This might be a little bit of a rant, so bare with me.

First off; I try as hard as I can to only use vibes and dils that are made in the US. I think outsourcing sucks and I try to do my part to support American businesses. Companies outsource manufacturing because it's much cheaper to produce a finished product. The reason it's cheap is because they pay the factory workers next to nothing and/or use inferior materials. I'm sorry, but I don't want to be putting inferior materials inside me. I do also buy toys, on occasion, from Europe, Canada, Japan, and other westernized counties due to similar stringent labor regulations.

The other thing that really gets me about these Leaf toys being made in China is this whole "eco-friendly" angle they're trying to go for. I can promise you that if it's made in China there is nothing eco-friendly about it. China has practically non-existent environmental regulations. I mean, they literally dump industrial waste into rivers. Also, unless you're vibrator is somehow solar powered, it's not eco-friendly. The stuff in those rechargeable lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries is volatile nasty stuff. Which is why you can't just throw those things out in the garbage. They need to be taken someplace that can properly dispose of the spent batteries. So, maybe the box is 90% post-consumer product. So what?! Cereal boxes and shampoo bottles are all made from recycled material these days. Making your product green and putting it in a brown box with a leaf on it does not an eco-friendly product make.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those people that refuses to buy anything not made in the USA. I do when I can. Yes, I know practically everything these day is made in China, but I'm also not putting my microwave or TV inside my vagina. I'm also not naive enough to think that there aren't sweat shops right here in the good ol' U. S. of A. But I'd like to think that most (more than China, at least) legitimate companies in this country do use proper labor practices.

I know most people probably don't even bother to look to see where products are made these days, but maybe it's something everybody should become be more conscious of.

Would love to hear everybody's opinions. less

There's this thing called "globalization." Apparently, almost all materials are made in cheaper, foreign countries and THEN sent to developed countries, like the US, so that these materials can be manufactured and slapped with a label that reads "Made in the US." It's been happening for the last few years, actually. America is the biggest offender, followed by Germany.

Seriously, the only thing that's not made in China is wheat. Chances are your "Made in America" toys and other items spent some time in a third world or developing country for a little bit of time. And sometimes that's not even made in the States, it's instead made in Russia. The whole "Made in America" campaign was started by politicians who have no idea how the world works and want to get elected.

So yeah, don't get too upset when your stuff is made in China or anywhere not "developed." less

Factory locations is a looooooooooooooong debate.

But I will say---calling a product "eco-friendly" because it's green and comes in a (pretty much standard) recycled cardboard box and a canvas bag instead of a polyester one... um... there's a lithium battery in there, guys. It's not eco-friendly by any stretch of the imagination. less

I'm unsure of lithium batteries, but I remember reading an article in Sexis a few months ago that discussed the eco friendly nature of silicone. Yes, it is body friendly, but the disposal process is a hassle. From my understanding, the process for it to break down takes a long time and because of that, shouldn't be disposed by your regular disposal service.

Uh, if Elnoa or Antipova could step in and explain both more in depth, that would be awesome. Scientific stuff is far from my forte. less

I try and buy toys made in a westernized country (or at least assembled) but it isn't a huge turn off for me. The two big-ticket toys that I own are both German (Fun Factory and Close 2 You) but most of their parts are probably made in China. It's hard for any companies to compete with outsourced companies and make everything in a developed country anymore, which is just heartbreaking.

I do buy local food, but local dildos are harder to find. less

It would be great to have the info on the product pages, or company pages - but I appreciate how much work that would be with so many products.

Artisan-created products are more likely to be made in a "developed" country. For instance, work produced by master glass-blowers or hand-carved or hand-moulded products.

I'd be curious to know if any actual vibes are made outside PRC. less

Wow! That was very interesting info Oxygen. Glad I came across this. I actually didn't even know they were made in China and had been planning to buy a couple someday. Lol. I hate that! It does suck that they can call thing natural or eco-friendly or even organic when it's NOT! It's decieving, lying and really just nasty to use customers that way. A company that's straight up and honest will earn respect from me far quicker than the decieving ass holes. Sorry. I get fired up. less

lol. I will take up your challenge.

