We wanted to take responsibility and recycle
This Wednesday, March 18, is World Recycling Day, and let’s be honest: the gaming world isn’t immune to the issue of waste management. Making your eyes light up and immersing you in a whole new world when you visit our booths—that’s what drives us. Finding a second life for banners and other decorations is what makes us take responsibility. So for several years now, we’ve been thinking about how to recycle or reuse the meters of fabric we use, as well as damaged games, those with manufacturing defects, spare parts, and more. And in this wonderful mission, we’re in good company with publishers who are brimming with ideas.
Don’t even look—our publishers are pure genius !«
At Game Flow, we let your inner child shine. At the Cannes International Game Festival, you could visit their booth to create a unique badge inspired by the My First Adventure universe. A small circle cut out of one of the service books, a quick press, and bam! So cool!
It was such a hit that L’Alchimie du Jeu in Toulouse bought a badge-making machine to recreate the experience with books the publisher sends them. And these clever folks aren’t new to this. In 2024, they took the stage to receive their As d’Or award wearing ties and bow ties made from pieces of the Ma première aventure puzzle.
At Subverti, nothing gets thrown away—everything gets reused. The game boxes are turned into craft kits batch of games (they’re cut up, punched with holes, etc.). Take the game *Symbiose*, for example, which is getting a new look… and you’ll easily recognize what has become the future *Amarok* collector’s edition.
At Unfriendly Games, we sought a second life for the banners used at events. That’s how they came up with hair scrunchies and clutch bags. And since Karen and David are never short on great ideas, they asked one of their seamstress neighbors to design it all. The result? Cute goodies that everyone was snapping up at their FIJ booth.
And what about Blackrock Games in all this ?
Good question ! And what about Blackrock Games in all this? Blackrock Games is working from within to continuously reduce the environmental impact of its activities. As part of its CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) efforts, initiatives have been implemented in logistics, aiming to recycle 50% of its logistics waste by 2025. And we know we’ll do even better in 2026.
As for the coverings, we regularly distribute them to game libraries that request them, and we’ve also worked with Résines Esterel Azur, which specializes in recycling promotional items.
Our partnership with the Cannes-based nonprofit—whose primary goal is vocational integration—has enabled us to recycle 50 covers, create 400 eco-kits, and provide employment for 10 people in vocational integration programs through this project.
As for the prototypes that weren’t selected, they’re sent to Boardgames Campus; damaged games are donated to employees, temporary workers, game-related organizations, and schools located near the warehouse. Just like the spare parts, which find a second life in art studios or among game design collectives that use them for new prototypes… and yes, the circle is complete !