2022 has been full of Golden Bear Sustainability!

At Golden Bear protecting our planet is something we care deeply about, we've been doing a lot behind the scenes this year to become as sustainable as possible.

Flip the boxes below to learn 20 things Golden Bear have been doing in 2022 to increase our Sustainability! From continuing the transition from using virgin materials to recycled polyester in our soft toys to reducing both our scope 1 and 2 emissions.

But we won't stop here, every effort is being made at Golden Bear Toys to improve our sustainability as much as possible. We have a dedicated sustainability team who continue to explore how we can improve week by week and we have external support in place where we need it, to make sure we are on track.

At Golden Bear protecting our planet is something we care deeply about, we've been doing a lot behind the scenes this year to become as sustainable as possible.

#1 - Golden Bear UK are a certified carbon-neutral company. We continue to offset all Scope 1 and 2, and some Scope 3 emissions by supporting carbon offset projects in Rwanda, Malawi, and Guatemala
This means all the carbon we produce in both our UK and HQ offices we reduce elsewhere in the world.

#2 - Our Hey Duggee range was the first to move into recycled fabric back in 2021. Now, in 2023, 83% of our soft toys will be made using recycled polyester for both the outer fabric and filling.

#3 - LED lighting has been installed throughout GB UK HQ. LED technology converts more electrical energy into useful light and less into heat. This makes LED lighting more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly than any other type of lightbulb.

#4 - 300 tonnes of PET plastic have been recycled to create the fabric and filling used in our soft toys over the past three years. Some studies suggest that using recycled polyester uses 50% less energy, 90% less water, and emits 75% less CO2 than virgin polyester.

#5 - Electric car charging points installed at the Golden Bear UK HQ, encouraging more sustainable travel amongst our staff with the aim of reducing our scope 3 emissions

#6 - Golden Bear are proud members of the 'Products of Change' group. With education at its heart, Products of Change is a global ‘living library’ of sustainable learnings, designed to support, encourage and perpetuate companies and brands in meeting their sustainability goals.

#7 - We have cut back on unnecessary plastic. All plastic ties in our packaging have been replaced with a card equivalent.

#8 - Golden Bear UK operates as zero to landfill site.

#9 - Supported over 30 charities in 2022, many of which have been via toy donations.

#10 - All our Bing, In the Night Garden, Okimos, Sooty, and Twirlywoos soft toys will be made using recycled fabric in 2023. They join Hey Duggee, Mr Tumble, and The Baby Club which made the move in 2021 and 2022.

#11 - 100% of our boxes are printed using soy inks for product and water based inks for our outer cartons. These renewable natural inks allow for paper and card to be recycled more easily.

#12 - Golden Bear are a proud member of the Wastebuster community. Wastebuter are champions of educating children on all things environmental and are seeking solutions to ensure the infrastracture is in place to recycle toys at the end of their life.

#13 - Solar panels have been installed at GBUK, by the end of 2022, this has reduced our scope 2 footprint by over 40 tonnes of CO2 emissions

#14 - On Pack Recycling Logo's (OPRL) are included on all of our product packaging to help consumers recycle waste packaging material correctly.

#15 - The stuffing in all of our soft toys is made from recycled polyester.

#16 - By 2023, 95% of our product packaging will be made using FSC mix carboard.

#17 - All electronic lines launched since 2021 are replaceable rather that non-replaceable batteries.

#18 - Golden Bear UK HQ has heavily reduced its gas usage and now heats all offices using renewable solar energy.

#19 - Golden Bear are on mission to eradicate excess packaging on all product. An example of this has involved moving some product to closed boxes to completely remove single use plastic materials.

#20 -Golden Bear Toys are committed to protecting the environment and have been certified with ISO 14001 Environmental standard. Learn more

#1 - Golden Bear UK are a certified carbon neutral company. We continue to offset all Scope 1 and 2, and some Scope 3 emissions by supporting carbon offset projects in Rwanda, Malawi, and Guatemala This means all the carbon we produce in both our UK and HQ offices we reduce elsewhere in the world.