Not a major toy news, but it is worth mentioning that Hasbro is planning to introduce a new “PVC-Less” Toy Packaging by 2013.
This decision comes from their effort to “Go Green”. Hasbro, Inc. announced today that it will eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from all new core toy and game packaging beginning in 2013. Hasbro has already begun to phase out PVC from some packaging, and has committed to completely eliminating PVC in packaging for new product beginning in 2013.
Check out the entire Press Release we received, after the jump.
PAWTUCKET, R.I.–(BUSINESS WIRE) — Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) announced today that it will eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from all new core toy and game packaging beginning in 2013. Hasbro has already begun to phase out PVC from some packaging, and has committed to completely eliminating PVC in packaging for new product beginning in 2013.
“At a time when consumers have an abundance of choices, we hope our track record of innovation and corporate citizenship — including our focus on sustainable packaging and product safety — will give shoppers one more reason to choose our products during the holiday season and throughout the year,” said Brian Goldner, Hasbro’s president and chief executive officer.
Hasbro highlighted the commitment to eliminate PVC from all new core toy and game packaging for products manufactured at its contracted third-party facilities, in its 2010 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, which is now available online at www.hasbro.com/csr
“Walmart applauds Hasbro’s long-term commitment and accomplishments in corporate social responsibility,” said Laura Phillips, Walmart’s senior vice president of toys and seasonal merchandising. “As Hasbro builds upon its industry leadership position in environmental sustainability and product safety, we are hopeful that all industry players will adopt similarly ambitious goals.”
“Our commitment to corporate social responsibility is behind everything we do at Hasbro, and we’re pleased to be sharing our CSR goals and accomplishments with the world in our first-ever CSR Report. We are proud of our progress to date and look forward to making continual improvements in CSR as we assess the many opportunities and challenges ahead,” said Goldner.
Phasing out PVC in packaging is the most recent effort in a long series of sustainable packaging initiatives by Hasbro, all of which are designed to minimize the impact on natural resources:
- Elimination of Wire Ties: In 2010, Hasbro replaced all wire ties in its packages with ties made from paper rattan or bamboo mix to reduce environmental impact. The effort eliminated approximately 34,000 miles of wire ties — more than enough to wrap around the circumference of the Earth.
- Increase in Recycled Content: In 2010, Hasbro set a goal to derive at least 75 percent of paper and board packaging from recycled material, or from sources that practice sustainable forest management, by 2011. By 2015, Hasbro plans to increase that goal to 90 percent.
- New Sourcing of Paper: Hasbro outlined an aggressive paper sourcing policy in 2011, providing guidelines for suppliers regarding sustainable paper sourcing to help ensure that paper used in Hasbro products aligns with the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Among the policy’s key requirements is the expectation that suppliers will source paper with as much post-consumer recycled content as practical and financially viable. The company has communicated the policy to its suppliers, and has made it a part of its company-wide quality assurance procedures.
In addition to these leading sustainable packaging commitments, Hasbro is committed to continuous improvement in corporate social responsibility. The company’s CSR efforts focus on three key priorities: product safety, manufacturing ethics, and environmental sustainability.
Earlier this month, Hasbro was named a 2011 sector leader by Climate Counts, a non-profit organization rating corporations on their efforts toward mitigating climate change. Hasbro was named to the group’s top rating tier as a Company that is “striding toward a low-carbon future.”
Other goals, accomplishments, and initiatives outlined in Hasbro’s 2010 CSR Report include:
- Reducing the company’s global greenhouse gas emissions by more than 11 percent from a 2008 baseline, using Greenhouse Gas Protocol guidelines
- Continuing the company’s outstanding record of product safety
- Producing zero waste in U.S. manufacturing processes
- Continuing to ensure that the company’s owned and operated factories, third-party factories, and licensee factories pursue fair and safe labor conditions
- Auditing the company’s third-party factories and licensee factories to ensure they achieve the International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI) Seal of Compliance in countries where ICTI operates its Caring, Aware, Responsible and Ethical (CARE) program
To learn more about Hasbro’s CSR progress, please visit www.hasbro.com/csr.
