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Toy Safety Statement from Kapla
This is to certify that Kapla fully complies with US safety regulations and is dedicated to safety as well as quality of play.
Kapla is produced in a family owned and operated factory in Bordeaux. Two years ago, an additional factory was opened in Tangiers, Morocco. Invented and designed in 1988, quality control, safety and earth friendly production have been KAPLA goals from the outset.
Kapla was invented by Tom VanderBruggen whose interest in art, science, creation, expression and education found it's concretisation in the form of a basic wooden building block. Kapla is proud to continue producing a natural, non-toxic SAFE building block which respects both ASTM F963-03 as well as European Standards for Safety. The pine planks are not treated and their unique properties are the result of years of refined machinery, precision cutting and quality control. Kapla cutting machines are especially designed in Germany and cutting blades are changed and sharpened every two hours to produce the distinctive SAFE blocks that allow building without glue or snaps or interlocking parts.
All KAPLA blocks are made of Marine Pine from renewable forests in the Bordeaux region in France. (Le Pin des Landes) This is one of the oldest forestry engineering regions in the world developed in the 1700s when marine pin was first planted to fixate shifting sands. For over 250 years, several million acres of marine pine is planted and forested to maintain the balance of land and sea as well as to develop other wood based industries in Europe. This region is a model for forestry . Moreover, Kapla planks recycle every particle used in the process.
Water based colors for the pine planks were later introduced to highlight the natural toned pine planks. The planks are "stained" as the pine naturally absorbs the water based colors. Kapla products have been recently tested by both the Bureau Veritas laboratories in France and the Intertek Testing Services in France.
As Kapla popularity grew throughout Europe and the US -- endorsed by parents, schools, museums "The Louvre" included--a second factory was built by the VanderBruggen family in Tangiers. The family continues to operate both the Bordeaux and Tangiers factory with the same dedication to quality control, safety and to quality toys for children all over the world. The wooden planks are shipped to Tangiers from France for coloring and packaging. Kapla is certainly committed to safety for children and for protecting the environment. Kapla factories embody the highest standards in toy production. Kapla has been recognized with several prestigious awards.
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