Cork-Founded Toy Library Tackles Back-to-School Costs with Nationwide Sharing Campaign

Ireland's first toy sharing platform, established in Cork last year, has launched an innovative campaign encouraging families to share school bags and equipment ahead of the new term, offering relief from rising back-to-school expenses whilst promoting environmental sustainability.

The Toy Library's Back-to-School campaign invites families across Ireland to photograph and list pre-owned school bags, pencil cases and other equipment in good condition on their free website. Using geo-location technology, parents can then find and request items in their locality or anywhere across the country for collection.

The initiative comes at a crucial time as families face mounting pressure from back-to-school costs, traditionally one of the most expensive periods for parents. The platform operates entirely free of charge, removing financial barriers to participation.

Since launching in Cork in June 2024, The Toy Library has achieved remarkable environmental impact. Their first annual social impact report reveals that 2,480 families have participated in the scheme, recirculating 2,282 toys and preventing 1,700 kilograms of plastic from entering landfill. This represents approximately €37,000 worth of toys given new life through the sharing economy.

Giorgia Anile, Founder of The Toy Library, said:

"The cost of the back to school period is always challenging for parents. The Toy Library's Back-To-School campaign offers a solution where families can donate pre-loved bags or pencil cases which other children can choose from on our website."

"The success of The Toy Library this past year pushed me to look at new ways in which parents can save money and also contribute to saving the environment. Our mission has been to redefine consumption by providing sustainable and affordable practices. This approach saves money and encourages children to swap, borrow and reuse, which is a vitally important message for the future."

The social enterprise, born in the Rebel County, targets multiple challenges simultaneously: reducing the environmental impact of plastic toys, providing affordable alternatives for families, and ensuring all children have access to play experiences regardless of economic circumstances.

Beyond the online platform, The Toy Library organises monthly Swap & Play events throughout Ireland. The next gathering will take place at Ashbourne Community Centre in County Meath on 9 August from 11am to 2pm, offering families a chance to exchange items in person whilst children enjoy play activities.

The Back-to-School campaign represents a natural evolution of The Toy Library's mission, extending the sharing economy model from toys to essential school equipment. As uniform costs and stationery prices continue to rise, the initiative offers practical relief whilst teaching children valuable lessons about sustainability and community sharing.

Families interested in participating can visit the dedicated campaign page at https://www.thetoylibrary.ie/p/back-to-schoolto list items or browse available school equipment. The platform's user-friendly interface makes it simple to upload photos and arrange collections with other local families.

The Toy Library maintains an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Mastodon, where they share updates about upcoming events and success stories from participating families.