We are goki. High-quality wooden toys for 45 years
For 45 years, goki has stood for high-quality wooden toys that inspire children and make the world a little more colorful.
In 1981, Gerhard Gollnest and Fritz-Rüdiger Kiesel founded the company, which is now the largest toy company in Northern Germany. A team of over 250 dedicated people worldwide works every day to make childhood an adventure.
With more than 1,500 different products, goki is one of the most diverse suppliers in the toy industry. The heart of our range consists of our strong brands: goki with the product lines goki evolution, goki66 and goki baby, as well as the handcrafted wooden figures from HOLZTIGER.
Sustainability – We give back more than we take.
What began over 20 years ago is now an integral part of our culture: at the end of each year, we plant trees. And not just a few – but more than we take from the forest to manufacture our wooden toys. This creates a cycle that not only makes toys possible, but also allows the future to grow. But we think further. With our photovoltaic systems, we now generate more electricity than we consume at our locations each year. Responsibility has thus become a surplus of energy – a plus for children, nature, and future generations.
Because our position is clear: Those who work with wood bear responsibility for the forest. Those who produce for children bear responsibility for the future.
We act according to this principle – and have done so for many years. Every year, we give Schleswig-Holstein, the state with the least forest cover, a new forest: “For every newborn child, we plant a tree.” – Since 2004, over 460,000 beech, oak, and maple trees have already been planted. Our forest/tree planting initiatives help to reforest Germany’s forests* and make them more climate-stable. Vulnerable monocultures are transformed into mixed forests so they can withstand the demands of climate change.
*including in cooperation with Müller Handels GmbH & Co. KG
We plant the future. For children. For forests.
Wood is our most important raw material – and nature is our greatest responsibility. At goki, we manufacture wooden toys for children. That is why we actively advocate for healthy forests that will continue to provide habitat, raw materials, and space for adventure tomorrow.
Many spruce forests can no longer cope with the consequences of climate change. Drought, storms, and pests have destroyed large areas. What remains are bare soils without protection or diversity. This is precisely where our tree planting initiatives in Schleswig-Holstein come in.
Together with regional partners, we transform vulnerable monocultures into stable mixed forests. We plant site-appropriate tree species such as Norway maple, sweet chestnut, silver fir, yew, service tree, and wild cherry. This diversity strengthens the forest, protects the soil, and promotes biodiversity.
For us, this is more than sustainability. It is a promise to the next generation. Because everything we do, we do for children – and for a world in which they can grow up carefree.
We think toys further:
- Wood from sustainable, European forestry
- Our goal: To completely replace the four plastics PVC, PU, ABS, and PS.
- Development of circular products
Our brands stand for qualitative growth – in the ecological, social, and economic sense. The trees we plant are a gift to future generations. We cannot yet know who will use them one day, but we hope they will do so in our spirit.
goki becomes first toy company to receive German Sustainability Award
As the first toy company, we have been honored with the “German Sustainability Award 2024.” An independent expert jury recognized our commitment by awarding the German Sustainability Award, the most significant award of its kind in Europe. goki was honored as a pioneer of transformation in the toys and leisure goods industry with the 16th German Sustainability Award. Since 2008, Europe’s largest award for ecological and social commitment has showcased what Germany’s sustainability pioneers have to offer.
More information on the website www.nachhaltigkeitspreis.de.
Responsibility – Play. Learn. Grow.
“Everything we do, we do for children.” This statement is more than a motto for us – it is our daily motivation. At goki, the child is at the center: when playing, learning, and growing up. But our responsibility does not end at the factory gate. Children around the world deserve opportunities – for education, for a future, for a life full of possibilities. That is why we have been involved in developing countries for years, building schools where children can learn, laugh, and shape their dreams. Because education is the key to a better future. In this way, we combine what we do best – toys for today – with what matters tomorrow: giving children a foundation for a self-determined life.
This year, the 11th school was completed in Ghana, together with Arise e.V. And we continue our commitment!
More information about Arise e.V at www.arise-ev.de.
Children already attend schools here whose construction we supported:
Phu Le, Vietnam (2001) | Jaén, Peru (2002) | Villa San Javier, Colombia (2002) | Berdossou, Mali (2003 & 2005) | Negros, Philippines (2007 & 2009) Bupoto, Uganda (2011 & 2013 & 2013) | Kokrobite, Ghana (2025)
Quality & Safety – Made for children, designed with responsibility.
Toys should bring joy – and be safe.
For over 40 years, we have been developing toys for young explorers that make children’s hearts beat faster. Our goal: toys that promote imagination, creativity, and a spirit of discovery – with high play value and uncompromising safety.
That is why all our products undergo strict quality controls in our own laboratory. In addition, they are regularly tested by independent testing institutes to guarantee the highest safety standards. goki stands for quality, sustainability, and responsibility – for a colorful, fair, and safe childhood.
Our promise: Safety first
Children approach new things with curiosity and without preconceptions. That makes it all the more important that their toys are absolutely safe. Before any of our products leaves the warehouse, it is therefore thoroughly tested – far beyond legal requirements. In our own, modern testing laboratories, we subject every toy to intensive safety and quality controls. Chemical tests are additionally conducted by independent, accredited institutes. Thanks to decades of experience, high manufacturing expertise, and a sophisticated quality management system, we can guarantee: Our toys are safe – and remain so.
Safety through in-house production
Only those who know and control the entire supply chain can ensure quality in the long term. In our own factories in Germany and Europe, we guarantee not only the highest manufacturing standards, but also fair working conditions and social responsibility. This creates flexibility in production – and safety at every step.
Special focus: Baby toys
Babies discover the world with all their senses – especially with their mouths. That is why we place the highest demands on materials and workmanship when developing and manufacturing baby toys. We use exclusively water-based acrylic paints that form stable polymer structures after drying and are no longer water-soluble – safe, therefore, even when chewed on. All baby products naturally meet the DIN 53160 standard for sweat and saliva resistance.
Nevertheless, in rare cases with intensive use, slight color loss may occur – a natural effect that does not represent a safety disadvantage. Because: Our paints are additionally tested according to DIN EN 71-3, which simulates the release of possible elements in the stomach. This means: Even if paint comes off or is swallowed, there is no danger to the child.
Why we avoid clear coats
Other toys appear more color-stable because they are sealed with solvent-based clear coats. However, these can contain harmful substances – a risk we do not want to take for our youngest customers. That is why we deliberately avoid such coats and accept minor color changes. We are continuously working on new paint systems to further improve safety and durability – because we always want the best for your child.
Our conclusion
Safety, quality, and responsibility – these are the foundations on which we develop each of our toys. So parents can relax – and children can play, discover, and grow carefree.
“It is important to preserve children’s curiosity, imagination, drive, initiative, and activity – also with appropriate play materials. That is why we test and evaluate toys and only award those that do not become spoilsports. In addition, spiel gut guides support careful selection so that the right toy can be found for each child.”
Over 150 of our (wooden) toys already bear the spiel gut® seal.
More information is available at www.spielgut.de.
