ABOUT US
Our mission is to provide simple and natural materials for children that foster creativity and a connection to the environment. The more mindful we are about the things we bring into a child’s space, the more meaningful their experiences become.
We believe in a child’s right to a sustainable future, which is why we are highly selective of the material we use.
Cork is regenerative – it does not harm the environment but instead supports cork forests and wildlife conservation. No trees are cut down when extracting cork. Cork is obtained from the outer layer of the cork oak. A cork oak, whose bark is regularly harvested (every 9 years, a lifetime of the oak tree is 200-300 years) binds more than three times as much oxygen as an unused cork oak.
With Mio Reggio materials, children are exposed to a soft, natural, regenerative material that does not harm the environment but instead supports cork forests and wildlife conservation.
Our Why
80% of plastic toys cannot be recycled, contributing to the 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic that go to the landfill. It is estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than sea life. Microplastics have even been detected in drinking water, our air, foods and most recently our bodies.
There are also potential health risks in plastic toys. The Denmark Technical University (DTU) published a report, commissioned by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), that finds 25% of children’s toys contain harmful chemicals. Chemical additives are used in plastic toys and other plastic products to provide specific levels of hardness or elasticity. Children are considered particularly sensitive to chemical exposure due to their fast metabolic rate, high surface area to body weight ratio, and fast growth of organs and tissues
Choosing plastic-free play is
more important than ever.
By reducing plastic in our lives, we actively work towards creating a world that is healthier for our children.
About the Founder
Hi, I’m Monica!
I have been working in the early childhood field for the past 16 years. I earned a master’s degree in international education from NYU and spent most of my career in program management and curriculum design, focusing on humane education, Reggio inspired classroom environments, social-emotional skills, and 21st century learning.
I identified a void in the market and saw a need for more regenerative toys – toys that respect nature as well as the whole child.
Being from Italian descent, I gravitated towards the Reggio Emilia approach and identified with its values – creativity, collaboration, and community. At its core, this philosophy leads back to being purposeful and intentional with our actions.
Mio Reggio thrives on one belief – being conscious of the materials we provide children,
how they are made and where they will ultimately end up. I am happy you found us and
welcome you to the Mio Reggio community.
Tanti Grazie,
Monica
Whereas a sustainable firm seeks merely to reduce its ecological footprint, a
regenerative company boldly seeks to increase its socio-ecological handprint—by
restoring the health of individuals, communities and the planet.
– Greg Norris, Harvard professor