About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company’s world class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, video games and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its customers through the strategic leveraging of well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. Through the company’s deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. The HUB, Hasbro’s multi-platform joint venture with Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) launched on October 10, 2010. The online home of The HUB is www.hubworld.com. The HUB logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved. © 2011 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Gingerchris
The cynic in me does tend to look at this as something they're probably doing just to save themselves money and being able to shout about the green side-benefits is just a PR bonus. As for the saving being passed onto the consumer? The cynic in me raises his hand again.
Superquad7
If Transformers came in boxes that functioned for storage, this would be a non-issue for many of us!
RedAlert Rescue
I suspect they want to include packaging materials that are recyclable so that is why they may keep the Plastic bubbles they just might be ones that are a type of plastic that is more commonly recyclable plastic. and on some toys use the same open face design that some of the kiddier end of the market has already had for a while.
I'm not sure I approve of buying something a delicate as a 3.75" figure in an open face box though – they could reduce the card height further still.
I was going to buy something made by Playskool the other day but I left it on the shelf as someone had pulled the figure out of the open face box making the toys somewhat reduced in it's value and use by it's lack.
I do not mind the Rescue Bots backing though they are chunky enough to take that kind of packing… but a normal Transformer would loose parts like a dog looses hair in an open face box.
They might be able to reduce the bubble layer to a single layer though rather than a clamshell like they currently use..
I actually think the way Takara packs things is actually better you can take the pack to pieces and have something that is 100% card and 100% plastic some of the stuff does not even have a window the inner bubble is the window.
I think that actually works better – I think i'd prefer Transformers packed in a box – but I do not suppose they'd do that for the smaller ones these days.
Nachtsider
Wire ties gone? Fuck yes.
CZ Hazard
So…the real reason they are doing this is the cost of oil, reducing plastic greatly reduces cost. It's a nice green message to put out but the dollar rules. Will this saving be passed on to the consumer at all?
abc55abc55
Go Hasbro! I also feel bad for throwing all of the plasic away, so I try to keep the boxes stored in one room.
This will be an interesting topic, I wonder what the new packages will turn out to be like.
Nightrain
When I look at activators and such, I find myself wishing for that kind of packaging more and more. It's clean and easy to display, which means I wouldn't be so quick to toss them. The giant bubble on card thing is tired IMO.
SPLIT LIP
Because that negates the entire purpose.
Cyberverse is supposed to be affordable. You kinda fuck that up if you don't make them, well, affordable.
Besides, who's to say somebody would want Arcee, Cliffjumper and Bumblebee all in one package? Maybe they just want Cliffjumper.
Hexatron
Why would you need several different variations? They already use vaccum forming for the bottom tray, so just flip the tray so it is over the top of the figure and then glue it onto the back card.
alternator77
while i think its great if theyre going to continue to package this new cyberverse line as individuals that in itself is alot of wasted plastic. why not just bundle them together as it saves on card stock, ties, tape and plastic.
another idea is the angled poses the deluxes have on cardbacks instead of bb on an angle which uses more plastic try setting him flat against it to cut back on the plastic used.
for those who mentioned vaccum sealing it would not be cost effective only because youd need several dozen different variations on the clamshell to fit each figure in any given line this eventually would bump up costs.
Dinobot747
Wait-so will our TFs be exposed to the world and it's grubby little fingers?!
Autobus Prime
Folks:
Aha! I bet the real reason for eliminating the wire ties was their coating material, which was probably PVC.
I doubt the bubbles are going anywhere. If they're PVC, they'll just switch to polyethylene or something. This would be better for MOC toys, anyway, but I think the bubbles are already PE.
At the current toy-shrinkage rate, they'll be able to eliminate most of the packaging, anyway. The 2025 line will be the finest hydrogen atoms ever.
Galaximus Prime
Good idea Hasbro. The Power Is Yours!