Sustainability Spotlight: Melissa & Doug

April 19, 2022 | Earth Day is just around the corner, but for The Toy Association, tracking sustainability toy trends and highlighting the green initiatives of its member companies is a year-round effort. This week’s Sustainability Spotlight is on Melissa & Doug.

Last year, Melissa & Doug formalized its sustainability commitments with Project Restore, a sustainability initiative designed to guide the company in its existing work on environmental responsibility, through its mission for "Timeless Toys, Thriving Forests, and an Inclusive World." As part of the initiative, Melissa & Doug introduced a global reforestation partnership with One Tree Planted to replace the wood it uses for its products. One Tree Planted projects focus on regenerative forestry, reforesting areas impacted by forest fires, floods, and climate change such as regions of Appalachia, the Philippines, and the Amazon. Last week, Melissa & Doug announced the expansion of its reforestation commitment to achieve a global goal to plant 10 million trees by 2030.

In addition, Melissa & Doug has accelerated its plans to source more materials from responsibly managed forests and is currently transitioning to using FSC-certified wood in the manufacturing of more products. This is coupled with the company’s work with the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and How2Recycle to streamline its packaging efforts through recyclable materials and source reduction. The company is also 100% carbon neutral in its own operations, with purchases of carbon offsets going toward forest management projects.

"As a purpose-driven toy brand, our goal is to spark imagination and wonder in all children. Today's children are growing up in a world where they are aware of issues, such as climate change. It's important that we give back to our planet on behalf of future generations," Bridgette Miller, chief marketing & sustainability officer of Melissa & Doug and a Toy Association board member, said in a statement. "We want to remind children that the world is their playground with every new tree we help grow.”

To learn more about the company’s sustainability goals and Project Restore, visit MelissaAndDoug.com/sustainability.

To have your company's sustainability efforts and environmentally focused products featured by The Toy Association, contact Jennifer Lynch.