Our natural rubber playmats for Tapestry and Scythe–while great for setup and for picking up cards off the surface–have so far been packaged in long cardboard tubes, which present problems for both the environment (lots of unnecessary material) and for customers (other items can’t be consolidated in the same “box”).
Fortunately, we found a solution that I can happily recommend, and we’re using it right now on the brand-new, double-sided, double-stitched Expeditions playmat (available both at Gen Con booth 2909 and for preorder on our webstore).
The packing solution for the Expeditions playmat is that it’s flat-packed in a wide carton that holds 12 playmats. There’s a little cardboard bar code label stitched onto each playmat (easily removed)…and that’s it. Instead of 12 long, somewhat awkward tubes, it’s a single box–a significant difference in terms of raw materials.
When someone places an order for a playmat on our webstore–orders that often contain other items, saving the customer by consolidating shipping costs–the fulfillment center folds the mat to fit into the box. We tested the playmat to ensure that creases don’t form along the folds.
It’s also a friendlier product for our retail partners, as they can display the mat instead of a lengthy cardboard tube.
While I like every aspect of this solution and we’re implementing it for our other playmats (including our smaller playmats too–see Wingspan and Red Rising), I understand that some people may prefer to store their playmats in the cardboard tubes. I’ve been storing my Expeditions playmat rolled up leaned against my game shelf, and that works well.
Stonemaier Games definitely isn’t the first company to do this, so let me know in the comments where else you’ve seen it implemented.
Also, quick shoutout to Czech Games Edition for using a new, eco-friendly, moldable material called Re-Wood in their newest game, Kutna Hora. We’re looking into this too–we appreciate the inspiration, CGE! Check out their short video about the material here:
What eco-friendly and customer-friendly initiatives have you seen from other publishers recently?
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41 Comments on “A Packing Solution for Both the Environment and Customers”
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Whilst I respect that you are looking at sustainability, I hate not having a storage tub as an option. I recently bought the Expeditions play mat and whilst it looks beautiful, I am now regretting it as I have no where to store the mat and I can eventually see it getting damaged as it is currently folded up on itself. If something else gets put on top of it, it will end up with permanent ridges in it.
Giving customers the option of packing it with the game or purchasing a separate storage tub would have been appreciated. Due to the size of the mat, I have already enquired and I can’t find a storage tube that will fit the Expeditions play mat. I also ech and agree with Leroy’s comment about having the label attached to the mat. It left a small hole in the mat. It is a very small hole, but not something you want to happen to a play mat.
David, I would suggest rolling up that mat as usual and storing it that way. That’s how I’ve stored mine, and it remains rolled without the need for a tube.
I agree about the hole; we won’t let that happen again.
Thinking about storage, can the mat be safely stored folded or should I store it rolled?
I’d recommend storing it rolled. I have my rolled up and leaning against my game shelf (no tube).
I’m also in the camp of preferring mats to come packaged in a tube (round or square) for storage.
What I really didn’t like was the punching of a hole through the mat to attach a label. This cut the threads of the cloth and I now have an admittedly small tuft of fibers that I worry will slow fray. The exact thing stitched edging is there to protect from has now been added.
As this seems to be a permanent change, can you look in other possible ways to tag the mat.
Leroy: Thanks for sharing. I’d love to see a photo of the hole in your mat, as that’s not how my label was attached (mine was sewn in, making it easy to remove and leaving no hole). Can you send me a photo at jamey@stonemaiergames.com?
The game mats have to be rolled to insert into cardboard tubes. Why not just shrink wrap the rolled mats and eliminate the cardboard tubing? Modular mats that are smaller, but link similar to a jigsaw puzzle might be a viable option.
Great question! The playmats actually don’t need to be rolled to insert into cardboard tubes–that’s the whole point of the method described above. :)
Well, I respect the idea to be more environmental friendly.
I received my Tapestry playmat today and was a little shocked, that it came folded.
I own many playmats and none of them came folded.
Of course it doesn’t matter as long as the quality is right, which unfortunately isn’t the case.
Sadly the tapestry playmat has visible creases, which is because it was folded.
Even if there are people who stuff their Playmat in a box or hang it from a wall, I only know people who like to store their Playmats well organized.
A mailing tube is not a disadvantage here, as it does not create waste but is used for storage.
Having to buy a storage option for the playmat is not environmental friendly either.
Thorsten: Thanks for your note! You just received your mat today, and so if you lay out out flat, the creases will disappear within a few days. Keep in mind that it has only been folded from the time you placed your order to the day you received it–barely any time at all. So those crease will quickly go away.
