Is it really Green? Eco-dilemmas in Games

How much better for the planet are cardboard components versus plastic components? Should we shrink wrap board games? How does box size impact emissions? What is the end-of-life journey for a typical board game? How many will end up in landfill? 

There are no easy answers for to how to “green” board games.  In this roundtable session you will hear from the people grappling with the important dilemmas. They will share the strategies they have used to reduce the impact of their games on the planet. This is a debate – so not everyone will agree and there will be some surprises in store. Greening board games doesn’t just mean swapping plastic for cardboard – in fact, sometimes that might not be the right choice! 

Come along to this session and explore the whole sustainability journey of games, through design choices, manufacturing, distribution, and, importantly, to think about how we consume and share our board games. There will be opportunities to share your experiences of how you have responded to the climate emergency as a board game designer, manufacturer, or player, and to meet members of the Green Games Guide board and the STRATEGIES [Sustainable Transition for Europe’s Game Industries] research project. 

Speakers include:

Jean-François Gagné – Head of Studio, Plan B Games, and board member for the Green Games Guide.

Chloé Germaine – Reader at Manchester Metropolitan University, Games and Sustainability researcher for the STRATEGIES project. 

Manue Marévéry - Consumer Science Manager, Asmodee

Jess Metheringham – Director of Dissent Games, Chair of Unlock Democracy, and board member for the Green Games Guide.

Chris Priscott – Founder of Unfringed, and designer of Molehill Meadows.

Stéphane Robert - Production Manager, Asmodee

Matt Thrower – Board and Video Games writer and journalist.

Paul Wake – Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University, Scientific Lead for the STRATEGIES project.

You will need a valid UKGE ticket to attend this event