Hasbro continues its "greener" packaging initiatives

[griffin]

A press release from Hasbro (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/hasbro-announces-its-newest-sustainable-packaging-initiative-company-to-improve-producttopackaging-ratios-for-range-of-global-brands/24573/), outlining their next steps in making their packaging and products more environmentally friendly.

Some of this will effect Transformers, perhaps with smaller packaging bubbles that aren't 80% empty space...

[SkyWarp91]

Smaller packaging = being able to pack more boxes in storage which is great for MIB collectors such as myself :)

[Paulbot]

I wonder if they'll move towards solid boxes for all TFs like the recent/upcomming Japanese releases of TFPrime and the Kreo sets? Less chance to see smaller toy sizes that way.

[griffin]

I can't imagine if they would ever go that way, as the "360 degree bubble" is what they pitch to retailers in the more-competitive western toy market.

[KalEl]

Don't get me wrong im all in for greener business practices, but i just hope that the cost of this change doesn't pass through and effect budgets on toys.
I want a range like back in the unicron trilogy.

[GoktimusPrime]

Don't get me wrong im all in for greener business practices, but i just hope that the cost of this change doesn't pass through and effect budgets on toys.
I want a range like back in the unicron trilogy.

One would think that less money spent on packaging would mean more money available to spend on the toy. Considering how incredibly tight Hasbro are with their toy budgeting where they will skimp on a drop of paint to ensure that a toy won't exceed its budget, if they're going to be using less materials in producing smaller packaging, then surely that money saved can be passed onto the toy.

[KalEl]

One would think that less money spent on packaging would mean more money available to spend on the toy. Considering how incredibly tight Hasbro are with their toy budgeting where they will skimp on a drop of paint to ensure that a toy won't exceed its budget, if they're going to be using less materials in producing smaller packaging, then surely that money saved can be passed onto the toy.

not necessarily, 'green packaging' can quite often be more expensive. size isn't the issue. (not so say it is going to cost them more to be more environmental friendly), i'm just hoping if it does that it doesn't effect the toy budget.

[kup]

One would think that less money spent on packaging would mean more money available to spend on the toy. Considering how incredibly tight Hasbro are with their toy budgeting where they will skimp on a drop of paint to ensure that a toy won't exceed its budget, if they're going to be using less materials in producing smaller packaging, then surely that money saved can be passed onto the toy.

Any savings on packaging will be passed to the profit margin. Keep in mind that this is still a modern corporation.

[SharkyMcShark]

then surely that money saved can be passed onto the toy.

Why would they ever do that?

Any money saved goes to the shareholders.

[kup]

Why would they ever do that?

Any money saved goes to the shareholders.

Yeah, in the 21st century corporate world, the customer comes last :)

[griffin]

Also, note that they emphasised "recycled packaging", which would be a higher cost, perhaps offsetting savings made by having smaller packaging.
And smaller packaging is something that would be a balancing act - smaller packaging means cheaper shipping for Hasbro from China (more units per shipping container and less weight in the packaging), but bigger packaging can make the product look more "value for money".
It's why the robot modes (the bigger of the two modes) are often used in Voyager class toys, as they are a higher price, but not proportionally bigger to match that price (close to double price in America, but not double size toy).
While things like the First Edition Deluxes having that big empty space at the bottom of the bubble being padded out with a cardboard "display stand" to hide the empty space.
Anything to make the product on the shelf look bigger than it really is, to "deceive" consumers (parents & gift-getters) that their toy at $X is bigger and better value than another toy at the same price in more streamlined packaging.
Kreo does this well.
Some look like decent value on the shelf, and may look bigger than similarly priced Lego boxes (which haven't listed piece counts on them to compare that way), but open up many of the Kreo sets and it is 1/2 to 3/4 empty (Ratchet was the worst).

[KalEl]

Also, note that they emphasised "recycled packaging", which would be a higher cost, perhaps offsetting savings made by having smaller packaging.


This is part of what im saying

[Sam]

Yeah, in the 21st century corporate world, the customer comes last :)

Truer words have never been spoken.

Some retailers that are "environmentally friendly" will now charge you 10 cents if you want a plastic bag. But this practice is not reflected in their pricing.