Could Kermit Be Wrong?
Jul 25, 2010
It's hard to go anywhere these days without being inundated with with the concept of "going green". Virtually every industry has been touched by this groundswell, and the toy industry is no different...and we're a better industry as a result. Still, the more I think about it, being green is not about toys made from recycled milk cartons and bamboo. It's not about packaging with soy-based dyes, either. In the end, it's really all about the whole idea of play itself. Indulge me here...
Let's say you have a choice of playing a family board game or going to a movie. Which is the "greenest" alternative? You can drive to the theater (using gasoline and creating emissions), spend $40-$50 (or more) on tickets and food in a variety of packages (all of which are headed for a landfill), and watch the movie in a theater that is using who knows how much electricity to power a multitude of lights, machines, and equipment. On the other hand, you could stay home and play a board game that you bought for $25 five years ago, pop some popcorn on the stove - and as a bonus - spend the time in meaningful conversation with your family. The fact is, by their very nature toys and games are non-disposable, unplugged, and provide hundreds (if not thousands) of hours of constructive play. The answer is clear and it proves once and for all that despite Kermit's claims, it really is that easy being green.
Disclaimer: I like movies. I like candy in disposable packages. I'm not suggesting we stop going to the movies...but what if we all traded just one movie night for a game night?