Mattel announced a new program where kids can return their Barbie dolls and old toys once they are done with them. In other words, the American toymaker is also getting into the recycling trend for a better world.
A step toward sustainability
As per CNN Business, Mattel will be recycling old toys made by the company. This will be carried out through its new program called the "Mattel PlayBack," which is created to get back and reuse materials in used toys for Mattel products that will be produced in the future.
The program is just one of the 76-year-old California-based company’s steps in its effort to develop a sustainability-focused future. Mattel already started using 100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic materials in the manufacturing of its toys since it previously vowed to do so. And by 2030, it is hoping to achieve the use of full recycled materials for its entire range of items and packaging.
"We get to keep these valuable materials out of a landfill and have the opportunity to learn from the circular model," Mattel’s global chief of sustainability, Pamela Gill-Alabaster, told CNN Business. She added that the new program is one way that the firm is "taking to address the growing global waste challenge."
The toys and how to participate in the “Mattel PlayBack” scheme
The toymaker is launching the program with its top three toy brands that include Barbie, MEGA Toys, and Matchbox. For its other labels, they will eventually be added to the list in the coming months or years.
Initially, this will only be available in Canada and the U.S., but through its third-party partners, Mattel is opening a similar toy recycling program in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. Those who have Mattel toys can simply go to the company’s website and print the shipping label for free.
The next step is to mail their used dolls, cars, and more back to Mattel. At the receiving station, the toys will be sorted and separated according to type. The company will then proceed to process and recycle them to create new toys.
Finally, for items made from materials that cannot be recycled or repurposed, they will be downcycled into other plastic products or turn them from waste to energy, USA Today reported.


YouTube Agrees to Follow Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban
Rio Tinto Raises 2025 Copper Output Outlook as Oyu Tolgoi Expansion Accelerates
Visa to Move European Headquarters to London’s Canary Wharf
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data
Netflix Nearing Major Deal to Acquire Warner Bros Discovery Assets
OpenAI Moves to Acquire Neptune as It Expands AI Training Capabilities
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut
ExxonMobil to Shut Older Singapore Steam Cracker Amid Global Petrochemical Downturn
Wikipedia Pushes for AI Licensing Deals as Jimmy Wales Calls for Fair Compensation
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures
Magnum Audit Flags Governance Issues at Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Ahead of Spin-Off
Anthropic Reportedly Taps Wilson Sonsini as It Prepares for a Potential 2026 IPO
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 



