Steel Production.” American Iron and Steel Institute, 16 Nov. 2021, https://www.steel.org/steel-technology/steel-production/. By simply looking at the name, you’d likely guess these are squishy marshmallows, and you wouldn’t be that far off (except they’re not edible). Squishmallows have been around since 2017 and are cute plush toys that can double as a pillow as they’re super huggable and cuddly. In fact, almost every review will tell you just how unbelievably soft and squishy (marshmallow-like!) these toys are, and they’re also machine washable so you can keep even the most loved Squishmallow looking fresh and clean. Each Squishmallow has its own name and storyline and there are various themes, including food, sea life, fantasy, as well as partnerships with brands like Disney and Sanrio. What are the Squishmallow sizes? There are also other sizes of Squishmallows at different prices. For example, there are some which have been made from more expensive materials; these include diamonds and other precious stones like gold or silver rings! Fruit Squishmallows are available in one size.

Aside from polyester and spandex, Squishmallows are not manufactured with many other materials. The individual tags on each product are made of paper, with paper’s main raw material being trees, and are fastened to the product with plastic, with plastic’s main raw materials being natural gas, crude oil, cellulose, and salt (AZo Materials). The brand’s woven tags are polyester-based, made with polyethylene terephthalate (American Law Label). The thread used to bring the product together is likely a spandex or polyester thread, bringing even more polyurethane or polyethylene terephthalate into the manufacturing process. Squishmallows are displayed in stores on shelves or in bins; they are not often sold in boxes or bags, so no other raw materials go into their production once they are transported to retailers. One of the raw materials that makes up squishmallows is polyester. Polyester fabric is described as a smooth, strong and durable man-made synthetic fabric made from petroleum-based synthetic fibers. These types of fibers are non-biodegradable and they end up in landfills and our oceans. Other materials used in the production of polyester are polyethylene terephthalate, resin, fiberglass. Every stage of production releases carbon dioxide, and some acid gasses hydrogen chloride, and unstable compound waste. When polyester is manufactured in factories , the production requires high levels of heat, various chemicals, and dyes.. In the different stages of manufacturing coal, air, water, and petroleum are used. Another raw material used to make squishmallows would be spandex. Spandex fiber is created with prepolymers made through a chemical reaction from polyol (macroglycol) and isocyanate. U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.” Waste-to-Energy (MSW) in Depth - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/biomass/waste-to-energy-in-depth.php. www.fibre2fashion.com. “Significance of Spandex Fibres: Elastane Fabrics.” Fibre2Fashion, https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/7192/spandex-the-gen-next-fibre#:~:text=Spandexis%20made%20of%20synthetic%20polymer,laboratory%20in%201959%2C%20in%20Virginia. The reuse and recycling aspects of a Squishmallow’s life cycle are interesting mainly due to their committed and creative fan base. The stuffed animals are often donated to or bought again by customizers, who can use a variety of materials to change a Squishmallow’s appearance. One of the most common materials used in customization is embroidery thread, also known as stranded cotton, which can be made of cotton, silk, linen, rayon, or polyester. Cotton itself is the raw material for the consequent textile, created by spinning the mature fibers of the cotton plant. Silk is made by boiling the cocoons of silkworms and extracting its silk fibers. Linen’s raw material is flax fibers that originate from the stem of the flax plant (World Linen). Rayon is a semi-synthetic material created with cellulose sourced from wood pulp and treated with certain chemicals (Who What Wear). Each type of thread has different strengths and properties that people can use for different types of Squishmallow customization. This reuse of one base product extends its longevity, and “The longer the toy is in use, the smaller its environmental impact becomes” (Robertson and Klimas 7).Squishmallows are squashy plush kids' toys that come in a range of sizes, and there are over 800 different characters to choose from. Can You Recycle Stuffed Animals?” Conserve Energy Future, https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/can-you-recycle-stuffed-animals.php.

Avocado Squishmallow is a popular squish able. It’s made of soft, huggable material that makes it easy to squeeze and hold in your hand. This squishmallow is green on one side and orange on the other, with an avocado face on top. She has a beautiful bow too on her head! Alex Assoune, “The Truth About Recycled Polyester Fabric Sustainability” http://www.panaprium.com/blogs/i/recycled-polyester-fabric Robertson, Madeline R., and Christie Klimas. “A Playful Life Cycle Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Children's Toys.” DePaul Discoveries, vol. 8, no. 1, 2019, p. 15, https://via.library.depaul.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1141&context=depaul-disc. These Squishmallows 2022 come in all sorts of shapes and sizes—some are even shaped like balls! The best part about these toys is that they can be played with on their own or combined with other sets for even more fun! Avocado Squishmallow. Marsh, Jacob. “How Many Watts Does a Washing Machine Use?: Energysage.” EnergySage Blog, EnergySage, 29 Nov. 2022, https://news.energysage.com/how-many-watts-does-a-washing-machine-use/#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20washers%20use%20400,to%20run%20for%20a%20year.Embroidery Floss – Thread Types, Colors, and Uses.” CreateForLess, https://www.createforless.com/buying-guides/crochet-knitting-and-other-needlework/embroidery-floss-cotton-dmc-six-strand-variegated-more.aspx. But Disney characters and Hello Kitty Squishmallows are always popular - along with squads such as the fantasy squad and fruit squad.

Chlorine & Caustic Soda Key Raw Materials for Chemicals Intermediates Industry.” Vencorex, https://www.vencorex.com/application/chemicals-intermediates/. Christina Dang, “Spandex is Elastic but the Environment is Not” August 10, 2022 https://www.andher.us/blogs/news/spandex

Material Flows of Polyurethane in the United States. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.1c03654. In conclusion, the embodied energy that goes through the life cycle of a Squishmallow is increasingly harmful to the environment and its natural resources. Its production, manufacturing, and transportation uses nonrenewable forms of energy which has detrimental and lasting effects. The high amounts of energy usage applied to the stuffed animals far outweigh its cute appearance and overall value that it brings to people. If it continues to increase in popularity, this cycle will only repeat itself at a larger and faster scale with Squishmallows filling up landfills and the air we breathe. Avocado Squishmallow was created by Joey (the only person who knows how to make these things). He’s been making them for years now, and he’ll always be here if you need him. Bear Squishmallow.