Timber vs. Plastic Playgrounds: What the Research Actually Says

Jac Robinson
Nov 10
8 min read

Updated: Nov 10

by Jac Robinson

A young child climbing the ladder of a timber playground structure

When councils, schools, and communities invest in playground infrastructure, material selection is a key decision to make. There is a lot of conflicting information out there, and as a business built around both education and evidence-based design, we wanted to set the record straight on what the research says – because the most important thing is the children who we’re building and buying for.

Durability & Longevity - Beyond the Marketing Claims

Timber

Native Australian hardwoods have evolved over millions of years to handle the conditions that our harsh country throws at them – so it should be no surprise that they make a great playground material. Species selection is incredibly important for durability and longevity, and at Timber Creations we work primarily with:

White Cypress (Callitris columellaris / Callitris glaucophylla): a great lightweight timber for playgrounds as it is highly durable (Class 1-2 Durability Rating), not susceptible to Lyctid Borer, resistant to termites, and has an extremely low shrinkage rating.
Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis): a strong and durable hardwood timber (Class 1 Durability Rating), not susceptible to Lyctid Borer, resistant to termites, marine borer resistant up to 40 years, and is naturally fire resistant!
Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon): a perfect timber for structural applications (Class 1 Durability Rating), not susceptible to Lyctid Borer, resistant to termites and has great long term resistance to extreme weather.

Research shows that these hardwoods maintain structural integrity in the outdoors for 15 to 25 years (Kutnik et al., 2020), and Australian species often exceed expectations due to their natural density and oil content. Older specimens have dense growth rings providing much better durability than plantation timber – and we assess this at the yard prior to processing, to ensure we are only using quality pieces.

All Timber Creations playgrounds come with a 10-year warranty, with an agreed maintenance schedule. The expectation is that with proper care, a timber playground will last significantly longer than this, but our philosophy is to continue to update and modify our playgrounds after 10 years – and it’s this variety which holds children’s interest as they grow up amongst the play space.

Plastic

The reality of plastic is that our harsh Australian sun is too harsh, and plastic does not fare well under extreme UV exposure. It’s this prolonged and repetitive exposure to the elements which causes degradation, colour fading, splitting and warping across plastics.

Since our temperature can quite easily cycle from -5°C to 45°C+ in some regions, this can also make plastic brittle. Not to mention the difficulties in repairing and the need for full replacement in some cases – and this isn’t even taking into consideration what happens to these “broken elements” at their end of life…

A school, featuring a decorative timber log in the shape of a snake with carved scales and it's mouth open.

Child Development - Why Material Choice Matters

Sensory Benefits

Research proves that sensory-rich nature-based environments help children transform the perceptual world into a conceptual world (Boxberger & Reimers, 2019). It’s these sensory experiences, combined with a variety of materials, textures and colours, which give children the challenges needed to improve across multiple developmental areas (Fjørtoft, 2004).

If we look at Blackbutt, with its pale colour, beautiful grain variations and smooth but tactile texture, it’s fantastic for sensory feedback. White Cyprus has a lovely aromatic scent, with warmer honey tones, a darker grain and a naturally oily surface that’s unique, plus the wonderful natural shapes require no processing. Red Ironbark is also a very beautiful timber, with heartwood colours ranging from a deep red to red-brown, and a distinctive yellow sapwood. It blends seamlessly in outdoor environments emulating any surrounding trees.

Aesthetic Authenticity

Natural elements support imagination in ways that pre-defined synthetic pieces cannot. Logs can become a sleeping dragon, or a boat, or just a balance beam – depending on the child’s imagination in that very moment.

A study into open-ended play shows that natural materials with ambiguous purposes consistently support more creative and sustained play styles over prescriptive and manufactured alternatives (Nicholson, 1971; Kiewra & Veselack, 2016). A synthetic car is only ever a car; however, a timber log is as limitless as the imagination of a child!

Nature in Urban Australia

Natural elements can be rare in urban settings, so when kids in our cities interact with timber during play, they are building a valuable relationship with Australian ecology. They are unconsciously learning about the living world, and it’s this connection to place and ecology that is becoming increasingly important as our children spend less time outdoors in natural environments.

The review by Fyfe-Johnson et al (2021) shows that there are a massive 98 positive child development outcomes as a result of nature play, across cognitive, social, physical and emotional areas. Just a few of the benefits found were reduced stress, improved emotional regulation, improved attention span and focus, enhanced creativity and problem-solving skills, and development of an awareness of environmental stewardship from this exposure to natural materials.

A young child sitting in a timber throne, talknig to her imaginary royal court!

Environmental Impact and Health Concerns

The Microplastics Epidemic

With microplastics being found in some of the most remote areas of the world, it makes sense that our playgrounds are contaminated with it. A study published in Science of the Total Environment found that playgrounds contain higher concentrations of microplastics than other parts of urban parks, with plastic play structures being the contributing factor (Koutnik, V. S., et al., 2022).

