We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

~Native American Proverb

We’re all trying to be more kind to the earth – and for good reason: when we leave this earth to our children, we want our earth to be as beautiful – or even more beautiful – than when we were children.  To this end, many companies are taking a greener approach to their manufacturing processes than ever before.  We at SeriousPuzzles.com are happy to announce that even your favorite pastime – puzzling – can be more earth-friendly!  We proudly carry several brands of eco-friendly puzzles:

1) ImagiPLAY

Naturally Safe…
Thoughtfully Produced…
Thoroughly Fun…
Toys With Integrity

 ImagiPLAY wooden puzzles are earth friendly and child safe. Made from plantation-grown, sustainably harvested, chemical-free rubberwood, these unique wooden puzzles are hand-painted with safety-tested paints & stains. Each puzzle is heirloom quality, and makes a beautiful, distinctive, and earth-friendly gift.

2) TDC Games

TDC’s Green Pieces collection is a series of four 500 piece photomosaic jigsaw puzzles that are embedded with actual wildflower seeds! When you are finished with your puzzle, instead of throwing it away, you can actually PLANT the puzzle pieces to offset your carbon footprint!  TDC’s jigsaw puzzles’ board and packaging is made from 100% recycled paper, printed with 100% soy-based inks, and does not come wrapped in plastic. These awesome earth-friendly puzzles are made right here in the United States!

"Eco-Friendly" Collection by TDC

TDC’s 1000 piece Eco-Friendly puzzle collection features 8 poster-sized puzzles with original artwork from artists like Dale Klee and Linda Picken. Each jigsaw puzzle is made from recycled, renewable, biodegradable materials, and soy-based inks, and are printed and manufactured in the USA!

3) Serendipity Puzzle Company 

ALL of Serendipity Puzzle Company’s jigsaw puzzles are made from 100% recycled material with 80-93% post-consumer content. Serendipity uses Forest Stewardship Council certified paper, ensuring it comes from professionally managed forests. In the printing process, water-based coatings and soy-based ink are used. In addition, Serendipity has reduced its packaging by 33%, their puzzles are easily recyclable, and are made in the U.S.A.

Frog Business - 1000pc Shaped Jigsaw Puzzle by Serendipity Puzzle Company

Each jigsaw puzzle made by Buffalo Games uses 100% recycled paperboard with 90% post-consumer content for both the box and the jigsaw puzzle itself. BGI puzzles are recycleable, and are made in the U.S.A.

The Living Seas: Turtle Play - 1000pc Jigsaw Puzzle by Buffalo Games

We have many houseplants – I don’t think you can ever have enough!

Houseplants are proven air cleaners. They add oxygen, regulate humidity, filter out toxins, and beautify your space.  I believe they add positive life energy to a home, and help children learn about caring for living things.

NASA did a study on houseplants and indoor air pollution.  Certain plants are able to remove dangerous chemicals from the air like trichloroethylene, benzene, & and formaldehyde!

Read NASA’s findings on interior landscape plants for indoor air pollution abatement.

Based on that study, here are my recommendations for best air cleaners: 

Top chemical removers:

Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)

Marginata (Dracaena marginata)

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum “Mauna Loa”)*

Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis)

Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifritzii)

Mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)*

Mother-in-law’s Tongue (Sansevieria laurentii)*

Other great air cleaners:

English Ivy (Hedera helix)**

Golden Pothos (Scindapsus aureus)*

Chinese Evergreen (Aglonema modestum)

Green Spider Plant (Cholorphytum elatum)

Heart leaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium)*

Ficus (Ficus benjamina)

Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)*

*NOTE: I find it interesting that many of the aforementioned plants are considered toxic– particularly when ingested. I wonder if this is partially because they are so good at absorbing (and thus, perhaps harboring) chemicals? I have marked the toxic plants with a star * in the event that you have small children or pets. Those with two stars ** are particularly toxic, and I definitely do not recommend for households with small children or pets who could consume the leaves.

For a list of toxic & non-toxic plants for pets, please see the ASPCA’s page.

For a list of toxic & non-toxic plants for children, please see the National Poison Control center’s page

That being said, all plants have the ability to clean air.  If you are uncomfortable with keeping any plants in your house known to have some toxicity, I’ve compiled a list of  common non-toxic houseplants (not listed above). Now, while these specific plants may not have been studied to show the ability to drastically reduce toxic chemicals, they will still do their job cleaning your air & beautifying your environment while being safer to have around children & pets:

African Violet (Episcia reptans)

Begonia (Begonia sp.)

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exalta)
Christmas Cactus (Zygocactus truncatus)

Hoya (Hoya sp.)

Jade Plant (Crassula argentes)

Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe sp.)

Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus lobbianus) – this is a favorite!

Peperomia (Peperomia sp.)

Ponytail Palm (Beaucarenia recurvata)
Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica)
Wandering Jew (Tradescantia albiflora)

For a list of hundreds of houseplants with description, photo, and care instructions, check out this site.

Which houseplants are your favorites?  Please let me know!