Second life

How to give your toys a meaningful second life

Of Ice-Cream Cones
and Penguins

Why Some Things Should Stick Around

Sustainability isn’t always straightforward. Unlike an ice-cream cone, not every product can be grown, shaped, enjoyed, and then harmlessly return to nature. This was the challenge we faced at Proud Penguin when we set out to create the most sustainable figurine brand possible.

What does sustainability mean when you create something meant to last — something designed to bring joy through years of childhood? What does a truly sustainable toy look like when it must survive rainy days, rough adventures, epic storylines, and all the lives it lives through a child’s imagination?

We decided to turn sustainability upside down.

To build a toy that is child-safe, durable, certified, soft, and high-quality, we started with the global supply chain. Instead of inventing a fragile “green miracle material,” we chose a material rooted in long-established industry experience — and improved it. Our material follows the mass-balance principle, which simply means:
for every ton of fossil material used today, the same amount of renewable or recycled material is added into the system to replace it.
Step by step, the whole system becomes greener.

What happens
at the end?

What happens when the ice cream is gone —
and the cone can’t be eaten?

Our Pass-on Programm has two options :

ONE — Make toys that are meant to stay.
Our figurines are engineered to last. Nature changes over millions of years — plenty of time for a rhino, tiger, or T-rex to bring joy to multiple generations. Order the Proud Penguin storage box to keep your little friends safe while they wait to relive your childhood adventures with your kids or grandchildren.

TWO — Send them back to us.
Every year, you can return your old Proud Penguin toys and receive a thank-you voucher. Returned toys are collected, repaired where possible, and donated to local community programs, schools, and children’s organisations near the factories that made them — giving the toys a second life and giving back to the communities of the people who crafted them.

No waste. No guilt. Just a thoughtful cycle of play, care, and renewal.

Giving FAQs

  • Proud Penguin figurines are designed to last for generations, so the best choice is to pass them on — to siblings, friends, or future little explorers. If you prefer, you can also return them to us through our annual take-back program, where toys are repaired and donated to local community groups, giving them a second life and spreading joy beyond your home.

  • Reach out to info@proudpenguin.co.uk to receive detailed shipping and packaging instructions for your return. By registering your shipment with us, we can track incoming items, ensure they are handled correctly, and coordinate the donation process more efficiently and transparently.

  • Animal figurines store best in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Use soft fabric bins or padded boxes to avoid scratches, and keep them dust-free with a simple lid. Sort them by size or species so each figure stays protected, organized, and ready for play anytime.