Funded project – Circular Economy Action Plan and Roadmap for Toys
This project provided the Australian Toys Association and the toy industry more insight into the flow of materials through the Australian and Victorian economy which is what was set out to be achieved.
Background
The Australian Toy Association (ATA) offers membership to Australian and New Zealand businesses involved in the manufacturing, distribution, or retailing of products for kids and family leisure, learning, and entertainment. The product range includes toys, hobbies, nursery items, clothing, confectionery, games (board, electronic, and video), CDs, books, collectibles, car safety, furniture, sports, lifestyle, and licensed products. It reflects the association's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of a rapidly changing society.
The Australian Toy Association plays a crucial role in providing information and services that support the industry sectors in meeting consumer needs at individual, national, and global levels.
The project
Throughout the project, ATA completed various activities and tasks, including:
- Defining the problem scope and conducting background research through data gathering and analysis. ATA developed and maintained a database of stakeholders and key contacts.
- Creating abbreviations for Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) categories to improve clarity for a wider audience.
- Conducting surveys and interviews with stakeholders, including key stakeholders.
- Developing 4 circular economy interventions and assessing their feasibility through audits, trials, and engagement with recycling facilities.
- Conducting a sustainable return on investment mapping and reporting process, including updating feasibility assessments and conducting a material flow analysis to understand toy pathways in Victoria and Australia.
- Engaging with Not for Profit (NFP) stakeholders and continuously engaging with stakeholders for data mapping. Additionally, they conducted a consumer survey to gather insights.
- Reporting on project milestones and presenting key findings to the ATA Sustainability Committee.
These activities and tasks contributed to the overall progress and outcomes of the project.
Challenges
The research study is the first of its kind to examine the material flow of toys in Australia, specifically within Victoria. As pioneers in this field, ATA identified certain challenges in sourcing relevant data and insights that aligned with the research objectives and agreed-upon deliverables.
Despite these challenges, the research project has yielded significant findings regarding the reusability, repairability, and recyclability of toys in Australia. These findings shed light on the current state of toy sustainability within the country. However, it is important to acknowledge that there are still areas where further investigation is needed to address existing data gaps and expand the understanding of such important topic.
Various events influenced the successful delivery of the project, but ATA also encountered some notable barriers, including:
- The global COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted stakeholder engagement, site visits, audits, and the timely collection of data and resources.
- Limited availability of comprehensive data related to toys within Australia posed challenges for the research.
- Inconsistencies in the terminology used to classify different types of toys created difficulties in data analysis and interpretation.
- Privacy and confidentiality concerns surrounding toy compositions and manufacturing processes added complexity to the research.
To overcome these barriers and address the associated issues, ATA undertook the following actions:
- Maintaining flexibility with project timelines to accommodate the unforeseen challenges caused by the pandemic.
- Utilising alternative data sources and making data-based assumptions where necessary to supplement the existing information.
- Drawing upon international studies and research to enhance the findings and provide a broader perspective on the subject matter.
Insights
The project successfully provided valuable insights into the material flow of toys in the Australian and Victorian economy which contributing to the understanding to establish a circular toy industry. The teams obtained crucial information on the approximate quantity of imported products in tonnes and mapped their pathways throughout Australia and Victoria. The comprehensive understanding enables informed decision-making and effective strategies for promoting a sustainable and circular toy industry.
Despite limited recycling opportunities for toys due to challenges posed by their complex plastic polymers, consumers actively participate in donating used toys to re-use providers. It highlights an opportunity to leverage existing structures and enhance re-use practices. Consumers also prioritize sustainable alternatives, avoiding the disposal of old toys whenever possible. Designing for the environment remains a crucial consideration for future endeavours within the Victorian and Australian economies.
Next steps
- Promote and facilitate the re-use and repair of toys to extend their lifespan and reduce waste.
- Enhance efforts to recover and recycle toys, implementing effective systems and infrastructure for responsible toy disposal.
- Foster a culture of design for the environment in the toy industry, encouraging manufacturers to prioritize sustainable materials and production processes.
- Continuously gather market intelligence and address research gaps to stay informed about emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in the toy industry's sustainability efforts.
