Sustainable Tabletop Gaming: 5 Ways Players Can Help

The Sustainability Question That Won’t Go Away

Tabletop gaming continues to grow at an impressive pace, with forecasts projecting billions in global revenue by 2030. But as board games and miniature based hobbies flourish, an urgent question resurfaces: What is the route towards sustainable tabletop gaming? And perhaps more importantly, can it become more sustainable without losing its magic? Since we wrote this article sustainability has climbing further up the agenda.

The Pressure is Mounting

Global awareness around sustainability is increasing across industries and tabletop gaming is not exempt. Recent regulations such as the European Union’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation are putting the onus on manufacturers to account for the full lifecycle of their products, while industry giants like Hasbro, Mattel, Ravensburger and Embracer Group face growing expectations around sustainable materials, packaging and production. Academic institutions like the University of York are engaging directly with climate conscious game design and community events like Manchester Game Centre’s “Eco-Dilemmas in Tabletop Games” reflect growing consumer interest. Sustainable tabletop gaming is on the agenda.

From Token to Trend: How Games Are Going Green

It’s not all theory, real changes are underway. The Green Games Guide offers practical tools for publishers to reduce their environmental footprint. More publishers are switching to recycled cardboard, ditching plastic inserts, and releasing digital rulebooks to cut down on paper waste. At GAMA Expo 2025, sustainability was no longer a side conversation but a core theme. These shifts are promising, but they also highlight how much work remains. The majority of games still rely heavily on plastics, shrink wrap and complex components that complicate recycling.

While mainstream solutions don’t yet exist, we can look to adjacent industries for inspiration. Paint giants like Dulux now run large-scale recycling programs for leftover paint. Could the miniature paint world follow suit? It’s likely that true change here needs to begin at the manufacturer level, rethinking packaging, refills, or even take-back schemes. But that doesn’t mean the rest of us are powerless. Community led swaps, better storage solutions, and supporting brands that think long-term are all part of the puzzle.

Can D&D Ever Be Sustainable?

Let’s be honest: this is a tricky hobby to make green. Plastic miniatures, imported products, high-gloss packaging – it all adds up. But sustainability doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Small changes, done consistently, can nudge the industry in the right direction. Even small studios and makers are doing their bit.

Indie Studios: The Quiet Innovators

At Anarky Creations, we focus on small-batch, high-utility accessories that solve real problems for painters and players. Our 3D-printed tools are made to order, helping us avoid the waste that comes from mass production. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s one that favours thoughtful design over volume. Some stores have experimented with print-to-order systems for terrain and gaming accessories. While promising, they come with trade-offs – not least of which is complexity for small businesses. For now, high quality, long lasting tools may be the most sustainable tabletop gaming option available.

What Can Players Do?

Even if the big solutions lie upstream, there are meaningful actions hobbyists can take:

• Support publishers and creators with transparent sustainability practices
• Reuse and upcycle components where possible
• Avoid overbuying and embrace modular & make to order systems
• Choose local or small-batch makers when feasible
• Participate in local paint swaps or donations

The Dice Are Rolling

Sustainable tabletop gaming is no longer just a fringe concern, it’s a growing conversation, and one that’s starting to influence how games are made, bought and played. Whether through regulation, innovation or grassroots efforts, the direction is clear. We don’t need to choose between loving this hobby and caring for the planet, the two can co-exist.

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