Once upon a time, folks didn’t think much about what their sex toys were made of. Not coincidentally, sex shops often smelled like plastic shower curtains.
Fortunately for everyone, times have changed. Today’s manufacturers and consumers are material-savvy, giving rise to pleasure products that are safe to use, beautiful to look at, high-quality and even environmentally responsible. In this article, we are going to take a look at the evolution of sex toy materials and some of the amazing innovations that have come out of the material awareness movement.
Today’s shoppers are more aware than ever about what they put on and in their bodies.
The Rise of ‘Body-Safe’ Toys
In recent years, an overarching theme in toy material trends has been “body safety.” What does this mean?
Back when sex toys were considered “novelty” devices and most adult stores still had sticky floors, there were some questionable materials being used. That shower curtain smell, and oily deterioration of toys that touched each other in a user’s drawer, were the result of subpar materials that allowed for cheap manufacturing and budget pricing.
Meanwhile, soft and squishy toys that were clear, bright-colored or meant to look like a human body part were made of porous materials that could trap bacteria in between uses, making them impossible to sterilize or even keep fully clean.
Over the past two decades, as sex toy use has become destigmatized, the industry overall has shifted to treating pleasure products as items designed for wellness and self-care, rather than a quick novelty thrill. This, along with increased consumer awareness, is a major reason why product manufacturers now use nonporous materials like silicone, ABS plastic, steel and glass as the standard.
The Silicone Revolution
No material has played a bigger role in the evolution of the sex toy industry than silicone. This incredibly versatile nonporous wonder material can be used to make toys of varying textures, from super firm to soft and squishy. It makes it possible for toys to feature more intricate designs. It is also incredibly durable; with proper care, silicone toys can last a lifetime.
Perhaps most significantly, silicone can lend toys a lifelike feel. Its popularity has led to tremendous advancement in products with the look and feel of real human anatomy. Such products have always been popular, but in the past they were often made of mystery materials that, as mentioned above, were difficult to care for and keep clean.
Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Options
For today’s consumers, “sustainable” has become more than just a buzzword. Sustainability and eco-friendliness matter to shoppers, and manufacturers have come to recognize that creating eco-friendly products is a smart business move. In practice, this can involve making products with plant-based plastics and rubbers.
Manufacturers are also making efforts to use recycled materials, minimize packaging to reduce plastic waste, use less energy and generate fewer greenhouse gases in the manufacturing process.
Navigating Consumer Preferences
Today’s shoppers are more aware than ever about what they put on and in their bodies, and many of them want toys made of certain materials and produced using certain manufacturing processes. Others need more guidance. How can you best navigate your shoppers’ preferences?
As is often the case, the answer comes from asking questions, listening and responding to their feedback and requests. What are their priorities? Is softness or hygiene super important, making silicone the best bet? Or is price the deciding factor, making ABS plastic a better choice? Do they want to explore temperature play, in which case steel and glass are good options, or do they want hyperrealism, leading us back to silicone?
By asking the right questions, listening to your customers and staying on top of your product knowledge, you’ll be able to match shoppers with the material that’s right for their needs.
Eric Lee is the COO of Blush, a global manufacturer of pleasure products.
