The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: Leave a Whisper on August 20, 2019, 07:43:12 AM
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https://newsroom.hasbro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/hasbro-phase-out-plastic-new-toy-and-game-packaging?linkId=72325376
This is a great move for the environment. I'm kind of afraid toy swappers will use it to their advantage though.
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"We want to be more environmentally friendly!"
*releases this*
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Yeah it's bottle-shaped, that's cute and everything, but a third of the package is unused space!
They have cut back on the windows a LITTLE bit from the looks of it, with that Amazon-exclusive seapony set (with Applejack), and the FiM Collection Canterlot Castle re-release. The seaponies I think it was done just to make it easier to package but maybe that's what we can expect from now on...
Absolutely no windows though? Zero? They can't make them out of anything else? I wouldn't have minded otherwise, but pony quality is awful. Without a window, you're way more likely to get a pony full of factory errors...
And didn't they talk about going green or whatever back in like 2015? That was when they quit packaging them nicely with boxart and quit giving out accessories. And then fast forward to 2019, they're putting baby bottle-shaped plastic with unused space on cards! And they're obsessed with the surprise/blind bag fad, which is notorious for trash! How are they gonna handle that? Cutie Mark Crew is already terrible about that! Oh, and I just remembered about the TUBE PONIES? The ones where they used ALL that plastic for just a tiny pony, no accessories, no comb, NOTHING?
Anyway... can't wait to see rows of this next year!
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It might be cool to have boxes if,
1. It has nice artwork on it and not just reused stock art after reused stock art after reused stock art. (not gonna happen)
2. There is better quality control with the ponies themselves (ooooo DEFINITELY not gonna happen)
My final thought is not having windows to judge quality is going to be godawful for G4s.
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This is amazing! We are going in a direction that if we don't change it now we wont be living on this planet anymore! We will still have the toy, it just might not have the most eye please package! But who cares! We are not buying them for the package people!
I just sent them an email thanking them for thinking about our future! Its the big companies that have to make these changes!
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That picture cracks me up!
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Actually, this is really awesome of them! I hope they follow through
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I guess they could just tag the item instead. Holes in the ears anyone, and metal tags? :P
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I mean, that's good. But the toys themselves are also plastic. Phasing out the plastic packaging is doing the least and I won't applaud them for it :lol:
It should be a requirement for most things, tbh. I hate how organic veggies are plastic wrapped so my options are plastic or eat pesticides.
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I mean, that's good. But the toys themselves are also plastic. Phasing out the plastic packaging is doing the least and I won't applaud them for it :lol:
It should be a requirement for most things, tbh. I hate how organic veggies are plastic wrapped so my options are plastic or eat pesticides.
Let's make ponies from vegetables. Everyone's happy, space is no longer a problem and dinner is also solved.
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They did a thing similar to this a few years ago -
Does anyone remember when Hasbro switched from using those pastic "T" tags to fasten things into the boxes and started using twisted paper cords instead? maybe it was hemp? dunno but I was so pleased with the change - I despise those T tag plastic things. But it only lasted for a year or so. I'm afraid this is will be the same thing. I get the sense it's a "see look everyone!" then ditch it. Sure the environment will benefit from anything they can do but they don't seem committed for the long term.
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Let's make ponies from vegetables. Everyone's happy, space is no longer a problem and dinner is also solved.
My Little Po.... tato :lol:
We will still have the toy, it just might not have the most eye please package! But who cares! We are not buying them for the package people!
The packaging is what helps sell the product, interestingly. A whole branch of design is dedicated to packaging. So it will be an issue if buyers can see the product or not, how it's displayed, etc.
Don't thank them just yet.
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Let's make ponies from vegetables. Everyone's happy, space is no longer a problem and dinner is also solved.
My Little Po.... tato :lol:
See, already a brand name. G5 is born.
Plenty of scope for names too. Broccoli Bouquet. Fennel Flash. Cute Cabbage. Beetroot Bonnets. Parsnip Pie. Beans-a-lot.
It goes on, but there's your mane 6.
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So will these be open box and just tied down? Or will these be in a closed box?
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So will these be open box and just tied down? Or will these be in a closed box?
