The Plant-Based Man is Finally Plant-Based

Guided by our belief that every day is a chance to do better, in 2018 we introduced the first-in-the-industry toy recycling program and last year committed to eliminate virtually all plastic in packaging for new products by the end of 2022, building on our decade-long journey to create a more sustainable future for our business and our world (Hasbro, 2020).

This month, we are introducing Mr. Potato Head Goes Green, the first Hasbro product made with plant-based plastic and virtually plastic-free packaging. This new item marks the first step in Hasbro’s commitment to making more sustainable products through the use of renewable materials (Hasbro, 2020).

Mr. Potato Head has been a childhood staple for more than 65 years and has consistently evolved to reflect the play patterns and values of today’s kids and families (Hasbro, 2020).

The character has a long history of changing with the times, from surrendering his pipe as part of the Great American Smokeout in 1987, to giving up his “couch potato” lifestyle and receiving a Presidential Sports Award from the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in 1992, and more recently receiving a makeover and sprouting new legs in 2011 (Hasbro, 2020).

This product is a simple and fun way to make children aware of how society is taking steps to help the environment. Plant-based plastic has an interesting position as a renewable resource. On the one hand, it is derived from biomaterials, which allows plastic to be created without using fossil fuels. However, on the other hand, this plastic can still encounter the same issues as existing plastic products, especially being a toy. This plant-based plastic can still find its way into a waste stream, possibly leading to a landfill.

This brings up the question of using a renewable resource versus recycled material to create a product. How does one quantify how environmentally conscious their product is, depending on the difference? In a perfect world, one could produce new products with renewable resources, then set up a circular recycling program around those plastics, if possible.

References

Hasbro Grows Sustainability with Mr. Potato Head Goes Green. (2020, October). Hasbro.
https://newsroom.hasbro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/hasbro-grows-sustainability-mr-potato-head-goes-green