Mattel releases its first carbon neutral toys, including a Matchbox Tesla
The new products represent an expansion of the toy company’s sustainable offerings, according to a statement from Mattel. The company has pledged to use “100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic materials in all its products and packaging by 2030,” the statement said.
Mattel’s Mega Bloks Green Town Line, a collection of construction toys for preschoolers, are certified carbon neutral by Natural Capital Partners, the statement said.
To reach this status, the Mega brand purchased carbon offsets from the Darkwood Forests Conservation project in Canada. In this case, the Darkwoods Forest Conservation project protects 156,000 acres of forest in British Columbia, Canada, according to their website.
Carbon offsets allow corporations and individuals to purchase carbon-reducing processes, like planting or protecting a forest, in order to offset carbon-emitting processes, like manufacturing or air travel.
The offset schemes have been criticized by climate experts for allowing the continued use of fossil fuels at a time when scientists say the world should be cutting them, as well as for being vague about quantifying the emissions they will reduce.
In addition to being carbon neutral, the Green Town toys are also created mostly from plant-based materials, rather than plastic derived from fossil fuels, said Mattel. The packaging is made from paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which “promotes responsible management of the world’s forests.” And the building block sets themselves feature eco-friendly elements, like a toy electric bus.
Mattel’s other new sustainable offering is the Matchbox Tesla Roadster — its first die-cast vehicle made from 99% recycled materials. The toy Tesla, which is also certified carbon neutral, is already sold out online.