Event Network, a leading operator of retail stores for experiential attractions in the US, has
announced a new collaboration with the sustainability-focused vendor Green Toys. Known for optimising revenue for its partners through a singular focus on best-in-class retail, Event Network has been working with the innovative toy vendor for more than a decade and is excited to share an exclusive new line of products with a special focus: The OceanBound Plastic Collection.
Green Toys was set up in 2007 by Robert von Goeben and Laurie Hyman, who studied together at graduate school. The pair identified a gap in the market for eco-conscious toys which would not need to go to landfill at the end of their use. They initially developed a biodegradable product made from a sugar-cane-based material, but toys made from their first formulation melted in transit.
Following this, they used recycled plastic, made mainly from milk jugs. This lasts for an extremely long time, and so reduces the amount of plastic waste in the environment.
Green Toys have long been a core part of Event Network’s range. You can find Green Toys products at the brand’s Zoo, Aquarium, and Science Museum retail spaces, which reflect the sustainability and conservation narratives at these venues.
Julie Ricci, VP of purchasing for Event Network, says: “When we launched with the Green Toys line initially it was very much geared towards specialty. Since Green Toys has been successful in building the brand beyond that over the years and getting into big retail doors, we have been looking for a way to encourage guests to make their sustainable toy purchases from us, therefore giving back to our partnerships and their missions.”
The OceanBound Plastic Collection
Nicole Hamilton, director of sales for Green Toys Inc, comments:
“Event Network has been an essential retail partner for Green Toys, growing from a few SKUs to working with the Event Network team on ideation and how we can provide more sustainable solutions for the consumers that are visiting these cultural attractions.
“As a parent myself, I understand how important cultural attractions are for young and old visitors to learn and grow and gain a greater understanding of the world around them, and it’s encouraging to work with retail partners, like Event Network, who make sustainability a priority, as opposed to a ‘nice-to-have.’
“This new OceanBound Plastic Collection is made from 100% recycled plastic, like all Green Toys, but rather than being recycled plastic that is collected curbside in recycle bins at home, these toys are made from plastic at risk of entering our oceans in global communities that lack recycling infrastructure.
“Last year, we started talking with the Event Network team about collaborative initiatives we could pursue to provide more sustainable options. Among those was the OceanBound Plastic Collection. It was really through their initiatives and partnership that we were able to bring this line to life and make it a reality in 2023.”
Exclusive partnership
The OceanBound Plastic Collection is exclusive to Event Network and its partners. Event Network has created interpretation and graphics which shares the background behind the collection.
Hamilton says: “Partnering with Event Network has been amazing. It really feels like a partnership and we’re constantly working with them to come up with new ideas that not only work for Event Network as a whole, but for their individual experiential attractions.”
Event Network recently revealed the remodel of the Explorer Store in partnership with Zoo Atlanta. This project updated the building structure and created a sustainable store design incorporating the latest innovations in support of the Zoo’s mission. The project follows the remodel of Zoo Atlanta’s popular Panda Pagoda in 2022.
