FAQ

PHA stands for polyhydroxyalkanoate, a biopolymer produced naturally by microorganisms, plants, and even humans! It performs like conventional plastic but biodegrades completely in natural environments when eventually disposed of, leaving no microplastics behind.

It reflects our belief that materials should work with the earth, not against it. Our mission is to replace petroleum plastics with naturally regenerative, high-performance biopolymers. YOPP = You Omit Polluting Plastics 

Most sandbox toys are made from conventional petroleum-based plastic that sheds microplastics, contains potentially harmful additives, and persists in landfills for 500+ years. YOPP® is different. The YOPP® Sandbox Toy Set is made from PHA, a biopolymer naturally produced by microorganisms, making it one of the only truly eco-friendly sandbox toys on the market. It's biobased, non-toxic, and biodegrades completely in natural environments when eventually disposed of. No petroleum. No microplastics. Nothing left behind.

Yes. YOPP® is made from PHA, a biopolymer that contains no petroleum derivatives and no toxic additives. Unlike many products that claim to be non-toxic without independent verification, YOPP® is a non-toxic sandbox toys for kids at the material level. The colorants used in every piece are eco-friendly and nature inspired. No BPAs, phthalates, or PVC — ever.

Absolutely. The YOPP® Sandbox Toy Set is completely BPA free and goes far beyond that standard. While many brands market BPA free sandbox toys as the benchmark for safety, BPA is just one of many potentially harmful compounds found in conventional plastic. YOPP® contains no BPAs, no phthalates, no PVC, and no petroleum-based ingredients of any kind. It's one of the most thoroughly non-toxic children's products available today.

The YOPP® Sandbox Toy Set includes three pieces — a bucket, scoop, and sifter — packaged in a compact 5.5-inch cube that fits easily in any beach bag. Everything your little builder needs for sandcastles, beach days, and backyard adventures. All three pieces are made from YOPP® PHA material — making this one of the only complete eco-friendly sandbox toy sets where every single piece is biobased and biodegradable.

Yes. YOPP® is made from PHA, a non-toxic material with no BPAs, phthalates, PVC, or petroleum. It has no known harmful breakdown products and is produced through sustainable biomanufacturing in the U.S.

The YOPP® Sandbox Toy Set is designed for children aged 2 and up. The 3-piece set — bucket, scoop, and sifter — is sized for little hands and built to withstand years of real outdoor play. As one of the few truly non-toxic sandbox toys for kids in this age range, YOPP® gives parents peace of mind knowing that what their toddler is touching, mouthing, and playing with every day is safe at the material level, not just on the surface.

YOPP® pellets and products are produced through biomanufacturing in the United States by Mango Materials.

We ship the YOPP PHA pellets globally. 

Yes. Please contact us.

All major credit cards, Shop Pay, PayPal, and invoicing for B2B orders. 

PHA doesn’t come from fossil fuels, it comes from nature. It can be grown through fermentation and the material can break down into water and CO₂ or CH4 through microbial activity (enzymatic attack) — without leaving microplastics behind. 

Anything typically made from polypropylene or polyethylene: injection-molded parts like consumer goods, toys, beauty and similar packaging, film for food service items, general packaging and agricultural products, coatings, 3D printing and more. 

Yes. PHA is non-toxic, BPA-free, and suited for products intended for children or food handling. 

When eventually disposed of in a natural environment, YOPP® PHA material is consumed by naturally occurring microorganisms and broken down completely into water, CO2, and biomass. No toxic residue. No microplastic fragments. No trace. Unlike conventional plastic toys that persist in landfills for 500+ years and break down into microplastics that enter soil, water, and food chains, YOPP® closes the loop completely. It is one of the only biodegradable kids toys where end of life is genuinely part of the design — not an afterthought.

No. This is one of the most common questions we receive. PHA is stable during normal use. Biodegradation requires specific microbial conditions — active soil microorganisms, moisture, and time — that are not present during typical outdoor play. Your YOPP® Sandbox Toy Set is built to last for years of real outdoor adventures. The biodegradation only occurs when the material is eventually disposed of in a natural environment. Your child gets years of play. The planet gets a material that gives back when playtime is done.

Yes, PHA can be prone to enzymatic attack by microorganisms that naturally live in marine environments—this is one of its strongest environmental advantages. 

Biodegradation speed depends on thickness, temperature, environment, and a few other factors. For reference, a thin film of PHA in a 37 deg C anaerobic digestor environment can completely biodegrade in less than 2 weeks.

No. PHA breaks down through microbial digestion into CO₂ or CH₄, water, and biomass—no polluting microplastics remain. 

PHA production generally results in a significantly reduced carbon footprint due to regenerative feedstocks and methane conversion pathways. 

PHA can break down in modern landfills, where leachate is cycled and biodegradation is controlled, helping reduce long-term plastic persistence. 

Yes. Many PHA materials meet ASTM D6400, EN 13432, and marine biodegradability certifications depending on grade and format.