CARING FOR THE FUTURE

OUR STRATEGY

Addo Play are committed to making the planet a better place for every child, future generations and the global communities we work with. 

Our strategy aims to deliver this commitment through sustainable product and packaging design, responsible business operations, ethical trading principles, community focus and a caring, diverse and inclusive organisational culture.

THE SUSTAINABILITY PILLARS

With focus on our three sustainability pillars, our ethos is all about caring for the future.

Sustainable Design

Sustainable Design

Reducing the environmental impact of our products through the use of sustainable materials and innovative designs

Packaging Sustainability

Reducing the amount of packaging used, transitioning to sustainable materials and helping consumers recycle packaging more easily.

Product Sustainability

Increasing the use of recycled, sustainable and bio-based materials, and promoting a circular economy.

Responsible Operations

Responsible Operations

Sourcing ethically and minimising the environmental impact of our operations

Ethical Sourcing

Minimisation of supply chain risks associated with non-compliance with our Code of Ethics, including child labour, human rights, health & safety and corruption.

Environmental Impact

To understand and reduce environmental impacts of internal and external operations.

Community

Community

Working for a positive social impact and supporting our communities

Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity

Ensuring our colleagues, products and communications benefit from and foster diversity & inclusivity.

Community Support

To inspire & help all colleagues to support our communities through voluntary & charitable activities, including support for the education and development of children.

Communication

Effective internal & external communications to promote sustainability objectives.

SUSTAINABILITY HIGHLIGHTS

Here is an overview of our key sustainability highlights that we’ve achieved along our Sustainability journey.

  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2015-2021

PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY

WE’RE FSC CERTIFIED

Addo Play has officially received an FSC certification from the Soil Association, enabling us and our retail customers to use FSC trademarks on products and in external communications.

ETHICAL SOURCING

CONDUCTING ANNUAL ETHICAL AUDITS

All factories are required to renew ethical audits on an annual basis.

Vendors must also to be members of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (SEDEX) and complete self-assessment reviews to ensure transparency within our supply chain.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

We are continuing to analyse and reduce our carbon footprint and aim to establish a plan to reduce our environmental impact throughout our supply chain.

PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABLY SOURCED TOYS

We are fully committed to manufacturing all our wooden products using sustainably sourced FSC timber and we aim to extend the range of products made from sustainably sourced or recycled textile materials.

ETHICAL SOURCING

ASSESSMENTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE

All our manufacturing sites are independently assessed in support of our Code of Ethics, against social compliance audit protocols.

PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY

TRANSFORMING PACKAGING FOR KERBSIDE RECYCLING

Addo Play are working hard to ensure all our product packaging is kerbside recyclable, with all paperboard packaging materials being FSC-certified and sustainably sourced by the end of 2025. We are proud to say that packaging for approximately 250 lines has already been converted to FSC-certified materials in 2024.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSIVITY

PROMOTING FAIRNESS AND FOSTERING INCLUSION

Through continued policy development and training, we are working to ensure our colleagues, products, and communications benefit from and foster diversity & inclusivity.

PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY

SMALLER BOXES, SAME GREAT CONTENT

We have developed smaller retail boxes for our Nick Jr. Ready Steady Dough range, plus plastic ties have been replaced with paper ties in 115 ELC products and three of our core Addo ranges.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

FUN MOMENTS TO CREATE MEANINGFUL IMPACT

We continue to encourage our colleagues to support our communities through voluntary and charitable activities. This year we have supported Kool Careers, Young Epilepsy, Macmillan Cancer Support and more! Events include toy sales, team charity events and two marathon walks.

PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY

SMALL STEPS TO A LEAPING CHANGE

Addo Play is also currently working with Cruelty-Free International to obtain independent accreditation with the Leaping Bunny logo for our cosmetic products.

PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY

ADVANCING PACKAGING COMPLIANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

We are now working with VALPAK, a 4th party organisation who is the leader in environmental compliance and packaging legislation. They will be supporting us with our packaging compliance programme and helping us to identify opportunities to enhance the sustainability of our product packaging.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

ADVANCING TOWARDS NET ZERO THROUGH COLLABORATIVE SUPPLY CHAIN INITIATIVES

Further to our initial environmental impact initiatives such as controlling waste, travel, commuting and energy consumption, as part of our longer-term journey towards Net Zero, we have now started to engage with our vendors to assess the impact of our supply chain.  We are keen to work collaboratively to identify opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and share best practices.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

COMMITMENT TO CHARITY, DONATIONS, AND VOLUNTEERING

We encourage our colleagues to continue to support the communities and charitable organisations around us through our charity work, donations and the introduction of volunteering.