As for storage, as I noted in the post, you don’t need a tube to roll up your playmat and store it that way.
Thank you Jamey, for your incredibly quick reply.
I know that you describe the Tapestry playmat as a natural rubber playmat and not a neoprene playmat.
All neoprene playmats I encountered so far never “recovered” from a crease. Because of that, you shall never fold a neoprene mat. ;-)
Maybe because of this knowledge, I was shocked.
I will do as you say and observe the rubber playmat over the next days.
Regarding a storage solution, you are right, but given my living condition, I prefer storing my playmats a little protected.
Maybe my approach to avoid more traffic is to store more than one playmat in a tube (as long as they fit). ;-)
I really appreciate how different game companies are making a serious effort to become more sustainable and this solution you’ve come up with is pretty clever!
I’m also intrigued by the CGE Rewood announcement. I’m glad they’re being so open with this innovation and I wonder how different gaming companies will be able to incorporate the innovation and if it really proves to have a positive impact on the environment.
Glad to hear the sustainability progress, always good to be making a difference where we can. Looking forward to getting hands on with the mat once my pre order ships, the art looks amazing.
I’ve yet to play a game with high player counts and have instead mainly being versing the automa. Having seen the picture of the mat set up for a five player game do you have any tips for managing hand & active row space, it looks like it could get quite crowded?
My first thought was stacking cards diagonally up and to the right leaving the core value, abilities and any placed workers exposed. This would hide the card types, where not obvious from core value or ability, and lose quest location numbers but is the easiest solution I could think of.
Jamie: The key for the mat isn’t really that all 5 players put all of their cards on it; rather, it’s that they put their mech mats on the playmat to make it easier to tuck cards.
Makes sense, thanks for the response.
We must do as much as possible to minimise our environmental impact, so it is great that it is a priority for Stonemaier.
Recycled cardboard tubes are a good idea to store and protect mats, but the amount of material and more importantly, the space they take up, add to storage, and unnecessary shipping cost and – unless delivered via sailing ship – is bad for the environment.
I have seen other manufacturers store gaming mats in long square boxes, this minimises storage space and protects the mats.
Any card of paper products used in transport and storage should only be 100% recycled or even repurposed existing cardboard.
The solution to flatpack them is great, and as long as folding does not leave permanent creases of bumps in the mat everyone should be happier. If someone orders the mat by itself do they travel well in a satchel?
A thought to help customers store their mats. If you have strips of natural rubber offcuts left after formecutting and sewing, they could be used as bands to keep mats neatly rolled up. The locking mechanism could be a half-cut used to interlock on each end of the strip.
I know you use FSC papers but I would like to see a game manufactured using only 100% recycled material. Is this a consideration for Stonemaier?
Thanks David! I think the mat travels well folded up. Most of the cardboard we use is from 100% recycled material (there are just some specific cardstocks for which 100% isn’t possible).
This is going to feel outside of your comfort zone for now, but the most eco-friendly approach going forward will be to shift all development to visonOS.
I just received Expeditions and it wrapped in shrink. I think I saw one of your posts that said you were going to wafers. Am I mistaken?
Cheers.
You are, but that’s okay. :) We’re going to wafers for expansion boxes (as they are often recycled). We’re also testing other packaging methods, including a paper-wrapped method on select copies of Wingspan and a sleeved method. The only game on which we’ve used wafers is Between Two Cities, and that’s because it has a gloss coating.
Thanks.
I got some recycled copper pipe and screwed some pip brackets into my wall and now all my mats hang on that a bit like a towel rail. Looks quite trendy too!
Nice! How would you feel about playmats having 2 holes in each of the upper right corners to they could be hung from them?
Paying separate shipping is what has kept me from ordering the Tapestry playmat. Because Champion prices are often more expensive than online store fronts who offer free shipping once a certain threshold is met, I try to make bigger purchases to a) support Stonemaier directly and b) help justify the cost of shipping. If shipping them folded can be done without long term creases I am 100% on board with this solution. If creases do become a problem, perhaps you could put something small into the folded areas to help prevent it. Paper straw, shipping bubbles or something of that nature may help because they’re not folded so sharply.
Thanks for your thoughts and direct support, Riley! The reprint of the Tapestry playmat will be flat-packed just like the Expeditions playmat. Also, we do have a free shipping threshold, but it’s pretty high ($125).
I forgot about that! $125 is reasonable in my opinion, but I have to wait for the Euphoria reprint to land before I place my next big order.
This is how I store a play mat in a game box. Put half the mat in, load up other components, fold over other half of the mat. Been doing this for 4 months now and no concerns.
