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
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
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
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.
- 2022
- 2023
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSIVITY
STARTING OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSIVITY JOURNEYWe have facilitated workshops with external partners and built internal audits to help us understand, benchmark and track our DEI journey.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR COMMUNITYWe 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.
PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY
TELLING THE WORLDEach sustainably sourced product features a “Made Responsibly” logo to raise consumer awareness of sustainable information through our packaging communications.
PRODUCT SUSTAINABILITY
MADE RESPONSIBLY = MADE WITH LOVEOur 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.
PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY
ESTABLISHING A ‘BASELINE’ AT THE SOURCEWe 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.
ETHICAL SOURCING
JOINING FORCES WITH SLAVE FREE ALLIANCECombatting Modern Slavery, we are working with the Slave Free Alliance to benchmark our current approach to supplier risk mapping.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REDUCING OUR DIRECT IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENTTo 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.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSIVITY
EQUITY FOR OUR PEOPLEWe have enhanced flexible working to ensure a more inclusive and equitable workplace. This includes working hours, remote working and enhanced holidays.
Case Studies
“SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING
CREATING LESS WASTE”
Refreshed packaging has been introduced to accommodate our focus on creating more sustainable packaging and less waste.
Changes include reducing dough pot sizes without removing the amount of dough, reducing the size of boxes and reengineering products so there is less packaging.
“ELC PUZZLES MADE FROM
SUSTAINABLY-SOURCED MATERIALS”
Early Learning Centre’s wide range of puzzles for all ages and stages includes wooden, floor and jigsaw puzzles with brightly coloured themes.
All current products in this extensive puzzle range are sustainably sourced and made from FSC-certified wood and card.
“RESPONSIBLY SOURCED
ELC OCEAN PLUSH”
We have introduced a range of from-birth ocean plush that are sustainably sourced using recycled plastic bottles and natural cotton.
Drawing attention to marine wildlife, there is a Seahorse, Narwhal and Mummy & Baby whale, turtle and seal sets. Each toy has embroidered eyes, soft material and a variety of different textures for children to explore.
“ADDO CRAFT RANGES REFRESHED
TO SUSTAINABLY SOURCED PACKAGING”
Using responsibly sourced materials and avoiding single-use plastics, our Out of the Box and Out to Impress craft ranges now offer brown paper bags instead of plastic bags and “Planet conscious” logos on the bags to encourage recycling.
This update comes alongside a new style guide and smaller box sizes where possible to reduce packaging.
“RANGE OF SUSTAINABLY DESIGNED
ELC DEVELOPMENT TOYS”
Durable and brightly coloured, these development toys are sustainably designed to reduce the use of virgin plastic by substituting it with a plant fibre and recycled plastic composite material.
“ALL ELC WOODEN TOYS SUSTAINABLY SOURCED”
We have worked hard to minimise our impact on the planet.
From 2021, all Early Learning Centre wooden toys will be FSC accredited.
“PACKAGING RE-DESIGN REDUCES OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT”
#Rfriends is our 18-inch doll program.
Over the last 2 years we have removed PET from the packaging, which has the carbon footprint saving equivalent of a family car travelling 41,806 km* *based on 20,000 dolls.
“SHARE THE JOY,
RE-HOME THE TOY”
When you have finished with me, don’t throw me away!
Why throw away old toys when you can contribute to improving the environment by re-using plastic toys? Pass them on, donate or gift them. Recycling toys helps to make a better world for everyone.
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.
