Ten finalists have been selected to compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze Play for Change Awards and the winners will be announced later this month at a ceremony in Brussels.
Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) has unveiled the finalists of the fourth edition of the Play for Change Awards. Applications opened in March, and now ten entries from toy companies of all sizes were selected to be in the running for Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards. Winners will be announced on September 19th at a ceremony in Brussels.
Since 2020, TIE has been recognising toy makers who go the extra mile to protect the planet, encourage kids’ respect for one another, or invest in the skills they need to succeed in the future.
TIE director general, Catherine Van Reeth, commented: “It is incredibly rewarding to witness the ongoing efforts of toy manufacturers in shaping a better future for our children. This year, once again, we were impressed by the exceptional entries.”
The judges faced tough decisions, especially in the Life Skills category, where the choice became challenging. As a result, two companies will be acknowledged jointly for one of the Awards this year. Catherine added: “Congratulations to all finalists, it is a great achievement of which you should be very proud.”
Nominees in each category were chosen by a jury of independent specialists chaired by industry stalwart, John Baulch.
The 2023 Play for Change Awards finalists are:
The Diversity & Inclusion Award recognises activities and toys that break boundaries based on outdated ‘norms’ of social status, ability, sex, race, or religion. The finalists are:
- Inclusive dolls by Watoto Toys | Watoto Toys and Games (Sweden)
- Thomas & Friends’ Autistic Character, Bruno The Break Car | Mattel (United Kingdom)
- Wheelchair-friendly costumes | Rubie’s Masquerade (United Kingdom)
The Sustainability Award is for initiatives and/or toys which aim to deliver an overall positive impact for the environment. The finalists are:
- Korko Bowling Set | Toynamics Europe (Germany)
- Mission Ocean | Adventerra Games (Switzerland)
- Transition to fully recyclable packaging initiative |The Lego Group (Denmark)
The Life Skills Award recognises an initiative or product that prepares children for tomorrow’s world. The finalists are:
- Charlie, The Astronaut | World Brands (Spain)
- Little Live Pets Mama Surprise | Moose Toys (United Kingdom)
- Switcheroo Coding Crew | Learning Resources (United Kingdom)
- The 2022-2023 First Lego League Superpowered season – First and Lego Education (Denmark)
The winners will be revealed following the Awards ceremony.
