At GameTime, sustainability is part
of what we do every day. It’s our responsibility to take steps to
ensure that our manufacturing and consumption leave as small a mark
on the world as possible.
As a company dedicated to the development of children, it is important
to us that they have a future
that is as friendly as the one we enjoy today. Although numerous
factors affect the environment, we must all take responsibility for
the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities. The world produces
over 27 billion metric tons of CO2, and oceans and forests can only
absorb about two thirds of that. Clearly then, “offsetting” carbon
is no solution at all. Although experts call for a 70% reduction
in emissions over the next 50 years, the emission rate is forecasted
to double. The responsible path is to reduce our carbon production,
increase use of sustainable materials, and recycle waste rather than
dump it in a landfill. While offsets may sound good from a public
relations perspective, they aren’t solving the problem. When one
looks at the overall situation, it is clear that offsetting emissions
is about as effective as putting a bandage on an arterial wound.
GameTime
takes an above compliance attitude towards sustainability just as
we do with safety, accessibility, and customer service. We believe
that it is important to educate both the current leaders and next
generation about how they can address these issues with a message
of hope and solutions rather than discouragement and blame.
By working with organizations
that specialize in sustainability, we can apply their knowledge
and expertise to our products
and processes to produce a better,
more environmentally friendly product.
As the first and only playground manufacturer member of the U.S.
Green Building Council, GameTime is part of an important network.
The USGBC is a non profit organization dedicated to expanding sustainable
building practices by transforming the way communities are designed,
built and operated.
Our relationship with the USGBC has broadened our perspective on
the methodology required to address environmental concerns, through
initiatives like increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste, and
meeting the recycled content guidelines set forth by the LEED Green
Building Rating System. As a result, the majority of our products
are made from substantial percentages of pre and post consumer recycled
materials, including 100% recycled options. See the recycled content
sheet for detailed information.
“LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a third-party
certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the
design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings”
(USGBC).
We consider these usages when innovating products, and strive to
assist in LEED certification through LEED Innovation in Design credits.
For instance, our GT Jams products can be utilized with the accompanying
curriculum to meet National education standards in an outdoor classroom
environment. The same can be said for our ?Play On! curriculum and
corresponding playground designs. Employing this functionality saves
energy otherwise
used
in an indoor class setting, while allowing children to benefit from
exposure to fresh air and natural light.
Multiple studies have found correlations between exposure to daylight
and improvement in standardized test scores, attentiveness, and overall
mood of students. One study in particular, conducted by the Heschong
Mehone Group, found that students in the Capistrano school district
in California with more daylighting in their class progressed 20%
faster on math tests, and 26% faster on reading tests than those
with lesser exposure to natural light. In addition, students with
the largest window areas progressed 15% faster in math and 23% faster
in reading than those with small windows. Sunlight also encourages
the production of vitamin D in the body, which has numerous health
benefits.
*There are many misconceptions about the LEED Green Building Rating
System, and it is important to note that LEED certification only
applies to projects, not products, although the use of efficient
products can assist in attaining different levels of LEED certification.
Heschong Mehone Group “Daylighting in Schools: An investigation
into the Relationship Between Daylighting
and Human Performance” (1999), 4-5.
GameTime also takes responsibility
for improvements that must be made internally to ensure our product
manufacturing processes are as energy efficient as possible, thereby
reducing our emissions toward our goal of carbon neutral. Each of our employees are tasked with
the mission of seeking new methods to embrace that responsibility
and create products that are better for the environment. We hold
Kaizen events and lean manufacturing audits to assure that our processes
produce the highest quality equipment while using the minimum resources
required.
We already currently recycle 100% of all scrap metal, rotationally
molded plastic, and paper, just check out our recycled information
sheet to get more data on what we have diverted from the landfill!
Our environmental team meets regularly to look for new ways to reduce
our impact on the delicate balance of our ecosystem, including all
aspects of production. We understand that the entire manufacturing
process, not just the final product must be considered to truly
make a difference for tomorrow. Through these processes and practices,
we strive to eliminate the need for a carbon offset system by addressing
our environmental impact early and often.
By considering nature when designing play spaces, we maximize appreciation
of the natural environment while helping to conserve it. We provide
grant funding and donations to The Trust for Public Land through projects
that embrace the importance of preserving green space when planning
a play environment. This year, we are working with the Arbor Day Foundation,
donating 20 trees for every playground sold through our reforestation
promotion to help plant trees in areas that have been deforested through
fire. By doing so, we hope to increase the number of trees available
to absorb the CO2 produced by the world’s production. By focusing
the efforts around play, these efforts will also foster an interest in conservation
As the leading company in playground research
and education, GameTime is concerned at the
amount of “greenwashing” in our market place.
We’ve addressed the most common issues below
to help in your research and decision making.
Playground products are LEED certifi ed
(or can singlehandedly earn LEED points.)
No product of any kind is certifi able under LEED.
LEED is a third-party certifi cation program and a nationally
accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and
operation of high performance green buildings. It was
developed by U.S. Green Building Council, an organization
of which GameTime is a national corporate member.
