Environmental Impacts of Board Gaming

conversations during Gen Con 2022, one of the bigger issues I discussed with many publishers was the environmental impact of manufacturing and shipping games, not to mention the pieces, chits and packaging involved. Matt Hyland of Devir Games was quick to say that every time he peels off the shrink wrap off of a new game, it bothers him.

So, Hyland and Devir Games decided to do something about it. The first product to avoid any plastic exterior packaging will be Savernake Forest, which will use magnetic clasps to keep the game secured when closed. Minimalizing the impact of the game’s packaging also came with additional caveats. The wardens of Savernake Forest promised to sell the game in their gift shop upon its release if the game avoided packaging and components that were not environmentally friendly.

Safeguarding Components

But what about the contents inside a game? Shrink wrap is often found in card games where the decks are wrapped in the single use, unrecyclable product. Plastic bags are often used to house pieces, and sometimes they are not the reusable kind. However, companies are beginning to switch toward paper-based packaging that is recyclable and biodegradable. One of the most notable changes has occurred in Stonemaier Game’s popular Wingspan series, where the recent Wingspan Asia expansion uses paper-based storage bags which lessens the environmental impact of plastic manufacturing.

Queen Games has launched its Green Planet series, which aims to create carbon neutral games via lowering emissions by using more plant and paper-based products in pieces and overall manufacturing. The games also aim to reflect this environmental shift, focusing on themes that highlight eco-consciousness and positive environmentalism. Speaking with Travis Reynolds at Gen Con 2022, he is hopeful these practices will soon become the norm at Queen Games, but cautioned change takes time and patience.

Deluxification and the Environment

Of course, the trend in board games – especially in crowdfunding – is providing the highest quality components to not only entice backers to get in early on a game and help in its creation, but also to excite gamers with new ways to experience board gaming through miniatures, specialty components, highgloss mats and more.

One of the companies that has endured criticism for their high-end production is Chip Theory Games. The Minnesota-based company takes pride in the quality of components and packaging they provide their backers, and though they admit that some of their production decisions do hold some environmental impact (such as water-proof game mats), the greater goal is to create games that don’t feel disposable.

In speaking with Andrew Santoro, he explained that while Chip Theory recognizes the criticism, the idea behind providing high-quality components and games is twofold: an investment made by gamers, and the idea that once a gamer has decided to part with the game they will be inspired to pass it on to other interested gamers rather than toss their investment in the trash.

Granted, this is likely not the intent of all publishers looking to catch the eyes of potential backers nor does it address the overall impacts of plastics being created for games. Yet, the shelf life of a game’s overall presentation – and the desire to make it something treated like an investment, thus lessening the chances of a game being future fodder for a landfill – is admirable. The accountability necessary for this tactic is a complex one, but something worth exploring as games get bigger, more expansive and as more people start to weigh the ecological costs of deluxe games.

Starting from the Ground Up

For many publishers, it will be hard to break the cycle in which they exist. Costs and agreements, the sourcing of materials and the ability to produce a game as the lowest cost for potential buyers has been vital to the hobby’s growth over the past decade. While some companies are making these internal shifts and working with consumers to make them aware of the decisions to be more environmentally conscious of their manufacturing and shipping choices, other companies coming into the hobby are taking environmentalism as a basis for their whole operation.

Industry veteran T. Caires is doing just that with the launch of their publisher, Cabin Games. “Being plastic and polymer free, as well as using FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood-based products are key to making games eco-friendly,” Caires explained. Of course, the actions involved in ensuring and securing these resources are as promised is an uphill climb, especially for entrenched publishers who have established relationships, suppliers and timelines in the manufacturing and shipment of games.