HappyMais® is an ecological toy made from Mater-Bi™, a natural GM-free corn starch material that is totally biodegradable and compostable.

HappyMais® is an ethical toy - for every box sold, manufacturer Ecotoys Srl., makes a donation to the “Fondo per la Terra” (Earth Fund Association), which protects and conserves large areas of tropical rain forest. Depending on the size of the box, from 10 up to 250 square metres of forest will be protected.

HappyMais® products have achieved the strictest certifications for safety and quality, according to European Directive 88/378/EEC amended by Council to 93/68 EEC 22 July 1993 and certified according to EN71 for toy safety. For the UK, HappyMais products are also certified compliant with The Toy (Safety) Regulations 1995.

  How to use HappyMais®
HappyMais® is a new toy, made from a simple and revolutionary  natural material for creative learning… or just to have fun with at home. Just moisten a piece of HappyMais® and stick it together. Make 2D or 3D objects… the only limit is your imagination. You can cut it into smaller pieces and shape it with your hands, for a greater range of possibilities.

Many ways of using HappyMais®

You can use HappyMais® to make nice flowers, animals, planes, boats, dinosaurs…almost anything you can think of.

HappyMais® is highly versatile, try cutting it with a pair of round-tipped scissors to make the tiniest details for your creations. Mould it with your hands,… you can even grate it to obtain special effects like snow, sand or make fantastic colour mixtures! The starch in HappyMais® works as a natural adhesive.

Once moistened, the pieces will stick together or be adhered to other surfaces like glass, wood, cardboard or paper. You can create puzzles, build houses or castles (by means of an old cardboard box) or use the ideas of the templates shown in the album contained in certain HappyMais® boxes. You can stick HappyMais® to window panes, in order to create magic Christmas decorations, for example…remember to stick it on dry glass and for small children, parents should supervise.

You can put it on to the thin branches of deciduous trees, to create winter blossom or miniature trees! You can also moisten a piece of HappyMais® and rub it on a sheet of paper to paint a picture! It will release its colour and you will be able to create a very special water-colour painting. Or, you can try dissolving some in a little water to make watercolours or use it as a painting pad.

HappyMais® is a great teaching resource that is successfully employed in schools, playgroups, workplace or shopping crèches, at special educational events and awareness days focusing on ecological and environmental issues. See www.ecotoys.it for further ideas about how to use HappyMais® in the learning process.

What about a “HappyMais birthday party”! Supervised by an adult, give every child a damp sponge and some HappyMais®. and they will spend many hours making nice coloured toys, which they will then take home after having the greatest ever fun!

  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  Does HappyMais stain?
Yes. Protect clothing and avoid contact with fabrics like carpets and upholstery. Use sheets of newspaper to protect surfaces or select a table that will easily wipe clean.
HappyMais® may stain fabrics , but as it contains food dyes, soaking overnight prior to a low temperature wash will usually remove it. Use a damp sponge rather than your tongue, to moisten HappyMais® and to avoid colouration. Wash hands and fingers with warm water and soap.

  Can HappyMais® be used again?
It depends on how much it has been used and if the pieces are intact. If stuck on paper, it cannot be re-used. You can put all the waste from HappyMais® pieces into a compost bin or dig into the soil in the garden; it is completely biodegradable,
compostable and harmless.

  How much shall I wet HappyMais®?
To use HappyMais at its best, just dampen it a little – never too wet! Use a damp sponge to stick the pieces of HappyMais® to the surface you wish to decorate. Remember: if HappyMais® is too wet, it dissolves and you cannot use it.

  How are forests protected by buying a single box of HappyMais®?
Approximately 10 square metres of tropical rain forest are protected by every sale of a box of 2.5 litres of HappyMais®. Quarterly donations are made by manufacturer Ecotoys to “Fondo per la Terra” (Earth Fund Association).