Hasbro has set several new goals aimed at boosting the toy maker's environmental sustainability. These goals include eliminating all wire ties from its packaging starting in 2011 and replacing them with rattan materials, and ensuring that at least 75 percent of its paper packaging is derived from recycled material or sources that practice sustainable forest management in 2011.
Hasbro also has set a goal of 90 percent use of these materials and sources for all of its paperboard packaging and in-box game content by 2015. The toy manufacturer is also working with its core toy and game licensees to help them put similar standards in place.
To support the company's efforts in these areas, Hasbro plans to hire a director of product and packaging sustainability, who will report directly to the global chief development officer.
In 2010, Hasbro has significantly reduced plastic bags from its product instructions, removing approximately 800,000 pounds of material worldwide from the waste stream.
Currently, more than 90 percent of solid waste generated at the company’s owned and operated manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts and Ireland is recycled.
Other toy makers like Mattel also are working on reducing the size and amount of materials used in its packaging as well as increasing the recycled content of its packaging.
The biggest retailer leading this change is Wal-Mart, driven largely by the introduction of the retailer's Sustainable Packaging Scorecard in 2008, aimed at getting suppliers to reduce the amount of packaging in their products, and eliminating any negative environmental impact of their packaging.
Hasbro also is working to reduce its energy use and natural resource consumption. In June, the company selected the Hara Environmental and Energy Management (EEM) solution to help Hasbro manage and optimize its energy efficiency and natural resource consumption.