NOMINATIONS FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR THE 2024 TOY & GAME INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS ARE OPEN! &nbsp People of Play (POP) is Accepting Lifetime Achievement TAGIE Award Nominations NOW Through June 1st SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS HERE &nbsp Chicago, IL – April 15, 2024 - Now entering its 17th year, the TAGIE Awards, presented by People of Play (POP), will once again honor the best and brightest innovators, designers, retailers, suppliers, PR and marketers in the toy and game industry. Each year, the TAGIEs bring together the many communities that make up the larger industry of play, including professionals and fans from all over the world. The TAGIEs are part of POP Week. This important recognition, honoring contribution, innovation, and spirit of community is the very heart of POP. &nbsp John Barbour, a respected captain of the toy industry and Chair of the TAGIE Lifetime Achievement Committee, encourages you to nominate Lifetime Achievement individuals that have: ​ Long experience and record of accomplishment in the play industry. Innovative product or marketing introductions. Charitable efforts benefiting children and/or children’s causes. An unimpeachable record of integrity and respect in the industry. &nbsp Past Lifetime Achievement Honorees include: &nbsp &nbsp2008 -&nbspJeffrey Breslow 2009 -&nbspReuben Klamer 2010 -&nbspEddy Goldfarb 2011 - Burt Meyer 2012 -&nbspTheo and Ora Coster 2013 - Howard Morrison 2014 -&nbspMichael Kohner and The Kohner Family 2015 - Richard Maddocks 2016 -&nbspReyn Guyer 2017 -&nbspAdi Golad 2017 -&nbspJudy Blau 2018 - Paul Rago and David Small 2019 -&nbspIvan Moscovich 2020 - Erno Rubik 2021 -&nbspTom Kalinske, Michelle Litzky and the Pressman Family 2022 -&nbspLeslie&nbspScott, Kantaro Tomiyama, and&nbspAlan Hassenfeld 2023 - Jill Barad and Rouben Terzian &nbsp Submit your Lifetime Achievement nominations HERE. There is no fee and the form is easy to complete!&nbspFor more information about the TAGIEs, visit the webpage here. Photos from 2023 can be found HERE. &nbsp About People of Play &nbsp People of Play (POP) is the toy industry's most comprehensive networking and resource hub; a social platform and industry portal where toy industry veterans, newbies, inventors, buyers, job seekers, recruiters, consumers, and others come to find each other. Get up-to-the-minute toy industry, event, and product news; participate in live online educational and networking events; browse a vast library of expert resources; and peruse and post to the industry's only dedicated social feed., People of Play hosts a wide range of events including the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair, the Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards, the Young Inventor Challenge, the POP Roast, PlayCHIC and the Toy & Game Inventor Pitch & International Innovation Summit. Media contact: info@chitag.com &nbsp About the TAGIEs &nbsp Founded in 2008, the Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (TAGIEs) celebrate the outstanding achievements of toy and game industry leaders from around the world, by honoring masters of innovation. The annual event also pays homage to industry professionals who differentiate themselves with their spirit for fun, philanthropy, inventor advocacy, creativity, and humanitarianism. Inventors, designers, manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, media, public relations, marketing and the general public come together for this prestigious annual gala event. The TAGIEs are hosted in the fall in conjunction with the Toy & Game Innovation Conferences, Chicago Toy & Game Fair, PlayCHIC and Young Inventor Challenge. For more information, visit https://www.chitag.com/2024-tagie-awards.

Seventy-eight percent of consumers consider sustainability very or somewhat important when making buying decisions or shopping at a retailer, according to a Consumer Sustainability Survey&nbspfrom Blue Yonder, a supply chain management company. &nbsp The new data supports The Toy Association™’s&nbsp2024 Eco-Lasting Play trend&nbspand its own survey of 1,000 U.S. parents last July, which found that 45 percent of parents under the age of 40 consider a toy’s environmental impact when purchasing playthings. Consumer values are driving manufacturers to incorporate more eco-friendly materials and to take a holistic approach when designing their products. &nbsp “Toys designed for longevity are also becoming a key consideration for today’s discerning shoppers,” said Adrienne Appell, executive vice president of marketing communications at The Toy Association. “In addition to sustainable manufacturing practices, designing durable products is another viable approach for companies looking to deepen their commitment to fostering a greener tomorrow for future generations.” &nbsp A few examples of companies incorporating these green tactics into their products and business models include: &nbsp Dantoy&nbspoffers a Blue Marine toy line made from recycled residual material from used maritime gear, such as nets, trawls, and ropes. Dantoy products are also made in-house in Denmark, and 98% of them are labeled with the Swan label, the official Nordic eco-label, which means they contain no harmful substances, such as phthalates, perfumes, and BPAs, and are designed with the product’s full lifecycle in mind. &nbsp Hape’s new Outdoor Art Easel invites budding artists to paint en plein air. The double-sided easel is ideal for kids collaborating on art creations. It is designed with long-lasting, anti-corrosive wood to withstand the elements, and a transparent drawing board can be easily cleaned with soap and water. &nbsp Learning Resources&nbspintroduced a new line of learning products made with recycled plastic. The nature-themed toy collection includes products like the Blooming Balance Bees Fine Motor Sorting Set and Growing Greenhouse Color and Number Playset that teach kids early learning concepts like counting and color recognition while also learning about the environment. &nbsp Playmobil&nbsphas converted the production of all items in its toddler portfolio from traditional, fossil-based to plant-based materials. Under the new brand Playmobil Junior, the toddler range is made with plastics originating from raw materials that are at least 90% plant based. &nbsp Playper’s playsets are made of a special plastic-free, 100% recyclable material called PlayperBoard®. Using the sheets of material, kids can easily pop out the pieces and follow directions to build castles, characters, and accessories. An optional free-to-download app can expand the fun through augmented reality. &nbsp Plus-Plus&nbspunveiled a new fidget toy called HEXEL®, crafted out of six Plus-Plus pieces connected by a flexible cord. Like all Plus-Plus products, the new collection is made in Denmark using 100% green energy from wind power and made of 100% recyclable materials. &nbsp Radio Flyer&nbspexpands its line of ebikes for families with the Flyer™ Via™ Pro. Designed to cart around adults, kids, and other precious cargo, it comes with premium upgraded features like a 750W motor, suspension fork, 8-speed gear shifter, and high-intensity headlight. New add-on accessories for the bike include an oversized hauler for expanded storage, a canopy for all-weather riding, and more. &nbsp VICTURY Sports&nbspannounced its new Ollyball Planet Earth, a 22-inch ball made of upcycled and sustainable material captured before entering the atmosphere. Designed for indoor or outdoor play, the ball floats “Gravity Neutral” when filled with helium. Kids can learn about the 150+ countries, islands, rivers, and territories featured on the ball as they color them in. &nbsp Wild Republic&nbspexpands its sustainable toy range this year with the addition of Earthkins, the first line of biodegradable plush. Built to last for years, Earthkins are designed to be responsibly broken down when disposed to become part of the earth again. &nbsp ZURU&nbspexpands its Bunch O Balloons line for 2024 with the new Bunch O Balloons Reusable Water Balloons. Featuring safe-seal magnetic technology, the water balloons are designed to be used repeatedly. Simply open, dunk, close, and launch. &nbsp For more Toy Association trend coverage and information on our 2024 toy trends, visit&nbsptoyassociation.org/trends. To have your company's sustainability efforts and environmentally focused products featured by The Toy Association, contact&nbspMaddie Michalik.