Open grocery type display, where you get a bag (paper of course) and weigh them before paying.
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I have nothing to say about this, however...
Anyway... can't wait to see rows of this next year!
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This deserves a prize, LOL! XD :rofl:
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finally hasbro, a little miffed its taken them this long, oh well better late then never but this is something they could of started years ago, even in the 80s they didn't use all the plastic they use now. its gone nuts these days with all these toy company's excessive amount of plastic they use in packaging and after everyone knowing that global warming and sea pollution IS a real thing.
sorry for the rant. yes very pleased to hear that they are pulling their finger out and talking about making an effort towards the environment next year.
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These toy companies are all racing to make opening the packaging the experience rather than the toy itself, so we are ending up with a pound of plastic trash for a 3 in plastic doll with no hair, joints, etc. (See LOL, Blume, Capsule Chix, poopsie surprise etc)
Toy companies don't know how to compete with screens and apps, so they add ever more gimmicks and layers to packages and lean into the "gotta catch them all" mentality
It's nice to see this, and the technology does exist to reduce plastic in packaging, but it will always be lip service when companies' #1 priority is to make obscene profit. They don't care about climate change, that hurts the bottom line
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They did a thing similar to this a few years ago -
Does anyone remember when Hasbro switched from using those pastic "T" tags to fasten things into the boxes and started using twisted paper cords instead? maybe it was hemp? dunno but I was so pleased with the change - I despise those T tag plastic things. But it only lasted for a year or so. I'm afraid this is will be the same thing. I get the sense it's a "see look everyone!" then ditch it. Sure the environment will benefit from anything they can do but they don't seem committed for the long term.
Right?! Glad I'm not the only one who remembered that. Going green is good, but they've done this before, turned around, and went back to their old ways, but this time, be even worse...
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Let's see how they're packaging things in 2021 or 2023.These toy companies are all racing to make opening the packaging the experience rather than the toy itself, so we are ending up with a pound of plastic trash for a 3 in plastic doll with no hair, joints, etc. (See LOL, Blume, Capsule Chix, poopsie surprise etc)
Toy companies don't know how to compete with screens and apps, so they add ever more gimmicks and layers to packages and lean into the "gotta catch them all" mentality
It's nice to see this, and the technology does exist to reduce plastic in packaging, but it will always be lip service when companies' #1 priority is to make obscene profit. They don't care about climate change, that hurts the bottom line
This too. Surprise toys are the worst when it comes to trash. Glad other people see the same and I'm not too cynical. :P
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So 2022 is when it's going to be completely phased out with plastic packaging? So I'm wondering if when they start the release of G5 (or whatever it's going to be called) is when they will basically start with this no plastic packaging...
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But wasn't the global warming actually mostly caused by overpopulation and eating too much meat?
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Yes, overpopulation is the main cause of climate change. Good luck convincing Africa and India to stop making babies, though.
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I'm not sure if this was a serious question but climate change was created by human actions. The leading sources of greenhouse gases are combustion of fossil fuels in factories and power plants, and methane released from factory farming (yes eating too much meat), landfills and petroleum factories (thus the discussion around plastic reduction).
NASA has a good basic introduction website on it https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/
The amount of CO2 generated by people breathing/existing can't be compared to what is produced by industry. Of course as population increases so does demand for agriculture however, instances of meat eating are higher in richer countries than the ones called out by HollowZero. You are treading into some discriminatory waters, people in Africa and India do not have equal access to education and birth control both of which have a positive correlation to population reduction.
To return to the topic, there is no inherent need for plastic toys or other consumer goods but companies have created demand for them via marketing and disenfranchisement etc. I'm happy to have less plastic encircling my toy in seven layers, and even as a toy collector I'd be happy with less toy production.
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That would be awesome!
I'll bet they're thinking about using the corn-based stuff they use on compostable cups. I don't know what science-magic they use, but the stuff looks and feels like plastic, and is clear like plastic. But it biodegrades if you compost it.
While we're on the topic, this is something I hate about L.O.L. Surprise dolls. One of the "features" of the dolls is that they're wrapped in layers of layers of plastic, which contain "surprises."
Surprises like . . . a sticker or a hairbrush. Which do not count as surprises at all in my book.
