Toys R Us Going Green?

One of the new Toys R Us bioPVC Gift Cards

Major US retailers are experimenting with greener options for their gift cards.  We reported on Target's use of a new bioplastic resin called Mirel for its gift cards.  Leading US toy retailer Toys R Us also began offering a variety of green gift cards in October 2007. 

Jennifer Albano Manager, Corporate Communications for Toys R Us told Sustainable is Good the company has introduced an assortment of greener gift cards including biodegradable cards, cards made from corn, and a card made from recycled plastic. 

Toys R Us is using a material called bioPVC for some of its gift cards.  The material is made by CPI Card Group.  CPI says its bioPVC is made from 99% PVC and fully degrades within 9 months to 5 years in soil, water compost or wherever microorganisms are present.

Toys R Us Gift Card Packaging FSC-certified

Toys R Us is pairing its new gift cards with outer display packaging made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified Mixed Sources paper stock.  The cards are available at Toys R Us stores across the country.

We asked Albano if the greener gift cards were part of a larger green initiative Toys R Us had planned.  Albano indicated these developments are part of a larger planned initiative by the company for 2008 however said she was unable to provide additional details at this time.

The greener gift cards from the toy retailer and comments from the company's CEO Gerald Storch predicting 2008 would be the "year of the green toy," indicate we will see some major green announcement(s) from the company in the months ahead.