Mattel is renewing its corporate sustainable strategy in light of Earth Day, which is being celebrated around the world tomorrow.  The new Design It, Make It, Live It initiative is focused on helping the global company minimize its environmental footprint through new product design and packaging, manufacturing and distribution techniques and employee-inspired grassroots initiatives.

The toy company has already made strides towards minimizing its environmental footprint. In an effort to reduce packaging materials, Mattel has reduced wire/twist ties by more than 90% across the company’s product lines. The company’s manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico recently opened one of the region’s largest composting, which handles more than 50 kgs of food scraps from the facility’s cafeteria, as well as materials including coffee waste, paper and hand towel waste.

Tied into the renewed sustainability efforts is Mattel’s Green Grant for Earth Day event, held in conjunction with Heal the Bay, a Los Angeles-based charitable organization dedicated to protecting the coastline of Southern California. Mattel will grant US$10,000 to support beach cleanups and create employee volunteer events.