 24th St., S.F. 415-648-8068; 2840 College, Berk. 510-548-0370). Take home Barefoot Baby Animals ($12 to $14), adorable Brazilian hand puppets whose proceeds benefit wildlife organizations ($12), or Tibetan hand puppets made of natural sheared wool ($31 to $33). Tiny finger puppets ($3.75) also make great stocking stuffers. "Choose toys made of organic, untreated fibers, like cotton, hemp, or wool, with nontoxic dyes," Shah adds.

While online, drop by GreenHome.com, which features the Foundlings range of organic-cotton soft toys ($10 to $28). The solar-powered toy model kits ($25) are must-sees – perfect for the mechanically minded child. Choose from a helicopter, biplane, and windmill, all easy-assembly models made of untreated balsa wood with a solar power module.

For the last word in eco-friendliness, pay a visit to the Ecology Center (2530 San Pablo, Berk. 510-548-2220) and see the holiday special: colorful wooden construction toys in the shapes of a truck, a train, and a wagon ($13.50 to $14). While you're there, pick up Sierra Club knowledge card sets ($9.95), which teach eco-trivia, or handmade art-paper journals ($8 to $12) for the aspiring scribe.

Complete the eco-experience by giving kids the chance to get hands-on with Mother Nature, right at home. Rather than sad ant farms or sea monkeys, the children on your shopping list can watch Painted Lady larvae grow into butterflies that can be released after three weeks, with the butterfly garden kit ($19.90; larvae and food included) available from the Exploratorium (3601 Lyon, S.F. 415-397-5673, http://www.exploratorium.com/).

Making your own toys is a greener way to play. If you don't want to just buy toys, you can take a class at the Exploratorium that'll teach you how to make them. Go global with the monthlong "Folk Play from Around the World" festival, when artisans from different cultures show kids and grown-ups how to make Filipino star lanterns (parols), Chinese zodiac paper cuttings, American corn husk dolls, and more. Classes run from Dec. 4 through 19 and are free with museum admission.

Or learn how to transform used CDs into spinning tops or make your own container herbal gardens at the Crissy Field Center (603 Mason, S.F. 415-561-7752, http://www.crissyfield.org/). Organic hot cider and cookie decorating are included! Participants can make gifts Dec. 4, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., for just 50c to $1 an activity ($5 for tickets to all activities). Whether making environmentally conscious gifts yourself or buying them ready to give, this is truly the way to celebrate life and renewal, season after season.