Community Playthings x Garnica: Lightweight and Safe Plywood for Kids' Furniture

Community Playthings x Garnica: Lightweight and Safe Plywood for Children’s Furniture

Reinforced Globulus Maple, the Garnica plywood that meets the needs of educational spaces worldwide.

Faced with the need to find an alternative to restricted sources of birch plywood, Community Playthings began a collaboration with Garnica to explore different solutions. The goal was to identify a sustainable, technically equivalent option that meets the standards required in educational furniture.

Community Playthings is a company specializing in wooden furniture and toys for preschools and educational settings. Based in the United Kingdom with a European presence, it has over 70 years of experience designing durable, safe, and functional products aimed at fostering independence, creativity, and learning through play.

Project Inspiration

Faced with the need to find an alternative to restricted sources of birch plywood, Community Playthings started a collaboration with Garnica to evaluate different solutions. Throughout the process, various products were tested until the most suitable one was found for their demanding CNC machining processes and safety standards for children's use.

Ultimately, Reinforced Globulus Maple was selected a technical multi-ply panel offering the optimal combination of strength, lightness, aesthetic finish, and versatility.

Project Details

Community Playthings primarily uses 12 mm panels, as well as 6, 9, and 18 mm thicknesses, which are CNC machined to manufacture sofas, shelves, play panels, and modular systems used in schools.

• Reinforced Globulus Maple: Reinforced multi-ply panel with an excellent strength-to-weight ratio.

• Available in varnished version: Ready-to-use finish with certified, child-safe varnish for educational furniture.

• CNC compatible: Allows precise cuts and joints without the need for edge finishing.

Outcome

Thanks to Garnica plywood, Community Playthings has been able to maintain its high standards in designing furniture for educational environments, even amid international supply uncertainties. The clean aesthetic of maple wood and the functionality of European poplar help uphold their strict technical and pedagogical requirements.

Simeon Ben-Eliezer, Supply Chain Manager at Community Playthings:

“We are extremely satisfied with the quality of the plywood and the customer service provided by Garnica, and we look forward to continuing a long-term partnership with them.”

This project reinforces poplar plywood’s role as a key material for creating safe, durable, and stimulating environments in schools and daycare centers.

Need a similar solution? Contact us and discover how Garnica can help shape your next plywood-based project.