Silicone (or, more specifically, consumer grade silicone) is considered "environmentally friendly" for a few reasons:
1) The main ingredient used in its production is silica (sand), which is readily available and easily collected with minimum environmental impact.
2) Silicone lasts a really long time (has low chemical/radiational reactivity and high thermal stability) and therefor can be re-used "forever". However, this property is only "environmentally friendly" if you continue to re-use the product, and don't throw it away. These same properties make it difficult to dispose of (although it is recyclable).
3) For many consumer uses (including sex toys), acetic acid (vinegar) rather than HCl gas (hazardous) is produced. The acetic acid can then be used in other production processes, etc.
4) Silicone is "non-toxic" in that it does not break down and it tends not to have the same harmful oxidation products breakdown or additives that other "plastics" tend to have. However, the long term effects of exposure are as yet largely unknown.

PVC (or "jelly") is not considered "environmentally friendly" for the following reasons:
1) PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is made up of vinyl chloride monomers, which are produced using petroleum products and chlorine. I'll assume you know that those two things are generally bad for both you and the environment.
2) PVC does not decompose (like silicone), however, additives within the PVC can oxidize readily. As PVC is porous (unlike silicone [I actually talked about this in a different post]), oxygen can more easily contact additives within the PVC material. It can, however, be recycled.
3) Plasticized PVC can be harmful to people (and other creatures) due to the plasticizers used.
4) PVC (plasticized or non) can also be harmful as it depolymerizes. The vinyl chloride monomers can be breathed in and cause many health issues.

Rechargable batteries are considered green because, well, you use less batteries... However, keep in mind that it requires energy input to charge these batteries, and that energy comes form a power plant. Most people outside Denmark don't have "eco friendly" power plants, but rather, coal, natural gas, or nuclear. Most of these batteries are lithium ion or nickel hydride/nickel-cadmium , all of which are highly toxic. Therefor, the batteries must be recycled, which is both energetically and monetarily costly. AA batteries are carbon-zinc based, and are less toxic if not properly disposed of. Neither battery is environmentally friendly to manufacture.

Let me know if you have other questions. less

This might be a little bit of a rant, so bare with me.

First off; I try as hard as I can to only use vibes and dils that are made in the US. I think outsourcing sucks and I try to do my part to support American businesses. Companies outsource manufacturing because it's much cheaper to produce a finished product. The reason it's cheap is because they pay the factory workers next to nothing and/or use inferior materials. I'm sorry, but I don't want to be putting inferior materials inside me. I do also buy toys, on occasion, from Europe, Canada, Japan, and other westernized counties due to similar stringent labor regulations.

The other thing that really gets me about these Leaf toys being made in China is this whole "eco-friendly" angle they're trying to go for. I can promise you that if it's made in China there is nothing eco-friendly about it. China has practically non-existent environmental regulations. I mean, they literally dump industrial waste into rivers. Also, unless you're vibrator is somehow solar powered, it's not eco-friendly. The stuff in those rechargeable lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries is volatile nasty stuff. Which is why you can't just throw those things out in the garbage. They need to be taken someplace that can properly dispose of the spent batteries. So, maybe the box is 90% post-consumer product. So what?! Cereal boxes and shampoo bottles are all made from recycled material these days. Making your product green and putting it in a brown box with a leaf on it does not an eco-friendly product make.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those people that refuses to buy anything not made in the USA. I do when I can. Yes, I know practically everything these day is made in China, but I'm also not putting my microwave or TV inside my vagina. I'm also not naive enough to think that there aren't sweat shops right here in the good ol' U. S. of A. But I'd like to think that most (more than China, at least) legitimate companies in this country do use proper labor practices.

I know most people probably don't even bother to look to see where products are made these days, but maybe it's something everybody should become be more conscious of.

Would love to hear everybody's opinions. less