Mattel introduces a new toy return program
Mattel announced the launch of a collection scheme for toys that kids have stopped playing with. The new program aims to recover and reuse materials from old toys in the company's new products.
The company's goal is to produce 100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic toys and their packaging by 2030.
- A key part of our product design process is our constant focus on innovation, and finding sustainable solutions is one of the significant ways to innovate. Our Mattel PlayBack program is a great example of this by enabling us to transform materials from out of life toys into recycled materials for new products, said Richard Dickson, Mattel president and chief operating officer.
To participate in the Mattel PlayBack program, consumers can visit Mattel.com/PlayBack, print a free shipping label, and pack and ship unused Mattel toys back to the manufacturer. The collected toys will be sorted and separated by material type, and properly processed and recycled. For materials that cannot be reused as production materials, Mattel PlayBack will turn them into energy. Barbie®, Matchbox® and MEGA® toys will be accepted when the program starts. The list of brands of toys for recycling will be systematically expanded.
"At Mattel, we are committed to managing the environmental impact of our products," added Pamela Gill-Alabaster, Mattel's global director of sustainability. “The Mattel PlayBack program helps parents and caregivers to ensure that materials remain entertained and do not end up in landfill sites, so that these materials can be reused as recycled materials in new toys. This is an important step we are taking to meet the growing global waste challenge. ”
Mattel PlayBack will initially be available in the US and Canada. Ultimately, the program will be extended to France, Germany and Great Britain.
Source: Mattel INC.