Frequent asked questions

NATURAL RUBBER, OUR RAW ORGANIC MATERIAL

How is Sophie la girafe made?

Sophie la girafe is made using 100% natural rubber. To “decorate” her, we use a paint composed of 100% natural rubber that is mixed with natural pigments. Discover the secrets behind how she is made:



What is natural rubber?

100% natural rubber, a pure, living material, is the very essence of a commitment to quality. Just like coffee, several varieties of natural rubber exist, each having different properties. In the interest of quality and safety, the rubber variety we have selected meets very strict mechanical and chemical requirements. It makes it possible to create sturdy, soft and pleasant to the touch products while ensuring suppleness and safety for Baby. The same type of rubber is most notably used in the fabrication of surgical gloves and condoms. Like any natural material, it changes over time.



What are the qualities of the natural rubber used for Sophie la girafe?

Sourced from hevea trees, natural rubber is endowed with exceptional properties, specifically flexible resistance to strong stresses. This is the reason why it is used in the fabrication of products that must meet high quality requirements. It is also waterproof, soft and pleasant to the touch.



Where does the natural rubber used for Sophie la girafe fabrication come from?

Natural rubber comes from the hevea trees. Each morning, at dawn, traditional growers extract the rubber from the tree by tapping its bark. The rubber tree plantations that we use to produce Sophie la girafe have been established in Malaysia for decades. True to our vision and values, we place great importance on the way it is cultivated.



What is the difference between natural rubber and plastic?

Natural rubber is a material of botanical origin, while plastic is a material of primarily synthetic petrochemical origin. For its part, Sophie la girafe is made from 100% natural rubber sourced from rubber trees (Hevea).



What type of paint is used to?

The paints used on Sophie la girafe are composed of 100% natural rubber (the same as the one used for the fabrication of Sophie la girafe) and natural pigments. Once these two materials are mixed by the operator, they form the food-grade "paint" that is used to decorate Sophie la girafe. The same brown pigment is applied to make the spots, ears, horns and hoofs; the pink pigment to make the mouth and cheeks; and finally, the black pigment for the eyes.



Why can the colours be different from one Sophie la girafe to another?

All our giraffes are hand-painted. Their colour differs according to the quantity of material, the shade of the natural pigment and the actions of our operators in our workshops. Each Sophie la girafe is therefore unique.



TAKING CARE OF MY SOPHIE LA GIRAFE

How is Sophie la girafe made?

Sophie la girafe is made using 100% natural rubber. To “decorate” her, we use a paint composed of 100% natural rubber that is mixed with natural pigments. Discover the secrets behind how she is made:



What is natural rubber?

100% natural rubber, a pure, living material, is the very essence of a commitment to quality. Just like coffee, several varieties of natural rubber exist, each having different properties. In the interest of quality and safety, the rubber variety we have selected meets very strict mechanical and chemical requirements. It makes it possible to create sturdy, soft and pleasant to the touch products while ensuring suppleness and safety for Baby. The same type of rubber is most notably used in the fabrication of surgical gloves and condoms. Like any natural material, it changes over time.



What are the qualities of the natural rubber used for Sophie la girafe?

Sourced from hevea trees, natural rubber is endowed with exceptional properties, specifically flexible resistance to strong stresses. This is the reason why it is used in the fabrication of products that must meet high quality requirements. It is also waterproof, soft and pleasant to the touch.



Where does the natural rubber used for Sophie la girafe fabrication come from?

Natural rubber comes from the hevea trees. Each morning, at dawn, traditional growers extract the rubber from the tree by tapping its bark. The rubber tree plantations that we use to produce Sophie la girafe have been established in Malaysia for decades. True to our vision and values, we place great importance on the way it is cultivated.



What is the difference between natural rubber and plastic?

Natural rubber is a material of botanical origin, while plastic is a material of primarily synthetic petrochemical origin. For its part, Sophie la girafe is made from 100% natural rubber sourced from rubber trees (Hevea).



What type of paint is used to?

The paints used on Sophie la girafe are composed of 100% natural rubber (the same as the one used for the fabrication of Sophie la girafe) and natural pigments. Once these two materials are mixed by the operator, they form the food-grade "paint" that is used to decorate Sophie la girafe. The same brown pigment is applied to make the spots, ears, horns and hoofs; the pink pigment to make the mouth and cheeks; and finally, the black pigment for the eyes.



Why can the colours be different from one Sophie la girafe to another?

All our giraffes are hand-painted. Their colour differs according to the quantity of material, the shade of the natural pigment and the actions of our operators in our workshops. Each Sophie la girafe is therefore unique.



OUR QUALITY CONTROL APPROACH

Is Sophie la girafe a bath toy?

FALSE: Sophie la girafe is not a bath toy. Even if giraffes can swim, Sophie can't ;) For bath time, we offer other toys (made of natural rubber or plastic), that are specially designed to entertain your baby in the water.



Does Sophie la girafe contain mould?

FALSE: Sophie la girafe does not contain mould. Under normal product use, there is no reason for Sophie la girafe to contain or develop moulds. TRUE: When Sophie la girafe is improperly used (failure to comply with cleaning and/or usage instructions), it is possible for mould to develop inside the product if water remains stagnant within it. However, it is important to note that rubber, being a waterproof material, does not allow the transfer of bacteria between the product’s inner and outer surfaces.



Does Sophie contain nitrosamines?

FALSE: Sophie la girafe complies with current European and worldwide standards concerning nitrosamines and other substances. Please note that nitrosamines are encountered in our daily lives much more frequently than one might think (beer, meat, smoked fish, etc.).



Does Sophie la girafe contain BPA?

FALSE: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound contained in plastics, particularly in polycarbonates (PC) and in resins that neutralise corrosion (those that cover the interior of cans, tubes and tins). Because Sophie la girafe is made from 100% natural rubber, it does not contain Bisphenol A.



TRUE OR FALSE?

Is Sophie la girafe a bath toy?

FALSE: Sophie la girafe is not a bath toy. Even if giraffes can swim, Sophie can't ;) For bath time, we offer other toys (made of natural rubber or plastic), that are specially designed to entertain your baby in the water.



Does Sophie la girafe contain mould?

FALSE: Sophie la girafe does not contain mould. Under normal product use, there is no reason for Sophie la girafe to contain or develop moulds. TRUE: When Sophie la girafe is improperly used (failure to comply with cleaning and/or usage instructions), it is possible for mould to develop inside the product if water remains stagnant within it. However, it is important to note that rubber, being a waterproof material, does not allow the transfer of bacteria between the product’s inner and outer surfaces.



Does Sophie contain nitrosamines?

FALSE: Sophie la girafe complies with current European and worldwide standards concerning nitrosamines and other substances. Please note that nitrosamines are encountered in our daily lives much more frequently than one might think (beer, meat, smoked fish, etc.).



Does Sophie la girafe contain BPA?

FALSE: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound contained in plastics, particularly in polycarbonates (PC) and in resins that neutralise corrosion (those that cover the interior of cans, tubes and tins). Because Sophie la girafe is made from 100% natural rubber, it does not contain Bisphenol A.



If you have any other question about Sophie la girafe or our other products, feel free to contact us

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Sophie la girafe© : Copyright protected work (Decision of the Paris Court of Appeal of 30 June 2000).®