Lesser carbon waste generation while manufacturing. Pixabay
Professor Tensie Whelan, the former head of the Rainforest Alliance and current director of NYU's Stern Center for Sustainable Business, said focusing on sustainability practices in the toy industry is long overdue.
"We've got 60 million kids under 14 in the United States. We've got 90 percent of toys made of plastic. We have chemical issues, waste disposal issues, social supply chain issues. So, a lot of things that need to be addressed," Whelan said.
Please follow NewsGram on Facebook to get updates on the latest news
She points out that while manufacturers are introducing eco-friendly initiatives, it's hard to verify their sustainability claims, noting "you'd have to be looking at waste, carbon emissions, water emissions, the product themselves …. what their supply chain partners are doing. And none of that is very transparent."
Whelan believes Mattel is making positive commitments when it comes to materials used in manufacturing and reducing packaging. She also cites Hasbro and Lego for making strides when it comes to reducing packaging and using safer materials. But she said the toy industry as a whole has much more work to do.
"I think there's still plenty of room to improve on packaging, to reduce the packaging and also to use far less plastics," Whelan said.
And manufacturers seem to be listening. MGA Entertainment unveiled a biodegradable ball as part of its L.O.L Surprise! Doll line. MGA also unveiled a new product line from Little Tikes made from a blend of recycled resins.