This article focused on the company ecoBirdy
recycling children's plastic toys and repurposing them into new furniture and
toys. Plastic, as we all know, is not biodegradable. It will stay on the Earth
for thousands of years. Many children's toys are made from plastic. How many
times did you or someone you know buy a toy for their child or as a gift for
another person's child? What was it made of? Most likely, plastic, unless it
was a stuffed animal. What happens when the toy breaks? Or the child becomes
bored with it? It gets thrown away.
Instead of allowing that plastic to add to the
landfills or end up in the ocean or incinerators, ecoBirdy takes the retired
toys, crushes them into small plastic bits, and melts those bits into molds to
make chairs, tables, and new toys. They have stated that due to their intensive
cleaning process and careful sorting of materials, their products are
completely safe for children and are free of toxic chemicals (Sustainable
Brands, 2018). The best thing we can do is recycle plastic.
Vanbriel and Yuan, co-founders of the company,
have said that they aim to “create pieces that enable kids to experience
creativity and at the same time raise awareness for sustainability”
(Sustainable Brands, 2018).
This article related to concepts that were
discussed in class: the company is applying "corporate social responsibility." They want to show their
customers that they care about the environment through their creation of a
sustainable product for their children that is both fun and educational.
Another concept is discussed in the
textbook: their product is a differentiated
product, which is a product that differs, or is perceived to differ,
from a product that serves a similar purpose. So, even though their product
serves the same purpose as any other plastic piece of furniture or toy, they
are different because they are made from recycled materials.
Work Cited:
Sustainable
Brands. (2018, February 2). Circularity, Sustainability Take Hold in Toy
Industry. Sustainable Brands. Retrieved February 2, 2018, from
http://www.sustainablebrands.co
m/news_and_views/waste_not/sustainable_brands/circularity_sustainability_take_hold_toy_industry.
Brief Plans for Future IAs:
IA02:
- Have
already gotten into contact with one of the guest speakers in class about
opportunities; will ask her about possible role models for me.
IA03:
- Have already
started collecting business cards.
- Have
printed my own business cards.
- Already
know what field I will center my business plan in.
IA04:
- Already
know a list of events I am interested in attending.
IA05:
- I am
actively taking notes and providing feedback on guest lectures to prepare
for this assignment.
