How Green is Board Gaming?
A blog post by Sarah Atherton
I’ve been thinking about how green board gaming is recently, particularly as there are concerns about the environmental impact of this popular hobby and the fact that there are a growing number of board game manufacturers who are making efforts to be more green.
When researching this topic, I found an interesting article by board gamer My Kind Of Meeple (MKOM). In summary, she points out that the manufacturing and shipping of some board games is not great for the environment (including that, like many, many other products and their components, many board games are made and shipped from overseas including France, Poland and China) but that non-plastic board game components are often environmentally friendly AND board gaming itself is an environmentally friendly hobby.
Let’s start by looking at what board games are made of:
Making and recycling board games
MKOM says ‘it’s clear that some (board games) are more environmentally friendly than others.'
Board game components are made from a variety of materials including wood, cardboard and plastic and ‘the carbon footprint of making the board game pieces can be lower if they are made from recycled materials. It also helps if the pieces can be recycled.
Wood
Meeples, cubes, and pawns are often made from wood. They can be made from sustainably sourced wood and wood is an organic biodegradable material.
Cardboard
A lot of boxes and tokens are made from recycled cardboard…a biodegradable material so cardboard boxes and pieces can be recycled with your usual paper and card recycling.
Metal
Recycled metal is a reasonably common material. The problem comes with recycling metal components. Chances are, they are some kind of metal alloy but without a recycling symbol printed on the pieces, there’s not a lot you can do.
Plastic
Specially molded miniatures or game pieces can be made from plastic. This plastic could be from recycled plastic. The main issue is if you want to recycle plastic pieces yourself. Pieces don’t usually come with a plastic stamp on them telling you if they can be recycled or what type of plastic they are. So even if you want to recycle them, you can’t.’
Plastic-free games
In order to be more environmentally friendly, some game manufacturers aim to be PLASTIC FREE – this includes games that I retail made by HABA, Big Potato, Moonstone Design, The Dark Imp, The Green Board Game Company and Blue Orange.
To find out more about the green ethos of Big Potato, here’s a link to a Big Potato webpage entitled ‘Green Tatos’
Packaging
MKOM says ‘After the game has been made, it’s packed neatly into the box. Boxes usually have a cardboard insert that the game pieces sit in but occasionally it’s a plastic one.
Wrapping
Some board games come in single use plastic, others come in biodegradable plastic’ and some are not wrapped at all. MKOM adds ‘Some manufacturers are now offering paper-based stickers to seal boxes instead.’ This includes Big Potato and Moonstone Games.
The good news is that playing board games has a low environmental impact
Here’s MKOM …’The great thing about a board game is that after it’s been created it can be used over and over again.
When you are actually playing a board game, it has very little environmental impact at all. They don’t use any power or generate any waste.
If you compare playing a board game to doing another leisure activity they look even better. Board games don’t involve eating out, traveling long distances to go to a specific location to play them, or buying lots of accessories, special clothes, or equipment.
There’s only the light and heat which would be on anyway if it’s dark and cold, and maybe the snacks during gameplay. ‘
How to reduce your environmental impact as a board gamer
Unless it’s pre-loved or made by a green board game company, you can’t do much about the environmental impact a board game has had before it reaches you but you can reduce the impact you have whilst playing board games.
MKOM suggests the following:
‘Reuse all your components in making new games, or upcycling them in craft projects.
If a game has missing pieces, order replacement parts instead of replacing the whole game.
Donate your old board games or sell them rather than throwing them away.
Buy pre-owned games. They won’t have the shrink wrap, you save another one from being manufactured or ending up in landfill, and if you buy them locally, the shipping impact is minimal.
Actually play your games! Don’t just collect them and leave them sitting pretty on a shelf.
Play some print and play games.
Eat snacks and have drinks during your game sessions that have minimal packaging and are locally sourced.’
Conclusion – making and shipping some board games is not always great for the environment, playing them is!
The good news – there are a growing number of board games on the market made and distributed by companies aiming to be more environmentally friendly, when a board game is played it generates no waste at all and games make great gifts to pass on to others - share your games!
Plotalot by Gemma Newton is a plastic-free card game
Board gaming is a great hobby as board games make great gifts, bring people together, get kids off screens, are good for the brain, the heart and the soul and are great for sharing!
Get Your Game On Ltd sells games from green board game companies, sells pre-loved games and shares their games with participants in the board game clubs they run. Board game clubs are a great way for young people to be introduced to a wide range of games before deciding whether or not to get hold of their own copy and to meet other people who enjoy this great hobby!