No product of any kind is certifi able under LEED.
LEED is a third-party certifi cation program and a nationally
accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and
operation of high performance green buildings. It was
developed by U.S. Green Building Council, an organization
of which GameTime is a national corporate member.
Recycled plastic playgrounds are the most sustainable
While almost every playground manufacturer uses
steel and aluminum, some choose to focus the
sustainability spotlight on recycled plastic. Steel and
aluminum share similar recycling value, and in some
cases have an advantage over plastic counterparts.
Steel is unique in that it has an infi nite recycling loop
– unlike plastic, it can be recycled over and over again
without any loss of its inherent properties and strength.
Hence, recycling steel is a never ending process, giving
it a huge advantage in terms of sustainability. A recent
study by APEAL shows that by integrating recycled steel
into the manufacturing process the industry achieves
higher energy savings and a lower output of CO2. This
means that natural resources are saved for future
generations and that energy use and CO2 emissions are
signifi cantly reduced. Aluminum is not only easy to recycle,
it’s easy to source, as there is an abundance of it.
Plastics do not retain the same strengths and properties
post-recycle, so usage possibilities are reduced
with each recycling. And we shouldn’t overlook the
fact that they are made from fossil fuels. So which
is the path of greatest sustainability? The facts
prove that we should not overlook recycled metals
as an important component in green building!
Carbon footprint calculations
If a playground company wants to show you the “carbon
footprint” of your chosen playground design, ask how it
was calculated. Does it include the freight of the materials
to their manufacturing facility, the jet and auto fuel used
in the travel of company executives and sales personnel,
the calculations for marketing materials used in the sales
of the product? Chances are it’s just the energy and waste
generated in the manufacturing process, a nice gesture,
but not an accurate calculation of total carbon footprint.
PVC coatings
PVC has received a lot of attention, mostly on phthalate
content. California has passed the most rigorous laws
regarding PVC content and safety, so if you have any doubts,
ask if your playground manufacturer’s PVC coatings are
“California Compliant.” Despite the lines clearly drawn
between popular opinion, the fact remains that there are
some very important products that are made of PVC, like
the bags that hold lifesaving blood used in transfusions,
the “second skin” used in many burn wards, as well
as the safety packaging for many pharmaceuticals.
It is
always best to lead by example
and to look for examples of excellence to spark ideas for improvement.
Data was compiled from the U.S. Census Bureau and National Geographic
Society’s Green Guide to formulate the list below of the ‘Top 10
Greenest US Cities’. The cities were scored based on their achievements
in four broad categories: Electricity, Transportation, Green Living,
Recycling and Green Perspective. As previously mentioned, playgrounds
contain a large amount of recyclable material. For instance, lumber
utilized in a play area can be re-used for landscaping around the
facility as borders for a garden or part of a retaining wall. They
can also be donated to local garden centers for the same purpose.
The list below contains names of local area recyclers for these materials.
If you are interested in a playground recycling program in your city,
or have recycling facilities to add to our list, contact
green@gametime.com so we can spread
the word!
3. Boston, MA • Steel, Aluminum (Framingham
Salvage Company)
• LLDPE, HDPE (City of Cambridge
Recycling Drop-off Center)
• Rubber (L Fine & Co.)
4. Oakland, CA • Steel, Aluminum (Berkley Recycling
Center, Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.)
• LLDPE, HDPE (National Recycling
Corporation)
• Nylon (CSI Plastics)
• Rubber (Big O Tires, Bruce’s
Tires)
5.
Eugene, OR • Steel, Aluminum (Schnitzer Steel
Industries, Lane County Dept. of Public Works)
• LLDPE, HDPE (Glenwood Central Receiving
Station)
• Rubber (Glenwood Central Receiving
Station)
6. Cambridge, MA • Steel, Aluminum (Circle Recycling
Inc.)
• LLDPE, HDPE (City of Cambridge
Recycling Drop-Off Center)
• Rubber (L Fine & Co.)
7. Berkley, CA • Steel, Aluminum, HDPE (Community
Conservation Center)
• LDPE (rePlanet Recycling Center)
• Rubber (Berkley Transfer Station)
8. Seattle, WA • Steel, Aluminum (Pacific Iron & Metal
Co.)
• LDPE, HDPE (South Recycling
and Disposal Station)
• Rubber (Pugit Sound Plastics
Inc.)
9. Chicago, IL • Steel, Aluminum (Metal Management
Inc.)
• LDPE, HDPE (City of Chicago
Recycling Drop-Off Center)
• Rubber (Lakin General)
Low Density Polyethylene: rotationally molded products
Polypropylene: packaging
Other/Polycarbonate: windows, bubbles
1. Can
I recycle all plastics?
No, not all plastics can be recycled and
some that can may not be accepted for curbside pick-up or at your
local recycler. Contact your local municipal offices or recycling
centers to find out which plastics they accept. The American Society
of Plastics Industry developed a standard code to identify the type
of plastic used to make an object. The code is identified by a number
(1-7) inside three arrows forming a triangle. While this code does
not indicate whether or not the plastic can be recycled, it does help
identify and sort recyclable plastics.