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But wasn't the global warming actually mostly caused by overpopulation and eating too much meat?
Don’t forget air travel—the pollution/toxin
-spewing elephant in the room that no one ever wants to talk about.
Obviously little changes like this are good... but they seem so insignificant in the big picture. I hate to be cynical, but it seems like corporations only do these things for a pat on the back/good press. I’m sad to say this, but... I don’t think anything will “get better” environmentally until humanity can reduce meat consumption, stop flying across the globe every five minutes for vacations and other unnecessary reasons, and embrace the age of video conferencing for business related meetings and gatherings.
But yeah... I don’t get why blind bag/box toys don’t use more cardboard. It’s the perfect medium for eco-friendly packaging, since you don’t need to see or display what’s inside. What about something hidden in layers of (recyclable) gift-paper that you unwrap, like a present?
That would be awesome!
I'll bet they're thinking about using the corn-based stuff they use on compostable cups. I don't know what science-magic they use, but the stuff looks and feels like plastic, and is clear like plastic. But it biodegrades if you compost it.
That stuff would be a great alternative for packaging! If you’re curious, it’s made from cellulose—the tough, indigestible (for us humans) part of the cob that would normally be disposed of in the food industry. It’s amazing what can be done with it!
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That would be awesome!
I'll bet they're thinking about using the corn-based stuff they use on compostable cups. I don't know what science-magic they use, but the stuff looks and feels like plastic, and is clear like plastic. But it biodegrades if you compost it.
While we're on the topic, this is something I hate about L.O.L. Surprise dolls. One of the "features" of the dolls is that they're wrapped in layers of layers of plastic, which contain "surprises."
Surprises like . . . a sticker or a hairbrush. Which do not count as surprises at all in my book.
I feel the same way about L.O.L dolls I've never understood why they are so popular and most of the "surprises" are just stickers.
Ponyfan
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That would be awesome!
I'll bet they're thinking about using the corn-based stuff they use on compostable cups. I don't know what science-magic they use, but the stuff looks and feels like plastic, and is clear like plastic. But it biodegrades if you compost it.
While we're on the topic, this is something I hate about L.O.L. Surprise dolls. One of the "features" of the dolls is that they're wrapped in layers of layers of plastic, which contain "surprises."
Surprises like . . . a sticker or a hairbrush. Which do not count as surprises at all in my book.
I feel the same way about L.O.L dolls I've never understood why they are so popular and most of the "surprises" are just stickers.
Ponyfan
There actually aren’t that many stickers—not in the main line, anyway. Usually just one or two to a pack. The majority of the “surprises” tend to be the doll’s outfit... shoes, sunglasses, purse, jacket, etc... I prefer the Pets series for this reason, as you at least get something that isn’t totally predictable.
But yeah... all that plastic is a pain. Like I was saying, L.O.L. would be a prime line for incorporating more gift-paper and less plastic wrap.
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Honestly, if they started making toys from corn or coconut plastic I wouldn't mind. Their ponies already start rotting and changing color after a short span of time, just make them completely biodegradeable.
Put in landfills, these materials still need over 100 years to decompose naturally. That means you have enough time to enjoy your collection until it will be gone. In fact, you'll decompose much faster than a corn pony :P
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On a side note, note necessarily related to Hasbro, but rather to alternative methods to swap out plastic: I'm all happy about reducing plastic, but the corn-based technology also has its disadvantages. Yes, it decomposes, but the problem is, this seems to satisfy the world enough that there's no 'Plan B' (at least not where I live) for those who don't have access to composting. For those living in the city without the option to compost, corn-based "plastic" actually means more stuff going in the landfills - regular plastic you can collect selectively, but this you either compost, or you put it in your regular watesbin. And whatever goes in the latter will be stored in airless landfills which don't give an opportunity for even degradable stuff to decompose. I'm by no means saying this to promote plastic, I just wanted to add that resolution attempts needs to happen jointly, on multiple levels. Until this is missing, alternative (=not possible to collect selectively) methods will generate more common waste.
