Eco-mobilier has just applied for approval to recycle toys, board games and outdoor play equipment. This is a logical step for the ecoorganization, which has ten years' experience in recycling furniture and household items.
The French Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy Act (AGEC) stipulates that, from 2022 onwards, this sector will be responsible for EPR: Extended Producer Responsibility. This means that manufacturers and distributors will have to finance the collection, reuse and recycling of used toys .
40,000 tonnes of toys end up in landfill sites every year. Eco-mobilier's ambition, together with toy manufacturers and distributors, is to organize reuse and increase recycling volumes. The application for approval was prepared in conjunction with the main federations concerned: FJP, FCJPE, FCD and FEVAD.
It's a gesture that's already part of consumer habits, as it's rare for people to throw away toys in good condition; here, affective value is important. Toys can be given away, but they can also be sold at flea markets and on second-hand websites. The aim of Eco-mobilier and its partners is to facilitate the reuse of toys through several channels, with the emphasis on donation. This new eco-responsible habit is encouraged by the AGEC law.
For Florent Leroux, General Manager of Ravensburger and President of the FJP (Fédération française des industries Jouet et Puériculture), "One of the key challenges of Extended Producer Responsibility for the industry will be to reconcile these environmental requirements with the safety requirements specific to the sector, and to strike a balance between them."
Philippe Gueydon and Romain Mulliez, co-presidents of the French federation of toy and children's product retailers, say: "Extended producer responsibility is an opportunity to initiate a virtuous circle, highlight best practices and control the end-of-life of products.
"The aim is to turn a regulatory obligation into an opportunity for the companies concerned," explains Dominique Mignon, President of Eco-mobilier. By drawing on Eco-mobilier's expertise in developing outlets for materials, we'll be putting manufacturers and distributors who place their products on the market in a position to decide on their own strategy. This is the ambition of our application for these new approvals. Dominique Mignon, President of Eco-mobilier
Extending the useful life of toys by encouraging donation
The aim is to provide a network of collection points to make it easier to take back toys and games for re-use.
In-store containers dedicated to toys and games will be made available to customers. Local associations will be asked to take back these returned products and recondition them for re-use.
Collection at public drop-off centers will be improved: we'll be promoting the deposit of used toys in a covered reuse zone, so that toys and games don't end up in the rubbish bin. Most waste collection centers will be affected by these improvements.
The eco-organization wants to raise public awareness of the need to donate, and will therefore be organizing special toy collection events in schools. They will be accompanied by educational tools for children and parents.
In the same spirit, the donation platform will also be open to games and toys. This site will enable producers to donate their unsold goods. This is because the law requires them to be donated first and foremost to the social economy. They can only be sent for recycling if the associations refuse. Thanks to this digital platform, Eco-mobilier can put professionals in touch with its 500 partners in the social economy.
Encouraging eco-design
For toys and games no longer in use, the challenge is also to improve their recycling.
"Eco-responsibility is in the genes of toy companies," says Alexis Delorme, Managing Director of Smoby Toys.
"Our ambition is to strengthen value-creation chains in France," adds Dominique Mignon. "With this in mind, Eco-mobilier supports investment in the reincorporation of recycled materials, its participation in the effort to develop the recycling industry in France, and the extension of the circular economy logic for materials."
Pre-adhesion and preparation for companies
Pre-registration is now open. Information on rates and resources will be communicated to companies during the first quarter, depending on the approval date.
The six months following publication of the approval order will be devoted to preparatory studies on reuse, repair, eco-modulations... Local authorities and associations will be able to contract with Eco-mobilier from July 2022. The second half of the year will also be devoted to updating contracts with waste operators and piloting collection with schools and in-store take-back schemes. Full operational launch of the sector is scheduled for January 1, 2023.
This new channel will enable us to massify our collections. This guarantees all current and future members sustainable outlets and control over the eco-participation fee. New members will benefit from optimized rates, thanks to the network of collection points and industrial solutions already put in place by Eco-mobilier.
About FJP
Official representative to numerous national and international institutions, the Fédération Française des Industries Jouet-Puériculture assists and advises its members in the fields of product safety, quality and environment, legal and social affairs, and communications. It has nearly 80 member companies, both French and international, covering most toy and childcare markets. As a civic-minded federation, the FJP plays an active role in public debates on issues such as gender diversity, sustainable development and family policy. For more information, visit www.fjp.fr and follow us on LinkedIn (@fjp).
About CYPF
The FCJPE brings together specialist toy retailers in France, whether integrated chains, franchise networks, cooperative networks or independents. Its members include Jouéclub, King Jouet, La Grande Récré, Picwictoys, Sajou, Micromania, Oxybul, Disney Store, Maxitoys and Orchestra.
About FCD
The Fédération du Commerce et de la Distribution brings together the majority of supermarket chains, both food retailers and specialist retailers. This sector accounts for 750,000 jobs, over 10 million customers a day, 2,131 hypermarkets, 5,962 supermarkets, 3,952 own-brand supermarkets (ex maxidiscomptes), almost 3,700 drives, around 20,000 convenience stores, over 30,000 points of sale and a turnover of around 200 billion euros. The FCD is particularly active in the fields of food safety, sustainable development, economic relations (SMEs, manufacturers, agricultural sectors), relations with social partners, and issues relating to regional and commercial planning.
Press contacts
Eco-mobilier
Anne de Lander - 06 61 77 48 72 - [email protected]
FJP
Natalie Jolly - 06 07 76 32 23 - [email protected]
Elaine Capron - 06 83 77 72 06 - [email protected]
FCJPE
Emilie Sanson - 06 22 29 65 32 - [email protected]
FCD
Sophie Amoros - 01 44 43 99 12 - [email protected]