UPM equips Tactic Games with renewable pulp-based wrapping film

07 Dec 2023 --- Tactic Games is replacing plastic shrink wrap with UPM Raflatac Forest Film labels to reduce fossil-based material use and lower its game packagings’ environmental impact. The clear Forest Film label is made with 90% renewable wood-based materials and will be used as a sealing label material for Tactic’s Mother Earth game. The games provider aims to seal all games with Forest Film by the end of this year. 

Minimizing carbon footprint and utilizing recycled materials are priorities for Tactic when producing games. The company says it has launched “numerous” initiatives to reduce its environmental impact. For example, all products manufactured at Tactic’s factory in Finland use only certified paper, cardboard and carton. 

“The use of unnecessary plastic in packaging contributes to environmental burden and the proliferation of plastic waste. Tactic wanted to shift toward a more sustainable packaging solution to reduce our environmental impact,” says Tactic’s marketing and licensing manager, Jemina Heljakka. 

Mixing fossils with renewables
ISCC Plus certified UPM Raflatac Forest Film is a bio-circular material made with pulp production residue. 

The label on the game box needed to be sturdy enough to keep it closed and easy enough to open without damaging, says Heljakka.Using it can replace fossil-based plastics based on the mass balance approach. UPM says ISCC Plus certified mass balance approach is a reliable way of allocating the share of used renewable raw materials to a corresponding share of products when renewable inputs are physically mixed with fossil inputs in processing. 

“While we have not calculated exact carbon footprint reductions, we estimate that the switch from plastic to Forest Film labels will reduce Tactic’s plastic consumption by around 5,000 kgs annually,” asserts Heljakka.

Shipping stable 
UPM says that attention has been paid to the durability of the printed packaging to withstand handling without the plastic wrap, as the plastic wrap also protects the game boxes during shipping and on store shelves.

“The label needed to be sturdy enough to keep the game box closed, yet easy enough to open without damaging the box,” Heljakka says.

Tactic has reportedly received positive feedback from customers and consumers about eliminating the fossil-based plastic wrap.

The first product sealed with the Forest Film label is the Mother Earth board game, an educational game championing sustainability for all ages. The trivia questions for Mother Earth were created by the University of Lapland’s Education students in a 2023 course on using game design and play to promote hope and sustainability among youth. In February, the game was featured in the “Toys go Green” category at the world’s biggest toy fair, “Spielwarenmesse,” in Germany.

“By the end of the year, our goal is for all Tactic games to be sealed with the Forest Film label,” Heljakka concludes.

By Natalie Schwertheim