Hasbro to go "Virtually Plastic Free" by 2023

[Jeff]

I found this interesting - in Hasbro's latest Environment, Social and Governance policy update, TVC got a special call-out to highlight why they are keeping the bubbles... page 19:

"Sometimes packaging is part of the product and not intended to be single use. Based on feedback from our fans regarding collectible products, we learned the plastic blister packaging is a key part of the product experience. With collectibles like our 3.75” STAR WARS Vintage and Retro action figures, fans typically retain packaging intact for display. To give our fans the best possible experience, we will continue to offer traditional packaging, made with plant-based or recycled PET content."

[Jeff]

Even though it is 6" related, I'm putting this here to keep the "plastic free" talk all in one place...  from Yakface/BanthaSkull

[Matt_Fury]

Sales must have cratered for them to backtrack so fast.

[Jeff]

Sales must have cratered for them to backtrack so fast.

For sure.  Also, it sounds like there were substantial issues with figures breaking in-package during shipping and you couldn't tell you were buying a broken figure (like the D&D animated figures) along with lots of anecdotal stories of figure swaps hitting Amazon/Target/Walmart thanks to returns with the closed boxes. 

Happy for the 6" collectors out there that Hasbro is reversing course on this.

[Dave]

It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out windowless packages were going to introduce quality issues, and be ripe for scammers. 

My guess is the big retailers got on Hasbro's case quick about all the crap they had to deal with for returned broken and scammed/swapped product.

[Dave]

On a related note its interesting to see that Hasbro Pulse ships their goodies padded with an eco-friendly geometric paper insert.  Kinda like bubble wrap.  Pretty cool, and a lot more ecological than the air bubble padding.