A New Take on "Toy"

For more than 80 years, Wells Mfg Co. has manufactured toys. While the focus remains on non-toxic, quality children's products, play looks a little different today.

Rainbow Mulch was developed as a playground safety surface and remains the only virgin rubber loose-fill playground mulch specifically designed for children with no recycled materials.

While traditional toys are played with, Rainbow Mulch is designed to be played with, in, and on.

The Mother Behind Rainbow Mulch

Rainbow Mulch wasn't developed in a strategic planning meeting. It started with a mother looking for innovative ways to keep children safe.

More than 25 years ago, Lorrie Nichols joined Wells Manufacturing and eventually became the first woman to lead rubber manufacturing operations. As a mother of six, she was always thinking about ways to make play safer and more enjoyable for children.

While experimenting with rubber during off-hours, Lorrie noticed the material created soft, consistent pieces that were clean, durable, and cushiony. She believed it could be used in children's play spaces and shared the idea with company leadership.

What began as a simple observation eventually became Rainbow Mulch — a non-toxic playground surface trusted by schools, museums, and families across the country.

Today, Lorrie continues to oversee production and quality, helping ensure every batch of Rainbow Mulch meets the same standards that inspired the product from the beginning.

Premium by Design

Not all playground surfacing is created the same.

From the beginning, the Rainbow Mulch philosophy has been to use the safest ingredients for the best play experience. Most rubber surfacing, especially loose-fill rubber mulch, is made from recycled tire rubber. Rainbow Mulch is different. It's manufactured from virgin closed-cell sponge rubber originally developed for children's play.

Rainbow Mulch is manufactured using safe materials, many of which are plant based, but when combined offer a truly non-toxic, premium playground surface and an exceptional play experience for kids.