Unfortunately microplastic presence isn’t limited to our natural world, they’re also found throughout the human body. Research shows that microplastics cause cell and DNA damage, leading to metabolic disorders and organ and nervous system damage (Yong et al., 2020). The most concerning research however is that infants have been shown to have 10-20 times higher amounts of microplastics in their feces compared to adults, which suggests that exposure rates during early childhood are increasing (Kutralam-Muniasamy et al., 2023).

Our conditions here in Australia only amplify these concerns, because intense UV exposure causes plastic to break down quicker, and higher surface temperatures cause plastic to release faster. Long term health studies are only just being undertaken, but the initial precautions suggest that minimising exposure to any materials releasing microplastics is in our children’s best interests.

Environmental Lifecycle

We often only think about the environmental benefits of the “Use Phase” of a timber playground, so let’s look at extraction, processing, transport and end of life, because the entire process can have an impact upon our beautiful earth.

We source our trees from development sites, meaning the trees have long been slated for removal, as opposed to impacting our beautiful forests. Local sourcing our timber reduces transport emissions, and our minimal processing and milling on site uses significantly less energy than that of plastic production. Then, at the end of the life of a Timber Creations playground, the timber will simply biodegrade - supporting a true circular economy and enriching the earth.

Plastic equipment begins with petroleum extraction, requires high energy manufacturing, often accumulates shipping emissions from Asia or Europe, releases microplastics over its lifespan and offers limited recycling options. Even recycled plastics, which claim to be more sustainable and circular, will continue releasing microplastics into our environment - It’s just not comparable environmentally.

Embodied Carbon

Sequestering or storing carbon is one of the most important and valuable climate services that nature offers us, and a mature Australian hardwood tree contains hundreds of kilograms of CO2 locked inside of its wood – thanks for your service!

The carbon that our trees have been storing for 50-plus years remains trapped in the timber throughout the playground's life, and beyond. This is worlds apart from plastic equipment which has a similar lifespan, but has added emissions from production, transport and most importantly disposal. At end of life a timber playground can be composted, repurposed or allowed to biodegrade naturally – rather than spending centuries in landfill.

A timber playground that is shaped like a boat, including masts and a ships wheel.

The Honest Comparison

The Advantages of Plastic

As this is a true balanced analysis, we must acknowledge that plastic offers advantages for certain applications.

Plastic can offer a lower initial purchase price – although the lifecycle costs tell a completely different story. Plastic can also maintain consistent colour through the lifespan, as opposed to timber, even though fading does occur. Some synthetic equipment elements require less maintenance than timber, especially in the first few years following installation, and the lighter weight of plastic components are great in areas where load-bearing capacity is limited or if re-location is required.

The Advantages of Timber

Australian hardwoods have significant advantages across the criteria that truly matters for a playground’s success.

They deal well with UV exposure and changes in humidity, and thermal expansion is lower, plus surface temperatures remain cooler - these species have evolved over millennia to deal with the climate in which the playgrounds are installed in.

Natural aesthetics support imaginative and creative play, rather than prescriptive narratives through cartoon-like manufactured forms. They also give our children that superior sensory experience and connection to Australian ecology – and don’t forget - no microplastic exposure!

Rescuing timber from developmental waste streams, that is destined for removal, lowers disposal costs and environmental impacts, and individual components can be easily and quickly replaced, updated, reshaped and repaired.

Genuine community pride can be found through choosing locally made playgrounds, built with truly sustainable materials that align with stated environmental values.

It also supports local trades and craftspeople – promoting diverse skillsets and keeping manufacturing alive here in Australia. Plus, your play space is a true piece of local art. The shapes of the trees dictate what they become – interesting knobbly bumps on the timber become hand holds or the facial features of an imaginary creature. You are purchasing a truly unique and individual piece of artwork.

The Cost Reality

Initial purchase price is only one component of the full lifecycle cost. When you take into consideration replacement frequency, disposal costs, heat effect mitigation, community appeal, artistic value, usage rates and the economic multiplier effects of supporting local – the initial price difference disappears over the lifetime of the playground. Remember, environmental and community benefits compound, rather than depreciate!

A timber fort with a climbing ramp and rope, set at the waterfront.

Questions for Decision-Makers

Questions to consider:

What are our sustainability commitments?
Does this align with our duty of care regarding emerging microplastics health research?
What message does our material choice send to the community and our children?
What do we need for year-round usability?
What are the true lifecycle costs?
How does this support our educational mission?
Does this support our local economy?

Key considerations:

Long-term value vs. short-term cost
Alignment with community values
Integration with existing natural spaces
Maintenance capacity and skills

A child cheekily peeking out of the porthole of a timber playground that is nautically themed.

Conclusion: Let the Research Guide Your Choice

Timber Creations was founded by and continues to be run by a team of educators – so we're not anti-plastic because we're pro-timber, we're pro-evidence.

The peer-reviewed research on child development, materials science, and environmental health consistently points toward natural materials being the better choice for children, communities, and our planet. Using Australian hardwoods means we're giving proven materials a second life, while creating play spaces that support healthy development and environmental responsibility.

Does timber require thoughtful design and appropriate maintenance? Yes, but the benefits for children's development, their health, and the environment are worth it.