Janod

Production Locations

• France 
• All other production countries: not disclosed

Working Conditions & Living Wages

Janod does not disclose where most of its toys are made. The brand mentions a second quality team based close to the production sites, but it doesn’t name the countries. 

The brand states that its factories are regularly audited by third parties against BSCI and/​or ICTI standards. BSCI builds on the standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO). It covers freedom of association, working hours, a ban on child and forced labour, health and safety and payment of a minimum wage. 

The brand claims it carefully selects its manufacturing partners. It also states it has moved the production of certain products, such as its cardboard puzzles, back to France.

On the social side, Janod supports good causes:

• Since 2017, Janod has donated toys to Dons Solidaires, an association that gives unsold goods to families in need instead of destroying them. The brand says the JURATOYS group has donated 186,790 items so far.
• In 2022, Janod teamed up with Make-A-Wish France®. Twelve artists customised Janod wooden rockets for an auction for seriously ill children. 

Materials

• Wood (type of wood not disclosed)
• Cardboard
• Paints and varnishes (partly water-based)
• Vegetable-based inks (for most cardboard toys made in France)
• Glues (type not disclosed)
• Metal screws
• Bolts 
• Nylon strings
• Magnets 
• Tubes 

Janod uses FSC®-certified wood and cardboard for part of its range. FSC® is a label that checks that wood comes from responsibly managed forests. 

The brand states that 25% of its wood and cardboard collection was FSC® certified in 2021, with a goal of 70% by 2025. 

The brand claims its vegetable-based inks are more quickly recyclable and potentially biodegradable.

Packaging

Janod shares concrete steps to cut plastic packaging:

• Since January 2020, the brand has removed plastic from the packaging of 127 products. That’s 26% of the wood and cardboard collection and about 5.5 tonnes less plastic per year.
• Since January 2021, no plastic PET bags are used in Janod puzzle boxes, the brand says.
• Janod states it replaced plastic-packed silica sachets with clay-based sachets in recycled paper. That’s around 4,560,000 sachets per year and 5.3 tonnes less plastic for the whole JURATOYS group.

The brand mentions foam and bubble wrap as replacements, which are usually made of plastic too. The brand aims for the smallest possible packaging and wants to find potentially biodegradable, recyclable or recycled alternatives. There is no timeline for this goal.

Janod does not disclose which packaging is used for webshop orders or in the rest of the supply chain.

Water Usage & Chemicals

Janod states that independent laboratories test all its toys under the EU Toy Safety Directive and REACH, the European chemicals regulation. All products carry the CE mark. Good to know: these are legal requirements for toys in the EU.

The brand says it uses water-based paint on some toys, especially early-learning toys for children under 3. It also voluntarily tests paint on these toys for discolouration by saliva. That’s a nice extra for little ones who put everything in their mouths!

Circular Product Design

Janod’s toys are mostly made of wood and cardboard. Many toys combine these with paint, glue, metal screws or magnets. Such mixed materials are harder to recycle. 

Janod does help you keep toys longer. The webshop sells spare parts. The website also gives care tips and claims wooden toys can be passed down through generations.

Circular Business Models

• Rental: Janod works with Lib&Lou, a toy rental start-up from Vierzon (France), founded in 2019. According to the brand, more than 145 Janod products are available for rent. Janod says it uses this partnership to learn how toys wear out and to improve durability.
• Donations: unsold toys go to Dons Solidaires instead of being destroyed.
• Repair service: not available. Customers can buy spare parts and fix toys themselves.
• Take-back or resale: no information available.

Distance & Complexity of the Supply Chain

• Production locations: France (cardboard puzzles). 
  All other production countries are not disclosed.
• Janod HQ is located in the Jura region, France.

Transportation

• Transportation in the supply chain: not disclosed. The brand claims it works on a reduced carbon impact, but it shares no figures or measures.
• Transportation in e‑commerce: not disclosed. 

Janod doesn’t say whether its glues, paints or varnishes are free of animal-derived ingredients. 

Product Design

Janod designs toys for children from 12 months to 8 years and up, plus creative activities for ages 14+. The range includes early-learning toys, pretend play, puzzles, board games, musical toys, arts and crafts and outdoor toys.

The team revisits classic toys and chooses timeless colours, Janod says. At the same time, the brand states that products must first meet market demand and be trendy.

Slow Fashion Processes

Janod regularly launches new toys and has a seasonal Christmas range. The brand takes part in sales (with discounts up to 50%), uses promo codes and runs outlet stores. The number of collections per year is not disclosed. There is no made-to-order option.

Transparency on Product

On Janod’s product pages, customers can read what the toy is made of, its dimensions and the recommended age. Each page also shows a product reference, the skills the toy helps develop and clear safety warnings. Customers can even download manuals and game rules.
Janod does not show the production country or the supplier on its product pages. So customers can not trace where or by whom their specific toy was made. Traceability per product is therefore limited.

Transparency on Processes

Janod has a CSR page called ​“Play for Change” and shares figures on FSC®, packaging, reforestation and donations. Between 2019 and 2023, the brand states it helped plant 18,000 trees with the Kinomé association and the French National Forestry Office (ONF): one tree in the Jura for every two in Togo and Madagascar.

Apart from its cardboard puzzles made in France, Janod does not disclose its production locations at all. The brand also does not publish a supplier list, cost breakdowns or an annual sustainability report.