In recent years we have seen an increased interest towards sustainability and retailers are conscious of this; many are now focusing on what is in a toy and where it comes from.
Wild Republic has recently launched its latest sustainable product line, Ecokins. First to market, these products offer an alternative for those looking to shop more eco-consciously this Christmas season.
The 100 per cent recyclable plush toy collection is a result of the company’s Promise to the Planet initiative. Launched back in October 2018, Promise to the Planet aims to actively improve Wild Republic’s production behaviours systematically and evaluate their impacts on the planet.
The company has taken responsibility for the impact textile production can have on the environment and are taking steps to ensure this impact is as minimal as possible, making every effort to lessen the company’s carbon footprint.
“When we sourced a high-pile, outer fabric made completely from recycled materials, we knew we had a game-changer,” says Vishnu Chandran, president of K&M International Inc, Wild Republic.
“The cuddly toys are carefully crafted and incredibly soft. Everything from the biodegradable polybag packing down to the soy ink printed hangtag; we’ve created an absolute environmentally conscious product.”
Filled with bead-free recycled bottle fill, along with embroidered eyes, soy ink, string hang tags and packaged in biodegradable plastic bags, the new release is part of the company’s industry-leading efforts to find innovative ways to be environmentally focused.
After transitioning to sustainable fill made from recycled water bottles in 2018, the company challenged itself to develop a long-term sustainability strategy that included all levels of the supply chain and reduction of single use plastics.
Wild Republic’s managing director, Amanda Dutton, says the company realised that the first step to addressing this problem was evaluating its own behaviours as a business.
“We knew we could either be part of the problem or continue to be an industry leader, continuing to make our Promise to the Planet,” she explains.
“Our new release, Ecokins, is our latest effort to be more environmentally-conscious and raise the standard within the industry. That’s why we’re so proud to be the first to market and we hope we continue to inspire others in the industry to follow suit.
“Promise to the Planet was our formal promise that we would be evaluating every level of our supply change to see where we could improve and become more environmentally friendly. Since then, our journey has involved making changes across our entire production system. This includes switching to a sustainable fill in our core plush lines, as well as ensuring we are using recycled and sustainable products within our office and warehouse,” Dutton adds.
The new Ecokins range will be available for purchase from next month. It features 12 of the most popular animals, available in two sizes―12 and 8 inches. The animals will include species such as koalas, penguins, African elephants and pandas.
“We are excited to announce that Ecokins are now available for pre-order, which means they will be available in-store at leading zoos and aquariums, and key retailers in each state by Christmas. December is very much our high season and we are proud to be the first to market with such a product for the season.
“Often mass markets can plan their Christmas season so far in advance that unfortunately they miss out on new and exciting releases such as Ecokins. We very much like to be involved with our retailers and they know how to respond to a release such as this. The demand for Ecokins is there and our customers are ready for it now―it is our responsibility to deliver it.”