2. What if there’s no curbside recycling
program in my area?
There are numerous drop-off locations that
will accept your recycled materials.
Contact your local municipal offices for more information about these
recycling centers. Many businesses will also accept your recycled
materials. Some examples include grocery stores for your plastic bags
and tire centers for certain types and quantities of rubber. In addition,
websites such as www.earth911.org offer search engines that allow
you to specify what type of material you wish to recycle, then direct
you to the nearest recycling facility.
3. What steps must be taken to prepare
materials to be recycled?
Most counties have their own set of rules
and regulations for the preparation of recycled materials, but there
are a few rules that apply to virtually any area.
• Do not include any materials that
contain food residue
• Prepare all materials in such a
way as to prevent litter for curbside pick-up
• Rinse out all steel and aluminum
cans
• Observe size restrictions for specific
programs
4. How do I recycle hazardous materials?
Excess household products that contain corrosive,
toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be “hazardous
household waste” HHW. These products, which include oils, batteries,
and pesticides, require special consideration when preparing them
for recycling. Never mix hazardous materials as this can result in
toxic fumes or even explosion! Start by identifying hazardous materials
by locating hazardous symbols and warnings on the products. Used motor
oil must be stored in a clean container with a secure lid and taken
to an oil collection center, service station, or automotive maintenance
facility. Universal wastes, which include batteries, pesticides, lamps,
and mercury-containing equipment, must be separated and disposed of
at local recycling centers that accept these types of materials. You
can find centers in your area by using search engines such as www.earth911.com
and review the regulations applying to small and large business by
logging onto www.epa.gov.
5. What product is taking up the most space in U.S. landfills?
Paper accounts for more than 40% of a landfill’s space! Paper does not biodegrade easily when compacted in a landfill because this makes it more resistant to deterioration. Paper can be recycled via curbside collection, paper banks at supermarkets and schools, and at your local recycling center. All types of paper can be recycled but some forms, such as wrapping paper, contain other materials that make it more difficult and must be taken directly to the recycling center instead of curbside pick-up. Staples don’t need to be removed as they are extracted using magnets.
6. What is the difference between pre and post-consumer recycled content?
Recycled-content products are items that contain recovered materials, which includes both pre and post-consumer materials. Pre-consumer recycled materials consist of scraps, trimmings, and other by-products that were never used in the consumer market. These materials are produced by manufacturers and processors. Post-consumer recycled materials are products that have completed their life cycle in the consumer market and would otherwise be disposed of as waste. These products are collected in residential and commercial recycling programs and include such items as office paper, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles.
7. Does the recycling symbol on a product indicate that it is made from recycled
materials or that it is recyclable itself?
Neither. The use of this logo is not regulated by law
and if the label simply states “recycled” or “recyclable” the product may not
contain recycled content nor be recyclable in your area. Check the label for
words that indicate the product is made from recycled materials and look for
products that contain the largest amounts of post-consumer recycled content to
divert more waste from landfills.
GameTime is proud to carry ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification, the prestigious “Green Certification,” for its manufacturing plant in Fort Payne, AL. The ISO 14001 certification is an internationally recognized framework for environmental management, measurement, evaluation, and auditing. Companies control the environmental impact of their activities, products, and services by implementing an environmental policy that meets international standards, but is specific to their operation. GameTime achieved its certification from SRI Registrar, an accredited registrar that issues quality, environmental, health & safety, and security management system registration certificates based on internationally recognized standards.
“Sustainable business practices are a key focus for us
at GameTime and we are proud to add this distinction to our environmental
program,” said Mike Mc Williams, Vice President of Quality, Global
Sourcing and Logistics.
“We have met rigorous standards to achieve certification for our
manufacturing facility,” added Anne-Marie Spencer, Director of Marketing
for GameTime, “and we will continue to add more green initiatives
throughout our products, processes, and programs in the months and
years ahead. Focusing on the environment is the right thing to do.
“We have experienced enthusiastic support throughout the company and
we will continue to drive this direction throughout our lifestyles,
product mix, and customer interactions.”
For more information, call your local GameTime representative at
800-235-2440, or log on to www.gametime.com
Log onto sriregistrar.com for more
information on GameTime’s ISO 14001:2004
Environmental Certification.
GameTime actively
maintains an environmental management system in compliance with the
requirements of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management,
and adheres to the federal requirements of the EPA. All of the materials
listed constitute recyclable product, in areas where such recycling
facilities exist. GameTime is committed to our environment by conscientiously
maintaining a dedication to the use of recycled/reclaimed materials
to the extent that they don’t affect the strength, durability, and
quality that we have built our reputation upon.
GameTime actively
maintains an environmental management system in compliance with the
requirements of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management,
and adheres to the federal requirements of the EPA. All of the materials
listed constitute recyclable product, in areas where such recycling
facilities exist. GameTime is committed to our environment by conscientiously
maintaining a dedication to the use of recycled/reclaimed materials
to the extent that they don’t affect the strength, durability, and
quality that we have built our reputation upon. 
