She’s been a children’s favorite since her launch in 1959, and now Barbie is swapping her usual pink for green.

Mattel, the company behind the iconic doll, has announced the launch of its first collection of dolls made from 90% recycled plastic bound to the ocean.

The collection includes three dolls as well as a range of accessories, all made from recycled plastic.

The launch is part of Mattel’s larger goal to achieve 100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastics in all of its products and packaging by 2030.

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The collection is called Barbie Loves the Ocean and includes three dolls, as well as a range of beach-themed accessories.

Lisa McKnight, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls at Mattel, said: “Our 62-year heritage is steeped in evolution, as we constantly pursue initiatives designed to better reflect the world children see around. of them.

“Barbie Loves the Ocean is a great example of sustainable innovations that we will be making as part of creating a future environment where children can thrive.

“We are passionate about harnessing the reach and reach of our global platform to inspire children to be part of the change they want to see in the world. “

Plastic parts are made from 90% plastic sourced from a 50 km radius of waterways in areas without formal waste collection systems.

The remaining 10 percent is made from “virgin plastic”.

Mattel explained, “In this line of dolls, only Barbie’s head, hair and shoes are made from virgin plastic to maintain the same look and quality that Barbie is known for.

“As we continue to learn, research new technologies and innovate new ways to make our products with sustainable plastics, we remain committed to working towards Mattel’s goal of using 100% plastics. recycled, recyclable or biobased in products and packaging 2030. ‘

Each doll costs £ 12.99, while the accompanying Malibu Beach Shack will cost £ 26.99 – all of which will be on sale at Tesco from September 2.

The new recycled dolls arrive shortly after Mattel launched Mattel PlayBack – a toy return program designed to reclaim and reuse materials from old toys for future products.

And the company is not the only one to go “green” with its toys.

Lego also recently announced its goal of using sustainable materials in all of its products and packaging by 2030, starting with its leaves, bushes and trees, which are now made with plastic from sugar cane.

Meanwhile, MGA Entertainment, the company behind the popular LOL Surprise! invites its customers to pack accumulated waste and send it to TerraCycle for recycling.

However, there is still a long way to go to make toys “greener”.

In 2012, the British Toy and Hobby Association commissioned a study to investigate the recycling associated with toy packaging and found that only 72-73% of packaging was recycled.

He explained, “About 0.7 percent of retail packaging that comes into the home is from toys and hobbies and it is estimated that 90 percent of toy packaging could be recycled, of which 72 to 73 percent could be recycled. one hundred are currently. ”

HOW MUCH RECYCLING GOES TO LANDFILL?

Every day, millions of us throw a plastic bottle or cardboard container in the recycling bin – and we feel that we are doing our part for the environment.

But what we might not realize is that most plastics never get recycled and often end up in landfills or incineration yards.

Of the 30 billion plastic bottles used by UK households each year, only 57 percent are currently recycled, with half going to landfill, the other half being thrown away.

Most plastics are never recycled and often end up in landfills or incineration yards. Around 700,000 plastic bottles a day end up in rubbish

About 700,000 plastic bottles a day end up in rubbish.

This is largely due to the plastic wrapping around the bottles which are not recyclable.

The UK throws away 2.5 billion “paper” cups every year, or 5,000 cups per minute.

Surprisingly, less than 0.4 percent of them are recycled.

Most cups are made of cardboard with a thin layer of plastic.

This used to have recycling issues, but can now be removed.

Five specialist recycling plants in the UK have the capacity to recycle all cups used on our main streets.

Ensuring that paper cups end up in these factories and are not thrown away incorrectly is one of the biggest issues facing paper container recycling.