One of my pandemic hobbies has been to watch environmentally conscious YouTube videos. I've found channels dedicated to climate change, channels that break down the issues with recycling, and channels that look at the environmental footprint of various materials. I'd like to apply some of the things I've learned to board games.
First off, we can't determine a material's sustainability by only looking at its end-of-life OR by only looking at the materials used to produce it. We have to consider both, plus emissions from transportation. And from my limited knowledge, transportation is probably the biggest environmental problem in board games (see DW Planet A link below for more about shipping). Shipping from China all over the world in container ships is industry standard but it's not good for the environment. So, in an ideal world we would have local micro-factories that could produce components and assemble games for each region you would otherwise ship to. Obviously, that's a huge shift that comes with a host of problems logistically. (Counterpoint: we already do localization for games; this would just take it a bug step further.) But local manufacturing is what I think would be the most sustainable (probably even after a swift to all electric transport). For now though, the lighter the components, the fewer shipping emissions (an argument in favor of sometimes using plastic).
Then there are smaller steps that are happening now. Reducing or eliminating plastic wrap packaging is a good goal, provided the games arrive safe and playable. Losing inventory is possibly worse for the environment than thin plastic is, because of the energy required to replace it. I would say though, that papertape sticker tabs would be more environmentally friendly than plastic stickers (most stickers and tape are non-recyclable plastic). The less there is to throw away in a game, the better for the environment. But if something needs to be tossed, it would be nice for it to be biodegradable. I'd also like to see board game companies include 'how to recycle' instructions in the game box.
Ideally, all paper products would be recyclable and made of recycled materials; wood components would be made from certified sustainably harvested wood; and all metal or plastic components derived from recycled material. If you want to do a really deep dive though, you need to consider inks and finishes. A plastic layer on paper goods can be sort of separated from the paper, but only the paper gets recycled using current methods. Inks should be produced by companies that aren't pumping pollution by-product straight into rivers (actually, that goes for all factories). Additionally, the longer components last, the better for the environment. The board game resale market is one of the most sustainable things about the hobby. (Because print-and-plays cut out global shipping, they are fairly sustainable as well.)
When looking at manufacturing companies, there are a number of certifications (like Certified B Corporations) that let you know that a company is actually doing the environmentally positive things they say they are. Other terms to look for would be carbon neutral or carbon negative.
Some things I don't think are sustainable in the long term: 3D printers on a large scale (unless you're running them on renewable energy, you reuse the excess filament and miss prints, and you ship locally), non-replayable/resellable games like escape room games, expansion FOMO in Kickstarters that encourages people to buy more game than they'll ever play, and 'table presence' components that lack game function. The 3D printer thing is largely based on how long they take to run compared to injection molding or laser cutting combined with current limitations on the materials they can use.
I'm excited to see publishers actively exploring options for increasing sustainability. However, it's a long road and we won't get there if we stop at the plastic wrap. The first step is increased awareness at what true sustainability would look like. I recommend checking out these YouTube channels: Gittemary Johansen's Impact of videos, Our Changing Climate, and DW Planet A.
ShippBoard Games is a board game design blog that updates most Mondays.
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