The Best Organic, Natural & Plastic-Free Soft Toys Waiting For A Hug

Posted by Kate Arnell on September 12, 2025

Bottlecup was born out of our own family journey to reduce plastic in our daily lives. A few years after switching to reusables, choosing natural options, writing a book about going Zero Waste and deciding to create Bottlecup - our unique 2in1 water bottle and coffee cup, designed to help you always remember your reusable cup and save space in your bag... we became parents.

And all of a sudden our eyes were opened to a whole new world of hidden plastics targeted at babies and children. Studies even show higher microplastic levels in kids' bedrooms, highlighting the pervasive exposure of plastics in our homes, especially for children.

Despite the fact we know babies mouth everything - it's one of the main ways they learn about the world and their environment and the fact that we're all learning just how disruptive microplastics can be to babies' developing endocrine systems as well as the environment, it can seem a little crazy that we're actively gifting them soft toys made from very shreddable polyester (a plastic fibre) to snuggle up to, inhale and mouth.

Babies' developing immune and digestive systems are more vulnerable to toxins and studies show that babies have 15 times more microplastics in their bodies than adults. 🤯

And yes, the majority of soft toys on the market are made from polyester - a highly sheddable plastic fibre.

Natural and Organic Soft Toys

Thankfully there is a growing selection of organic and natural soft toys and teddies to choose from.

When choosing a soft toy, always look for natural fibres:

Organic Cotton: Cotton grown without synthetic pesticides. Perfect for sensitive skin.

Wool: Naturally flame-retardant, biodegradable and resistant to mould and dust mites

Linen: Durable, antibacterial, and breathable.

Hemp: Naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic, making it safe for sensitive skin.

Organic Bamboo: Soft, hypoallergenic and naturally antibacterial.

Natural Rubber: Natural, biodegradable and safe for babies to chew on. Make sure it is nitrosamine free.

Corn PLA (Polylactic Acid): Made from fermented corn starch. Biodegradable and free from harmful chemicals

Kapok: Fibres from the seed pods of the kapok tree. Naturally hypoallergenic, lightweight, biodegradable and sustainably harvested without harming the trees. Kapok is resistant to mould and mildew,

And remember to check the the inside stuffing too is natural too! 'Recycled’ polyester may be worse than virgin polyester as it can shed more easily and even be more toxic.

The Best Organic and Natural Soft Toys

Senger Naturwelt

Senger Naturwelt soft toys are 100% natural, made from certified organic cotton and wool. Their growing range includes teddies, puppies, sea creatures, elephants and dolls.

Use code BUDKATE for 10% off Senger Naturwelt

Etsy

Etsy has a wonderful selection of plastic-free soft toys, teddies and waldorf style dolls, all made by hand using organic and natural materials. Etsy is a great place to support small businesses and creatives.

Apple Park

If you're looking for a fun, natural alternative to JellyCat then Apple Park might just be the best option! They have charming organic plush toys dyed with eco-friendly, OEKO-TEX 100 toxin-free dyes. Their range includes dolls, animals, fruits, ice creams, donuts and even an organic pretzel soft toy! Enjoy 10% off Apple Park with code KATEARNELL

Pure Earth Collection

Pure Earth collection makes award winning plastic-free and organic products for babies and kids including organic cotton teddies and sensory soft toys.

Nanchen

Nanchen makes high-quality, natural and organic dolls, rattles, and stuffed animals that have been lovingly handmade in Germany using organic cotton, plant-dyed silk and sheep's wool for the stuffing. Their adorable faces are even hand-painted, making each doll truly unique.

Kallisto

Kallisto makes handmade natural and organic cuddly soft toys and teddies using organic cotton plush stuffed with organic sheep wool.

Little Green Radicals

Best known for their organic clothing for babies and kids, Little Green Radicals have expanded their collection to include organic and plastic-free soft toys as part of their journey to reduce waste.

Each organic soft toy is made from organic cotton plush on the outside and stuffed with organic cotton fabric offcuts from their clothing production on the inside to make an all natural and organic filling that is soft and squishy. They are suitable from birth and machine washable at 30 degrees celsius.

Wooly Organic

Wooly Organic make wonderfully soft, velvety bears and bunnies from GOTS certified organic cotton and Oeko-Tex 100 certified corn fibre filling for the stuffing that has been tested free from the top 100 pesticides and harmful chemicals for the inside stuffing.

Enjoy 15% off Wooly Organic here

Under The Nile

Under The Nile has a wide range of soft toys including teddies, dolls and, animals and even organic fruit and vegetable stuffies all made with 100% organic cotton inside and out.

Under the Nile is one of a handful of companies that go beyond organic as all of their cotton farms are certified biodynamic to the Demeter international biodynamic standard. And they’re Fairtrade certified too!

Save 15% off Under the Nile

Bears For Humanity

Bears for Humanity's mission is to create safe, eco-friendly organic products, protect the environment, provide fair trade jobs, and support causes for children, animals, and the environment. When you buy one of their organic teddy bears, they donate one to a child in need.

Their soft toys, teddies, plushies, and apparel are handmade from 100% certified organic cotton, filled with organic corn PLA, and dyed with certified organic dyes. All materials are organic, non-toxic, and GMO-free. Instead of bead eyes, their plushies have stitched eyes, ensuring safety for all ages.

Sigikids Green Collection

Whilst not all Sigikid toys are made from natural materials, their Sigikid Green Collection is, using organic cotton with lambswool stuffing.

They have a good selection of organic stuffed animal friends to cuddle up to, from the usual teddies and bunnies to more unique dragons, giraffes, crocodiles and alpacas to name a few.

MyuMs

MyuMs make handmade crochet fruits and vegetable soft toys from 100% organic cotton inside and out. You’ll find cherries, apples, pears, carrots, leeks, turnips and many more, perfect for little mouths to chew on! And they’re all machine washable.

How To Wash Soft Toys With Wool 🧺

Whilst wonderfully natural, wool stuffing can shrink easily in the laundry if not cared for properly so avoid washing any soft toys containing wool (check the stuffing!) in hot temperatures and avoid lots of agitation - both will felt the wool, meaning it tightens and shrinks and you’ll have one very floppy soft toy on your hands.

It’s generally best to follow the manufacturer's washing instructions as much as possible and if in doubt, handwash your wool soft toys using a gentle liquid wool soap (your local zero waste store may even sell some!) in a basin or use the wool/gentle setting on your machine.