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[First Gen]

In the ongoing effort to continue its goal to adhere to the 2010 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, HASBRO (NASDAQ HAS) has announced its plans to eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from all new core toy and game packaging beginning in the year 2013. Eliminating the use of PVC has already begun in some packaging and the toy maker states that it should be PVC free by 2013.

"At a time when consumers have an abundance of choices, we hope our track record of innovation and corporate citizenship — including our focus on sustainable packaging and product safety — will give shoppers one more reason to choose our products during the holiday season and throughout the year," said Brian Goldner , Hasbro's president and chief executive officer.

This follows a myriad of ecofriendly changes that HASBRO has committed to including:

* Elimination of Wire Ties: In 2010, Hasbro replaced all wire ties in its packages with ties made from paper rattan or bamboo mix to reduce environmental impact. The effort eliminated approximately 34,000 miles of wire ties — more than enough to wrap around the circumference of the Earth.

* Increase in Recycled Content: In 2010, Hasbro set a goal to derive at least 75 percent of paper and board packaging from recycled material, or from sources that practice sustainable forest management, by 2011. By 2015, Hasbro plans to increase that goal to 90 percent.

* New Sourcing of Paper: Hasbro outlined an aggressive paper sourcing policy in 2011, providing guidelines for suppliers regarding sustainable paper sourcing to help ensure that paper used in Hasbro products aligns with the company's commitment to environmental sustainability. Among the policy's key requirements is the expectation that suppliers will source paper with as much post-consumer recycled content as practical and financially viable. The company has communicated the policy to its suppliers, and has made it a part of its company-wide quality assurance procedures.

I know some of you wish they did the wire tie change BEFORE Armada Unicron was released.

You can check out the complete press release by clicking here.

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[Screamfleet]

I guess this all sounds fine.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

For the ones who failed chemistry back in high school, PVC is the "rubbery" plastic on the toys, also known as plain vinyl. Yes, this includes the rubbery tires The hard parts are mostly made of ABS (main body), PC (any clear parts), POM and PA (used for gear, ball joints and any kind of gimmickry)

[Heavy B]

Heres an idea. Vow to get the ROTF toys off my shelf so I can get the transformers prime toys in.

[GuyIncognito]

For the ones who failed chemistry back in high school, PVC is the "rubbery" plastic on the toys, also known as plain vinyl. Yes, this includes the rubbery tires The hard parts are mostly made of ABS (main body), PC (any clear parts), POM and PA (used for gear, ball joints and any kind of gimmickry)

But this announcement is only about the packaging. They aren't eliminating PVC from the figures, just from the packaging.

Which begs the question: what part(s) of the packaging are PVC? Does the plastic bubble contain PVC?

Also, it's time for HTS to look at how they ship products. Even if you order one small figure, they send it in a giant box.

[Lapse Of Reason]

Good, because I generally fill up my recycle bin each week with too much plastic packaging. I'll be glad to see a reduction of unnecessary waste.

[First-Aid]

Wait, eliminating the damned twist ties only got rid of 34,000 miles of the ties? I thought I had that much on my Armada Unicron ALONE!

That being said, that was the best thing ever. I hated those damned things.

[Megatron Wolf]

i miss those twist ties, so much easier to get off than these dame twine things and they were useful around the house too. But im curious as to what part of the packaging is pvc, id have to go with the bubbles but this might just be directed towards the games. And why just the core products, why not all products? I wonder if all this green crap has a hand in the figure quality going down in the past few years

[Galvatron X]

For the ones who failed chemistry back in high school, PVC is the "rubbery" plastic on the toys, also known as plain vinyl. Yes, this includes the rubbery tires The hard parts are mostly made of ABS (main body), PC (any clear parts), POM and PA (used for gear, ball joints and any kind of gimmickry)

But this announcement is only about the packaging. They aren't eliminating PVC from the figures, just from the packaging.

Ok, so it seems that JelZe passed Chemistry, but failed Reading class, lol.

