Mattel announces plan to reduce plastic packaging, releases citizenship report

One of its new goals is to reduce plastic packaging by 25 percent. With its new packaging goal, Mattel is focused on reducing plastic materials from product packaging, including polybags, window sheets and blister packs as part of its packaging strategy and reduction approach.  

Sustainable Design and Development  

Mattel says it aims to develop innovative products and experiences that are better for the world by integrating sustainable materials with principles of product stewardship and circular design. In this pillar the company says it has:  

• exceeded its goal to maintain 95 percent recycled or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified content in the paper and wood fiber used in its products and packaging, reaching 97.9 percent in 2021 as validated by the Rainforest Alliance;  

• recognized by the FSC with a 2021 Leadership Award for excellence in the use of FSC-certified products and commitment to responsible forest management;  

• Increased the amount of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in most window cartons and blister packs from 25 percent in 2020 to 30 percent in 2021;  

• launched Mattel PlayBack, a toy takeback program in the U.S., Canada, France, Germany and the UK, designed to recover and reuse valuable materials from old Mattel toys; and,  

  

• progressed its goal to achieve 100 percent recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic materials in products and packaging by 2030 with several new products made from more sustainable materials and other initiatives.

Responsible Sourcing and Production  

Mattel says it aims to optimize resource use in operations to reduce environmental effects and promote ethical sourcing practices and worker health and safety throughout the supply chain. In this pillar the company says it  has:  

• Accelerated progress toward Mattel’s goal to reduce Scope One and Two Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions by 50 percent by 2030 reporting an 8 percent reduction in absolute Scope One and Two GHG emissions versus the 2019 baseline year. The GHG emissions data disclosed in the 2021 Citizenship Report has been verified by an independent third-party verification body, SCS Global Services;  

• Advanced toward its goal to achieve zero manufacturing waste by 2030. The company conducted two on-site waste characterization audits at its manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico, and its distribution center in San Bernardino, California, which informed the creation of a new Mattel Waste Management Standard;  

• The company achieved a 79 percent waste diversion rate in 2021; and,  

• Established the Mattel Responsible Sourcing Working Group, a cross-functional team of internal experts to support Responsible Sourcing and Production, and to promote ethical sourcing practices and worker health and safety throughout Mattel’s supply chain, in 2021.  

Inclusive Communities  

Mattel aims to make a positive social impact through purposeful play and by supporting diverse, equitable and inclusive communities where we live, work and play. In this pillar the company has:  

• progressed toward its global diversity, equity & inclusion goals of increasing representation of women and ethnically diverse talent, and achieved 100 percent base pay equity by gender globally and by ethnicity in the U.S.; and,

• received the following notable recognitions for its workplace culture: Forbes World’s Best Employers of 2021; Forbes Best Employers for Women 2021; Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators 2021; Great Place to Work-Certified 2021; Newsweek Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces for 2021; Human Rights Campaign Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality 2021; and 2021 Time Most Influential Companies.  

“We are proud of the progress we have made in the past year toward our ESG goals and recognize that there is much more to be accomplished," says Pamela Gill-Alabaster, senior vice president of sustainability and social impact for Mattel. "Our new plastic packaging goal responds to increasing global attention on single-use plastic packaging waste and addresses changing consumer preferences. Our teams strive to continue to innovate with principles of circular design and product stewardship to develop products and packaging that are better for our planet.”