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Mattel Bows to Greenpeace Protest Pressure About Packaging, Sort Of
Just a couple of days after Greenpeace protesters unfurled a banner on the outside of Mattel's El Segundo headquarters, the toymaker giant says they have asked their based packaging supplier to stop purchasing from a questionable source as they investigate accusations they use materials that contribute to deforestation, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Tuesday's protest involved several activists hanging off the Mattel building to set up a banner that featured a message from iconic Barbie's boyfriend Ken, with the doll dumping his longtime plastic squeeze because of her affiliation with deforestation. Six protesters were arrested on the scene, and the two on the building were taken into custody when they came down.
The pulp in question is made by Singapore's Asia Pulp & Paper, which is a division of a large company called Sinar Mas, which has been a long-time focus of Greenpeace's activism.
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Mattel announced:
"We have directed our packaging suppliers to stop sourcing pulp from Sinar Mas/APP as we investigate the deforestation allegations. Additionally, we have asked our packaging suppliers to clarify how they are addressing the broader issue in their own supply chains."
However, Greenpeace's senior forest campaigner, Rolf Skar, is not impressed:
"It's good that Mattel has realized it has a major deforestation problem, but it's still missing a comprehensive policy to deal with this issue...The world's biggest toy company seems to be saying it isn't to blame for the actions of its suppliers."
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