Why were the toys protesting outside Parliament?

Players protested outside parliament to highlight environmental and systemic challenges related to the large volume of toys, their short lifespan, and the lack of organized pathways for reuse, repair, and disposal at the end of their useful life. The demonstration, organized by Ekologi brez meja, took place on the Republic Square in front of the National Assembly. According to the group, approximately 881 tons of toys are discarded annually in Slovenia, with only rare instances of recycling. Detailed findings and proposed systemic solutions will be presented on September 22 at a scientific event in Celje’s Technopark. The survey, involving over 1,000 households alongside organizations focused on toy reuse, toy lenders, and municipal companies, revealed clear patterns. Households possess a significant number of toys, yet only a fraction is used. The median number of toys per household is around 40, and 82.6% of participants estimate using only about half of them. Common reasons for non-use include excessive quantity or too many choices. Nearly three-quarters of respondents give away excess toys to friends, family, or charitable organizations, while interest in buying second-hand toys remains significantly lower, 57.3% of respondents have never purchased such items. This aligns with experiences shared by reuse organizations, which typically face limited storage capacity, condition issues, cleaning costs, and preparation expenses. Toy lending remains underutilized as a means of extending product lifespans. Almost half of participants have never borrowed toys, and one in five was unaware that this option exists. While toy lenders report steady or increasing interest, expansion is hindered primarily by space and funding shortages. When toys become waste, they often lose track. A notable gap emerges at the end of their lifecycle. 43.6% of participants do not know where to properly dispose of used toys, and municipal companies generally assess that toys end up among mixed or bulky waste. Since toys are typically not tracked as a separate waste category, Slovenia lacks comprehensive data on their quantities. Based on responses from households, Ekologi brez meja has prepared an initial estimate indicating that approximately 881 tons of toys are discarded annually in Slovenia, equating to roughly 0.41 kilograms per inhabitant. Among participants, the most common reason for discarding toys is damage or wear, rendering them unusable. This further underscores the importance of quality, reparability, and availability of spare parts. As part of key systemic solutions, Ekologi brez meja advocates for the introduction of producer responsibility for toys. France serves as a model, where a take-back system for toys has been operational since 2022. Producers there finance collection, reuse, and recycling efforts, allocating at least 5% of contributions to support reuse initiatives. Contribution levels are tied to product environmental characteristics, encouraging better design, reparability, recyclability, use of recycled materials, and availability of spare parts. Over 6,000 collection points have been established in France, with 1,594 tons of toys reused in 2024, a 28% increase compared to the previous year. Despite progress, reuse still constitutes a small portion of toys entering the market, highlighting that mere system establishment is insufficient. On September 22, findings will be followed by proposals aimed at addressing these challenges. The protest, led by Katarina Zalar, Tea Kovše, Jurij Torkar, and Yves Bragger, is part of the “Five Minutes of Joy” project, through which Ekologi brez meja has been examining toy flows in Slovenia for one year.