Children’s toy company Spin Master Corp., whose iconic brands include Rubik’s Cube and Etch A Sketch, has collaborated with TerraCycle to make its toys and games recyclable within the U.S., according to a Wednesday (April 7) announcement.
“The Spin Master Recycling Program is a perfect chance to engage the next generation through sustainability in a fun and approachable way,” TerraCycle CEO and Founder Tom Szaky said in the announcement. “This program makes it easy to show your children that recycling and the environment don’t have to be relegated to the classroom…”
Individuals can now mail toys and games to TerraCycle at no cost for recycling. Consumers enroll through a program page online and send in the toys with a prepaid shipping label. After the toys are received, they are cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be reshaped to make new recycled items like picnic tables and park benches.
Tammy Smitham, Spin Master’s VP of communications and corporate citizenship, said in the announcement that the company sees “the need to help preserve our environment for the benefit of the children we entertain today and for generations to come.” Smitham added that “our program with TerraCycle gives our well-loved toys a reimagined future while also reducing our impact on the environment.”
Spin Master has made environmental commitments such as optimizing manufacturing workflows to prioritize recycling and recover. It also aims to cut back on plastic packaging and “offset self-generated carbon emissions annually,” according to the announcement.
The company is most renowned for the GUND, Rubik’s Cube, Hatchimals, Air Hogs, Kinetic Sand, Bakugan and PAW Patrol brands.
PYMNTS previously reported that kids attending virtual school from their homes are looking for ways to stay occupied, which has led to a surge in toy purchasing among parents.