These New Barbies Are Made From Recycled Ocean-Bound Plastic

100 Barbie Dolls Are Sold Every Minute

For over 60 years, Barbie dolls have been the world’s most iconic toy. In fact, it’s estimated that over 100 Barbie dolls are sold every minute across 150 countries. Barbie has had over 200 inspirational careers, including an astronaut, pilot, firefighter, journalist, Olympian — even President!

Although many of us have fond memories of playing with Barbies, it’s hard to ignore the obvious plastic waste. The dolls, the clothes, the accessories, the Dreamhouses — every piece still exists somewhere on the planet.

Roughly 90% of the toys in the lucrative toy industry are made from plastic, which is derived from fossil fuels. Whilst many toys (especially Barbie dolls) can be donated or handed down to younger siblings, children, nieces/nephews and grandkids — the reality is that around 80% of plastic toys end up in landfill!

Barbie Loves The Ocean | Made From 90% Recycled Plastic!

As one of the most recognisable toy brands on Earth, Mattel’s brand new Barbie Loves The Ocean line marks an enormous step towards a more sustainable future for the toy industry. The new line includes 3 unique dolls and several beach-themed playsets, including a volleyball set and a beach shack. 

Outwardly, the colourful accessories don’t look any different to a normal Barbie set — but the massive difference is that they’re made from 90% recycled ocean-bound plastic parts, which are sourced within 50 kilometres of waterways in areas that are lacking formal waste collection systems. “This Barbie launch is another addition to Mattel’s growing portfolio of purpose-driven brands that inspire environmental consciousness with our consumer as a key focus,” said President and CEO of Mattel, Richard Dickson.

The Future Of Pink Is Green!

Mattel’s brand new campaign — The Future Of Pink Is Green — is in line with the company’s goal to achieve 100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic in its products and packaging by 2030! Plus, by the end of 2021, Mattel is hoping to source 95 per cent of its packaging materials from recycled or Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper and wood. Barbie dolls and clothes go hand in hand, so Mattel is also aiming for 75 per cent of clothing fibres to be sourced from sustainable materials. 

Lastly, Mattel is launching its very own toy takeback program called PlayBack. Through the PlayBack program, Mattel will accept toys from Barbie, Matchbox and MEGA brands in order to recycle the materials into new toys! It’s not available in Australia yet, but we’re hoping it will be soon.

Barbie Is Sharing Eco-Friendly Content To Millions Of Kids!

Did you know that Barbie’s YouTube channel has a whopping 10.6 million subscribers? To coincide with The Future Of Pink Is Green campaign, Barbie released a vlog on her YouTube channel called ‘Barbie Shares How We Can All Protect the Planet’. The adorable video — which has nearly 300,000 views — educates kids on how to conserve energy, how to compost, how to get active in their community, and more!

“Our 62-year legacy is steeped in evolution, as we consistently drive forward initiatives designed to better reflect the world kids see around them,” said Lisa McKnight, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls at Mattel. “Barbie Loves the Ocean is a prime example of sustainable innovations we’ll make as part of creating a future environment where kids can thrive”.