ETHICAL SOURCING

ADDRESSING MODERN SLAVERY AND ENSURING SUPPLIER WELFARE

We have a facilitated a workshop with external partners for a selection of our UK Addo Office team on the Modern Slavery Act. To support our vendors, we have also partnered with SafeCall who provide an independent, confidential whistleblowing service. This enables all workers within our supply chain to raise concerns related to their welfare, health & safety and working conditions.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSIVITY

NAVIGATING DEI THROUGH COMPANY-WIDE SURVEY

To help us understand, benchmark, and track our DEI journey, we have undertaken a DEI Survey throughout the company.

PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY

INNOVATIONS IN MANUFACTURING THROUGH ACCREDITATION AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

We continue to design and manufacture toys made from sustainably sourced materials. This has been seen in all Addo Woodlets toys which are now independently accredited and therefore crafted from sustainable wood. On Early Learning Centre, the use of recycled PET has been extended to all plush toys and inner polybags from all puzzles launching from July 2023 have been removed. This means in just one season alone, that saves over 42 thousand polybags being produced that would otherwise go straight in the bin.

COMMUNICATION

CELEBRATING RECOGNITION AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENT

Won Best Eco Toy at Loved by Children Awards for Early Learning Centre Mummy & Baby Seals.

To reach a wider audience about our sustainability journey, we have published a Product of Change News article. Find out more about Addo Plays bold sustainability commitment here.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSIVITY

EQUITY FOR OUR PEOPLE

We have enhanced flexible working to ensure a more inclusive and equitable workplace. This includes working hours, remote working and enhanced holidays.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

REDUCING OUR DIRECT IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

To reach our long-term goal of reducing our carbon emissions, we have initially focussed on the direct influence we have to our environment. This includes reducing office heating, our use of electricity & water usage, and eliminating unessential business travel.

ETHICAL SOURCING

JOINING FORCES WITH SLAVE FREE ALLIANCE

Combatting Modern Slavery, we are working with the Slave Free Alliance to benchmark our current approach to supplier risk mapping.

PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY

ESTABLISHING A ‘BASELINE’ AT THE SOURCE

We have established a ‘Baseline Database’ for our vendors which is designed to record all materials used in our products & packaging. This invaluable reference source helps us create products that incorporate more sustainable materials and minimise our impact on the environment.

PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY

MADE RESPONSIBLY = MADE WITH LOVE

Our focus is to design and manufacture more toys made from sustainably sourced materials. This has been seen already in the timber used for the Addo Woodlets range and in the use of recycled polyester, which has been extended to the ELC Blossom Farm, Animal Plush, Dinosaur Plush ranges and Addo Snuggle Buddies and Endangered Animal plush toys.

Baby laying on ELC Blossom Farm Martha Moo Tummy Time Roller

PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY

TELLING THE WORLD

Each sustainably sourced product features a “Made Responsibly” logo to raise consumer awareness of sustainable information through our packaging communications.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY

We continue to support the communities and charitable organisations around us. This includes donating to Cancer Research UK, Make a Wish, Breast Cancer Research, Save the Children and Keech Hospice Care through hosting toy sales, themed days, cake sales, tournaments, tombola’s, awareness days, sponsored walks, toy donations to children’s charities and more throughout the year.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSIVITY

STARTING OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSIVITY JOURNEY

We have facilitated workshops with external partners and built internal audits to help us understand, benchmark and track our DEI journey.

2015

  • Addo Play is founded in April with clear core values.
  • These values form our company DNA, underpinning our journey around ethics and highlight our commitment to quality toy safety, ethical sourcing, and our people.

2016-2017

  • Established company and Addo product offering while understanding customer and consumer expectations.
  • Undertaking sustainability research.

2018 - 2019

  • Addo Play outline initial Sustainability Framework.
  • Conversations with experts and agencies about minimising environmental impact.
  • Launched individual brand initiatives

2020

  • CEO Open Letter launched signalling strategic intent. This details that sustainable development is one of Addo Play’s key business objectives and influences our day-to-day decision making.
  • More individual brand sustainability initiatives launched.

2021

  • Addo Play Sustainability strategy is launched based on 3 key pillars: Sustainable Design, Responsible Operations and Community.
  • All team members are encouraged to be part of a sustainability workstream linked to their personal objectives.

Product and Packaging Case Studies

POLICY DOCUMENTS

Our commitments to sustainability and responsible business operations are reflected in the following policies & guidance documents.

OUR PARTNERSHIPS

We believe that through partnerships and collaboration with credible, knowledgeable and innovative industry partners, we can work together to a more sustainable future.