ABOUT US
Our mission is to provide simple, natural learning materials that foster creativity and a deep connection to the environment. We believe that being mindful about what we place in a child’s space shapes not only how they play, but how they learn to care for the world around them.
We believe in a child’s right to a sustainable future, which is why we are highly selective of the material we use.
Cork is a regenerative resource that supports healthy forests and wildlife conservation. It is harvested from the outer bark of the cork oak without cutting down the tree. When harvested responsibly every nine years, cork oak trees can live for 200–300 years and absorb more than three times as much carbon dioxide as unharvested trees.
By choosing Mio Reggio materials, children engage with a soft, natural, regenerative resource that supports environmental health, cork forest ecosystems, and wildlife conservation—while fostering a meaningful connection to nature.
Our Why
Plastic toys contribute significantly to global plastic waste. An estimated 80% of plastic toys cannot be recycled, adding to the more than 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste currently in landfills. By 2050, plastic in the oceans is projected to outweigh marine life. Microplastics have already been detected in our water, air, food systems, and even in the human body.
Beyond environmental concerns, plastic toys may also pose potential health risks. A report by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), found that 25% of children’s toys contain harmful chemicals. These chemical additives are often used to achieve specific levels of hardness or flexibility in plastic products. Children are particularly sensitive to chemical exposure due to their rapid growth, higher metabolic rates, and greater surface area relative to body weight.
Mio Reggio offers a thoughtful alternative by using regenerative, non-toxic materials that support children’s development while reducing environmental impact.
Choosing plastic-free play is
more important than ever.
By reducing plastic in our lives, we actively work towards creating a world that is healthier for our children.
About the Founder
Hi, I’m Monica!
I have worked in the early childhood education field for over 20 years. I earned a master’s degree in international education from NYU and have spent much of my career in program management and curriculum design, with a focus on humane education, Reggio Emilia–inspired learning environments, social-emotional development, and 21st-century learning. Through my work, I identified a gap in the market and a growing need for regenerative play materials — toys that respect both the natural world and the whole child.
With Italian roots, I felt a natural connection to the Reggio Emilia approach and its core values of creativity, collaboration, and community. At its heart, this philosophy calls for being purposeful and intentional in our choices — especially those that shape a child’s earliest experiences.
Mio Reggio is guided by a simple belief: the materials we offer children matter — in how they are made, the values they reflect, and where they ultimately end up. I’m so glad you found us and warmly welcome you to the Mio Reggio community.
Tanti Grazie,
Monica
Whereas a sustainable firm seeks merely to reduce its ecological footprint, a
regenerative company boldly seeks to increase its socio-ecological handprint—by
restoring the health of individuals, communities and the planet.
– Greg Norris, Harvard professor