This is a repost of the comment I made on Facebook. I’d like to reiterate a really appreciate Stonemaier’s pioneering efforts for eco-friendly solutions but I’ve never received a folded playmat that wasn’t somehow permanently affected by the folding and I just can’t sign up with this option if other similarly eco-friendly options can be found that allow for rolling the mat, I’m more than happy to hop on board. Now the longer response from FB.
“ Unfortunately, this ensures I will not be ordering a playmat anymore. I will not accept a folded playmat. Did you test it in 100+ degree heat sitting in a box in direct sunlight for 8 hours? Because that’s how it would sit on my porch before I can bring it inside. Folding is a non-starter for me. I really appreciate the ends that Stonemaier has gone to in its sustainability efforts, but everything prior to this has not been a risk to product quality. This is the first one that does that and I cannot support the decision.
This is specific as it applies to shipping to end user. Shipping them flat packed from manufacturing is 100% great. But folding is not an option.”
“Did you test it in 100+ degree heat sitting in a box in direct sunlight for 8 hours?”
No, we did not.
I’m open to seeing how folding it goes, but it reminds of my Mosaic experience. The mat came folded and it still has a raised crease in it months later despite everything I’ve done. Not a very good experience.
It’s possible that it’s neoprene instead of natural rubber; the testing for our natural rubber mats hasn’t resulted in any creases.
I remember reading that HABA was moving away from shrink wrapping their games and instead implementing a cardboard pull tab system to reduce a lot of unnecessary plastic use.
I think most environmentally unfriendly decisions are made out of “industry inertia” (that’s just the way we’ve always done it) rather than any ill intent. It takes a lot of work to re-examine all those little decisions you don’t even necessarily realize you’re making and find better alternatives. I LOVE that the board game industry in particular seems to be crowd sourcing that work and openly sharing all the better solutions they come up with for others to use as well.
Re-wood in particular sounds like it could be a game changer. If it can leverage the existing injection molding infrastructure for plastics but replace it with a renewable, replaceable material I’m really hopeful it becomes the industry standard in the near future.
From the perspective of our fulfillment center, playmats (and by extension, posters) are always a huge challenge.
The tubes and boxes are beautiful for retail presentation, but they lead to so much packaging waste and unnecessary dimensional surcharges during shipping, especially when combined with smaller items.
Fortunately, our clients have always been open to folding instead of rolling, and we’ve received a near-zero amount of feedback about creased mats.
There’s likely a manufacturer-side solution still to be developed, but for now, folding is by far the best of the current options.
Just today my copy of Earthborne Rangers came in. It was their goal from the start to create the most eco-friendly game possible (a box you could just bury in your garden and that would completely decompose). I have unboxed the game, and I must say I’m impressed. There is zero plastic in the box (well, zero deposable plastic that is—there is some sort of coating on the box and the cards, and while they were striving to have a bio-laminate finish instead of a petrochemical-based coating, I’m not sure they were able to do that). The insert is fully cardboard (you have to assemble it yourself), the cards are packed in paper, and there’s no foil around the box (just 2 stickers to the sides).
I’m happy to see a more sustainable solution for the playmat storing and shipping too! Way to go!
That’s awesome! I wrote about their initiative a few years ago, and I’m really excited to get my copy soon.
Please make a playmat for Vitaculture! We love all of your games but that one is in the weekly rotation!
Thanks Ann! We typically make playmats when a game asks players to frequently pick cards up from the surface or tuck cards under a mat, or when components tend to slide or shift around. May I ask what a playmat would accomplish better than the cardboard in Viticulture? One of the downsides of playmats is that they don’t feature fine details like words as well as printed boards and mats, so I worry that it would be a downgrade for Viticulture.
While I don’t think Viticulture needs a mat(especially with all the differing board versions based on base, Tuscany and World) an additional reason besides those you mention, I like a mat that incorporates all the add-on boards expansions tend to add to a game. For instance the mat for Raiders of the North Sea includes sections for the two expansion boards.
That’s a good point!
I have mixed feelings about the expedition playmat. In one hand, its beautiful. On the other, it looks awkward and impractical to use player boards o it. It seems too cramped. What does it look like late game when players have a lot of cards?
Im thinking the best solution would have been a few mini rubber hex shaped mats for the 5 spots where cards go and maybe small individual player mats for each player boards. Advantage that they could fit in box too, at least the small hex.
Honestly, my only problem thus far as been picking those 5 cards up on a hard table.
I think the key with the mat is that it organizes the shared components (tiles and face-up cards) and the mech mats (easier to tuck under). Plus, the back side features just the art, so you can use that side however you’d like. :)