Big plans at Playmobil: Manufacturer announces decisive changes in toys

[Rasputin]

Are there any real pictures of the Anteater ?

[playmofire]

Sigh ... back to the books for me for some all night studying on the proper names of animals ...

It's still cute though

Not if you're an ant! 

[GrahamB]

Sigh ... back to the books for me for some all night studying on the proper names of animals ...

It's still cute though

I will go and polish my Pedant's badge!

[Pynedor]

I know you were joking (at least about the edible toys ), but using plant-based plastics would be a good idea if it could be done effectively. What I mean by that is, of course, that it must be sustainable and capable of producing products of high quality. I've often wondered about what Playmobil would look like if these kinds of plastics were used, as it would make me feel much better about collecting it (if shown to be effective).

[tahra]

I still think that toys that will last a few lifetimes are not the issue. Crappy ones are, the junk that has no use or doesn't last.

[Oliver]

I still think that toys that will last a few lifetimes are not the issue. Crappy ones are, the junk that has no use or doesn't last.
[/quote

Yeah - the idea that plastic=bad isn't really very sound. Even single use plastics aren't automatically 'bad' for the environment: if all drinks bottles switched to glass, for example, then the massive increase in weight would hugely increase the carbon footprint of transporting it. Using plastic massively reduces food waste. The problem is recycling and disposal of plastics, which shouldn't be a problem for Playmobil.

Being able to replace plastic with something that is bio-degradable, or plant based, and has similar properties would be great - and hopefully it will happen. Plus they have discovered enzymes that eat plastics, so there is hope there.

[Rasputin]

I really do not understand most of the arguments about recycling.

I have been driving a car my father bought new when he was in college. It’s a 1965 Volvo 544.

Now how in the world is buying a car every few years to update some emission standards and fuel efficiency really helping saving the planet?

Also electric vehicles use power, the power needs to be created somewhere/somehow. The batteries do not last and most of all economically it makes no sense.

So In playmobil terms, it’s a toy that lasts generations. As Tahra mentioned , it’s the disposable crap that fills up the garbage bins.

Making high quality, generational toys out of decomposing products in my opinion is going in the wrong direction. From a business perspective, if the toy “melts away” and you have to buy more…. Great

[tahra]

So In playmobil terms, it’s a toy that lasts generations. As Tahra mentioned , it’s the disposable crap that fills up the garbage bins.

Making high quality, generational toys out of decomposing products in my opinion is going in the wrong direction. From a business perspective, if the toy “melts away” and you have to buy more…. Great

^this.

[playmofire]

I really do not understand most of the arguments about recycling.

I have been driving a car my father bought new when he was in college. It’s a 1965 Volvo 544.

Now how in the world is buying a car every few years to update some emission standards and fuel efficiency really helping saving the planet?

Also electric vehicles use power, the power needs to be created somewhere/somehow. The batteries do not last and most of all economically it makes no sense.

So In playmobil terms, it’s a toy that lasts generations. As Tahra mentioned , it’s the disposable crap that fills up the garbage bins.

Making high quality, generational toys out of decomposing products in my opinion is going in the wrong direction. From a business perspective, if the toy “melts away” and you have to buy more…. Great

Things are not as simplistic as you suggest, Ras, but on your last point, who has suggested making a toy that just "melts away"?

[Oliver]

I really do not understand most of the arguments about recycling.

People tend to focus on recycling because it's the easiest part which doesn't impact on their life at all. The mantra should be Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in that order. Ultimately, reducing consumption should be the aim but of course none of us want to do that - recycling should be a last resort.