My dream is to be able to collect compostable waste separately (the majority of our non-selective waste is that really...), but my dream is also to live where I live now: in the city centre, in 100+ year-old blocks of flats, and here there's just no way to compost on the spot. I'd love to have the option to collect this separately and then have the stuff taken away separately, in a similar way as selective waste collection is happening, but the waste collecting situation is just not on that level here yet - and I know several countries where the waste situation is even worse.
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It's like the recyclable straw debate...recently here there was some article about how the new paper straws are not easily recyclable but also not reusable, unlike the plastic ones. It's also created furore from disabled people who need a straw to drink and can't use the reusable ones for whatever reason relating to their composition.
...The problem is complex because we are so dependant on plastic that finding alternatives requires a much bigger effort than we've yet seen. Meantime plastic is continuing to be used and produced.
No thank you to biodegradeable ponies. I feel about this that so long as my ponies aren't being trashed, they aren't in landfill, so they're not adding to the problem. I see the argument for not producing more...but I would rather see no ponies than ones that visibly rot. I've seen the carrier bags dessicate into something you really don't want to inhale, and it would just be disturbing to have them intentionally breaking down. Not to mention safety if one happened to decompose too soon and choked a kid with a broken part.
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but I would rather see no ponies than ones that visibly rot.
You wouldn't be able to see them rotting because they would take hundreds of years. Provided they'd be made from materials produced today and not some futuristic quickly rotting material we don't know yet.
The corn plastic and such takes 3 months to decompose but only in special fascilities that can speed up the process with heat and moisture. Left alone they need multiple human lives to rot away.
That reminds me that my guests tend to side-eye my salad bowl because it's coconut plastic and they think keeping moist salad inside will speed up the decomposition :lol: I wish it was that fast!
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Yeah... no compostable ponies for me, thanks. >_<; Plastic/vinyl degrades fast enough as it is... I don’t want something that’s actually MEANT to be temporary.
A world with no plastic toys is a world I have no desire to live in.
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it will be interesting! i look forward to box art being a major focus again
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it will be interesting! i look forward to box art being a major focus again
Sadly, you probably shouldn’t.
I actually suspect we'll get something more like the concept art Ragamuffin proposed. :whistle:
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Actually I’m optimistic towards the box art.
Hasbro has already switched to box-only packaging for a few of their Transformers. Siege Jetfire and Skywarp(?). the box art of amazing!
i’ll try to find pics.
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Is this Seige Jetfire? Because that artwork looks AMAZING.
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it will be interesting! i look forward to box art being a major focus again
Sadly, you probably shouldn’t.
I actually suspect we'll get something more like the concept art Ragamuffin proposed. :whistle:
Probably made with ink that poisons the environment.
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it will be interesting! i look forward to box art being a major focus again
Sadly, you probably shouldn’t.
I actually suspect we'll get something more like the concept art Ragamuffin proposed. :whistle:
Probably made with ink that poisons the environment.
:haha:
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Is this Seige Jetfire? Because that artwork looks AMAZING.
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yep yep. So I sorta have my hopes up - if they go to a pony in a box plan - that at least the boxes will be nice.
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Pony is like, two inches inside a huge box.
Also, for some reason this reminds me of My Little Transformers, where what's in the box is not as expected...
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Pony is like, two inches inside a huge box.
Also, for some reason this reminds me of My Little Transformers, where what's in the box is not as expected...
That episode was hilarious! :lol:
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Phasing out plastic packaging?
That makes me think of vintage barbie packaging. They were a simple paper box with art on it, no plastic window or anything. So people buying it didn't know what the doll inside actually looked like, they just had to go by the art representing the doll.
I don't like the idea of that being done with modern toys.
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Maybe the packaging can be something more like this- only without the plastic "holder" piece?
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Hmm... I hope they can come up with some way of letting us see the toy, without just resorting to the 'zilla style packaging (always makes me shudder thinking of how many people could've touched those.. >_< I love the zillas but man their packaging sucks). I prefer seeing what I'm buying, especially with toys like this where their faces can... vary.
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Hmm... I hope they can come up with some way of letting us see the toy, without just resorting to the 'zilla style packaging (always makes me shudder thinking of how many people could've touched those.. >_< I love the zillas but man their packaging sucks). I prefer seeing what I'm buying, especially with toys like this where their faces can... vary.
