One of the world’s most recognised toy car brands, Matchbox, is jumping on the environmentally friendly sustainability drive by producing die-cast vehicles that are 100 per cent recycled, recyclable or use bio-based plastic.

The US toymaker Mattel, which owns UK based Matchbox sells more than 40 million die-cast vehicles every year, with the brand a favourite for children since 1953. But the company is on a Drive Toward a Better Future campaign and that begins with unveiling the Matchbox Tesla Roadster, the very first of its kind to be made from 99 per cent recycled and certified as Carbon Neutral.

The Tesla, which will be available next year, is built from 62.1 per cent recycled zinc, one per cent stainless steel and 36.9 per cent recycled plastic. The company is aiming to make all of its products Carbon Neutral by 2030, mirroring the UK car industries own goals of phasing out the combustion engine.

Matchbox will also be producing a range of e-vehicle product offerings, with e-chargers in place of traditional fuel pumps.

“Since the inception of the modern-day die-cast car nearly 70 years ago, Matchbox has been using design and innovation to connect kids with the real world around them through play,” said Roberto Stanichi, global head of vehicles at Mattel.

“Matchbox is committing to using 100 per cent recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic materials to do our part in addressing the environmental issues we face today, and empower the next generation of Matchbox fans to help steer us towards a sustainable future.”

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