(Just kidding, JelZe! )


So, assuming that the PVC content is the plastic bubble (I believe it is - the rest of the package is cardboard), I wonder what alternative they will use?

Also, it's time for HTS to look at how they ship products. Even if you order one small figure, they send it in a giant box.

Yes, that's true, but they make up for that big box by barely using ANY packing material!

[ubertenorman]

I somewhat miss the twist ties, mostly out of nostalgia. But the paper ties do seem to be more environmentally friendly

PRO TIP: While it's harder to untie the paper than untwist the twist ties, if you take a nail clipper to the paper ties it's actually a LOT faster than the twist ties.

[Noideaforaname]

So, assuming that the PVC content is the plastic bubble (I believe it is - the rest of the package is cardboard), I wonder what alternative they will use?

Seeing how certain ketchup and soda companies are using "plant bottles" now, I'm going to assume some similar material.

[Skyfire77]

Which begs the question: what part(s) of the packaging are PVC? Does the plastic bubble contain PVC?

The bubbles are PVC. Probably those clear bands too.

[datguy86]

I read this and my slysdexia kicked in - Hasbro to get rid of Power Core Combiner packaging.

I understand the desire to move to packaging that is more environmentally (or public relations) friendly. And I do like the new ties - the cats love them a lot more than the wire ties.

[MINDVVIPE]

nooo my pvc!

[SW's SilverHammer]

Alright so if they Lets say hypothetically did away with all PVC form packaging how are they going to package Tranformers are they going to be in boxes kind of like 90's Takara Beast wars Figures or are they going to be lose?

[Cobalt Prime]

Great, Hasbro's jumped on the "green" bandwagon; the PR should be wonderful.

Too bad Hasbro hasn't vowed to eliminate garbage plastic (aka PVC)from the actual toys themselves. It would be a nice break not to have swords, cannons, and other parts that didn't bend out of shape or break down into sticky, gooey, cracking, paint shedding messes as the plasticizers rise to the surface.

Even the highest toy grade of PVC, such as that used on GI Joe Sigma 6 figures breaks down looong before standard ABS or even styrene, as evidenced in the powdery film already forming on my LT Stone's cyborg arm parts.

Bandai's Power Rangers are entirely made of garbage plastic, and after years of collecting them I have several agonizing cases of sticky, powdery figures, many with elbow and knee joints cracked into uselessness from just sitting on a shelf. This is one of the primary reasons I stopped collecting them after RPM.

They can make the packaging out of straight paper for all I care, just stop using PVC on the TOYS!

Can you tell I HATE PVC?

[Blurrz]

Alright so if they Lets say hypothetically did away with all PVC form packaging how are they going to package Tranformers are they going to be in boxes kind of like 90's Takara Beast wars Figures or are they going to be lose?

PVC isn't the only polymer plastic that can be used for packaging. The main problem we have with PVC is that it's polyvinyl chloride so the usage of chlorine itself can produce a flurry of unwanted byproducts, and the product itself is rather unstable or environmentally unhealthy. .

[MaverickPrime]

While I agree that this is for the greater good, I'm so gonna miss the twist ties, I used them a lot, I created prothesis for my old toys with them

[Ultra Markus]

they should go back to the cardboard box and Styrofoam
like the old days

[Court Jester]

I'm sure the Vietnamese sweatshop laborers are ecstatic about these new developments. Kudos, HASBRO!

[El Duque]

While discussing this with my fellow staff member robofreak he made an interesting point: will removing the PVC effect the long term viability of the packaging. Could be bad news for MISB collectors. Not saying it will, but it's a thought if they go to a more environmentally friendly biodegradable plastic.

[kirbenvost]

I read this and my slysdexia kicked in - Hasbro to get rid of Power Core Combiner packaging.

Hah, I'm not the only person that says slysdexia? Awesome.

I read it as "Hasbro to Eliminate Power Core Combiners" and I was like "YEAH YOU ARE."

Anyway, cool on them I guess? Doesn't really impact me too much, I don't keep the packages for most of them.