Well if not Zilla packaging- or solid brown boxes with the picture printed on the outside- how else could they possibly package a pony without plastic?
I guess wood and glass ? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Hmm... I hope they can come up with some way of letting us see the toy, without just resorting to the 'zilla style packaging (always makes me shudder thinking of how many people could've touched those.. >_< I love the zillas but man their packaging sucks). I prefer seeing what I'm buying, especially with toys like this where their faces can... vary.
I think this is the best way to see the pony without a window, but I agree, the hair is probably really easy to mess up without anything to protect it, right? Well, I guess nothing of value is lost since the hair is already unfixable when the pony is totally mint. :wonder:
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Maybe they'll be kept in a glass antique case behind the desk and you'll have to point and get the clerk (wearing gloves, of course) to carefully retrieve the pony for you on request. No packaging. Wood and glass security. Extra work for staff rather than being replaced by machines. A plan with no drawbacks.
So long as the ponies aren't made of carrots.
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Now THAT is a plan I could get behind! :silly:
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Oh interesting, I just read an article a few days ago talking about this. Hasbro was one of the big companies invited to the Ocean Plastic Leadership Summit. They had a bunch of environmental groups and big plastic producing companies come together and go visit the North Atlantic Gyre and see the garbage crisis in the ocean first hand. Then they all split up into groups and came up with ideas and solutions for their companies to reduce their use of plastic. I'm not sure how they will package ponies now but it'll be interesting to see and I was happy to see that Hasbro was one of the companies participating. Most of the companies invited declined.
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I just hope they do go threw with it! It will be interesting to see it! I also got a message back from them! They thanked me for my positive attitude toward it! :)
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Definitely a more complex issue... I think it goes far beyond how these things are produced.
I would like to see a change in attitudes, but don't judge anyone, as it doesn't help.
Reconciling my interests such as collecting with my values has been tough, especially since I tend to be very anxious.
I'm emotionally attached to little plastic horses. They bring me joy, I like collecting them, and having them around. There's no point feeling guilty over that, and I always hope these kind of discussions don't polarise people. Of course it would be ideal if companies weren't manufacturing products in such a way and scale that it was unsustainable and carrying terrible consequences for the future. Plus I also worry about the human labour involved, probably most of all. Though it's hard to find accurate information about that. The impacts of this sort of thing on poorer countries.
Personally I've decided to only buy second hand ponies to add to my collection, which literally isn't a problem at all as there's no lack of supply. I really like it because it also lets me appreciate the things that are already here, what's done is done and there's no point deciding some already existing items are "bad" and eliminating them. They'll be around anyway.
The impacts of reducing plastic by a certain amount or replacing it with a different material in manufacturing is way beyond my ability to understand. If it does reduce waste/emissions then I think that's a good thing.
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I do hope that this works. While hasbro is a small drop in the plastic packaging bucket, every little bit helps. I hope that they don’t go with the Zilla packing. Perhaps there is a new kind of plant based or otherwise eco friendly window film in development. Science can go far when given money and reason...I think a better packaging would be a good reason.
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woop woop I cant wait for the day that plastic packing is obsolete
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbValMHcKSM
Here's a video on Frustration Free Packaging that seems relevant from Hasbro and Amazon.
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I mean, that's good. But the toys themselves are also plastic. Phasing out the plastic packaging is doing the least and I won't applaud them for it :lol:
It should be a requirement for most things, tbh. I hate how organic veggies are plastic wrapped so my options are plastic or eat pesticides.
Let's make ponies from vegetables. Everyone's happy, space is no longer a problem and dinner is also solved.
Seriously though I don't tend to collect packaging. I have very few 'in package' ponies and then they are only G3, G4 and anniversary. I have some bits of G1 packaging but not unopened and complete with pony. This issue is part of the reason I bought all my G4s on ebay i.e. new but not packaged or second hand. I know there are implications to getting some of my G4s in that way and I do have mixed feelings about it. But their main market is kids and if kids are happy to buy blind then there will still be a market, and I can just keep getting them on ebay. Maybe Hasbro should have thier own shop on Ebay for cheaper unpackaged toys and then we wouldn't have to stress about it.
:lol: :lol: :lol: