Hey all, has anyone noticed that the PCC guys and the HFTD guys come with a thick paper wrap twist-tie? I wonder if this is part of some sort of green packaging initiative within Hasbro.

I'll have to look at one of the new boxes when I get home, but I also sorta wonder if the packaging/throwaway plastic is any different recyclable grade or something like that.

 

I doubt it. After all, what's the difference between the plastic tie-wraps and the plastic they used for the bubble-packaging?
Not sure what the reason is behind the paper ties other than perhaps easier for kids to cut off than the plastic ones?

 

They've been talking about this for a long time, actually. It's partially more eco-friendly, partially consumer-friendly.

 

They did claim at some point that it was some sort of green initiative. The Box for Leader Starscream is just a bit smaller than ROTF Leader boxes, and (i think) it was a bit more flimsy too.

I could be wrong on the last one though.

 

Well, I'd welcome it, if it is. Hope so.

 

I'd welcome anything that's easier to open, yet still does the job of protecting the figure.

 

I think the new ties are great. Nice and strong to hold the figure in place yet easy to get at with a simple pair of scissors.

Pretty sure the voyager boxes, besides being redesigned, were also downsized so the figure actually fills the box and doesn't suffer from "Bludgeon Syndrome".

 

I haven't encountered any such new packaging, but then again I haven't had a chance to get anything that wasn't ROTF latley anyway (latest being ROTF Armorhide I think). However, if there are new twisty ties that are easier to remove, then that should make things easier for getting the toy out.

I thought Bludgeon looked pretty good in his packaging, myself.

Now, Animated Optimus Prime was more or less swimming in his voyager box since he only filled like a fourth of the box's volume from what I could see.

 

We've seen the paper for a while, I'm totally down with it, it's probably also a lot cheaper for them to use than the plastic ones.

If Hasbro ends up needing new equipment or facilities if/when they move production to Vietnam, however, that could end up being a place for green initiatives that end up having more impact than all these paper twist ties put together.

 

The HFTD voyager boxes are much smaller and thinner than the ROTF boxes. As long as they're not downsizing the figures, I'm all for downsizing the packaging.

 

Agreed. I'd rather downsize the package than the figures.

 

Oh come on, guys. They're not gonna scale down the toys to fit the packaging.

 

I'd wager it has more to do with saving $0.005 or something per unit, with the added bonus of being marginally more eco-friendly. Same reason laundry detergent is more concentrated and comes in smaller containers these days; cuts down on plastic and fuel costs and thus saves money. That it made 'teh hippiez' happier was just a bonus.

 

  One day, people will complain about the "good ol days" when Hasbro used wire twist ties.

 

The old tie-wraps have a metal wire in the middle. They are not recycleable. These new paper ties make the entire package, inside and out, capable of being recycled.

This is the same reason the trend towards plastic retainers behind the inner cardboard trays for the old twist ties shifted to cardboard bits instead (cost too, no doubt).

There was (darned if I recall where though, I think it got linked here) as Hasbro statement (either a part of a press release or a part of an earnings/stock statement) some months ago about their packaging moving in exactly this "green" direction, too. That was just after this began to first appear sporadically in packaging.

 

I got Seaspray and I noticed a lot of little touches that made the package more eco-friendly.

Of course it's got other nice side effects like it's easier to remove the figures now and the package is smaller so it's nice for retailers who are always saying they need more space. Seems like a win for everyone.

 

And on the Seaspray box, the bio (the only part of the box I save) was on the side, so it saves me some space, too.

 

Human Alliance toys from Australia in small boxes - The Allspark Forums

 

I like to think the paper ties might also be easier on paint apps.