At the very core of Winged Sandals Games is a dedication to sustainability- not only are we seeking out the most eco-friendly options, but are thinking about this cradle to grave -style; from the inception of what our inaugural game, Castlore, consists of components-wise, through to the end of its lifecycle, beyond pieces, to how everything is powered, and to the people involved in every step of the process. There is a lot to consider, and we want to take you along our journey to see the factors that we hope more people will be mindful of so that, as an industry, and society as a whole, we can raise our standards and protect our future generations’ ability to meet their needs. Let’s start with paper.
There are so many paper components in most games, so knowing where those come from is a huge part of the sustainability puzzle. Our first of many games, Castlore, is a trick-taking card game with 52 cards, 4 player guides called Grimoires, a game mat, a rulebook, and the box that everything comes in, so we have the opportunity to make a big difference with every copy of this game we put into the world since that’s the bulk of the material involved for us!
The first step is to look beyond choosing the cheapest cost option, especially as a crowdfunded and self-published game; it is easy to accidentally support mass deforestation, climate change, illegal logging, worker exploitation, and endangering plant and animal species by choosing inexpensively and not asking questions. The way we continue to raise the standard of sustainability worldwide is to acknowledge the power of refusing to engage with undocumented sourced materials, unfairly paid workers, and exploited environments.
Your very best option for paper is 100% recycled FSC-certified (or a verifiable source), since there is no new tree cutting required to produce it nor environmental degradation, which means you are actively avoiding contributing to the major issues listed above. FSC is the Forest Stewardship Council, which verifies sustainable sourcing from tree to table, and is the gold standard for rigorous and robust certification available globally. Your next best option from there is FSC mix-certified, FSC-certified new materials, PEFC-certified new materials, and lastly recycled materials. PEFC is the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, which is a global alliance similarly focused on reducing deforestation and ensuring biodiversity.
According to the FSC website, every label is “backed by a diverse ecosystem of forest managers, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and others committed to upholding a common set of responsible forestry standards that support:
zero deforestation
safeguarding of ancient and endangered forests
fair wage and work environment
biodiversity preservation
community rights, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples”
As per the PEFC site, “The stewardship and use of forests and forest lands in a way, and at a rate that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfill, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national, and global levels, and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems.”
Social sustainability is something that cannot be overlooked in this mission; worker’s rights being advocated for and respecting local and indigenous cultures, especially with forestry, is essential. That’s why the certification process is important to safeguard human rights.
Certifications encourage the protection and restoration of natural forests, prevent deforestation and land degradation, protect native biodiversity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ensure fair labor practices and respect for indigenous rights. Last, consider what coatings go on the paper and wood- this can render everything unrecyclable, so a compostable finish is ideal. The biggest impact we can make is ASKING for these options at every step of the process.
So in our research on sourcing FSC-certified recycled paper, we found Mixam and Greenerprinter, both printing domestically, which has to do with shipping distance and carbon footprint, but that’s a different sustainability article altogether!
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