Responsibility is a rising trend, but the Finnish game and toy company Tactic has committed to responsibility since the beginning. All Tactic products are not only entertaining but also sustainably produced. Tactic plans to continue investing in sustainable development and is ready to invest in newer, greener technology. Let’s take a peek at how the world’s most responsible game products are made at Tactic’s factory in Pori, Finland.
Innovation is the desire to develop
At Tactic, product development plays an essential role, with products always based on genuine consumer needs. Industry trends are closely monitored, and based on that, considered what types of products people want in the market. To succeed in the games business, you must understand what people are interested in and how they want to be entertained, learn, or spend time. Tactic aims to create products that are both innovative and durable, considering sustainability perspectives from the design stage, such as maximizing the number of plays.
Conscious customers are increasingly inquiring about the origin of products and materials. Tactic’s CEO, Lauri Nieminen, notes that in terms of responsibility, Tactic stands up exceptionally well when compared to any competitor’s products. One must be willing to change, take concrete actions, and occasionally take calculated risks for responsibility. It takes courage and uniqueness to do things differently, but for Tactic, responsibility is so important that the risk is worth taking. Tactic is also ready to invest in new technologies that reduce waste and energy consumption.
Production firmly in own hands
One of the foundational pillars of Tactic’s responsibility thinking is its production – both a significant source of pride and an extremely responsible choice. At their own Pori factory in Finland, Tactic’s production remains firmly in the company’s hands, ensuring responsible and sustainable supply chains, production monitoring, and optimal working conditions. Careful production planning accommodates long-term sustainable development. After meticulous optimization, production runs with fewer resources, consuming less electricity and producing less waste.
Part of reducing material waste is optimizing designed products for their production equipment. It’s optimal for production machines to use sheets of a certain size, thus reducing waste. Older products are also redesigned, introducing new design solutions that use cardboard space more efficiently. The main criterion is that the sheets have no wasted space, utilizing all the material as efficiently as possible.
Material supply chains in check
Tactic continuously contemplates how game parts traditionally made from plastic or other unsustainable materials can be replaced with more responsible and sustainable options. Tactic has always been very particular that their games consist of durable materials. Raw materials are chosen to be as eco-friendly as possible and sourced locally. Emissions are also closely monitored.
It brings Tactic great pride and joy when they design a game with no plastic at all. Instead of plastic, the most sustainable cardboard solution is always sought. A durable product is one that lasts for many plays, both in terms of quality and gameplay. Mölkky is one such success story that is conquering the world. Mölkky is a thoroughly ecological choice for shared game moments, with the game pieces made in Pori from local birch. Mölkky has become a strong, beautiful, and Finnish brand.
Tactic’s product development manager, Veera Vaajasalmi, oversees responsibility-related certificates. The PEFC and FSC certificates the company has received indicate that the origin chains of the wood, cardboard, and paper used in the products support sustainable development. Vaajasalmi states that they always know the origin of raw materials, from where the tree grew and how it was cultivated to the point of harvesting. The company’s excellent work in the area of responsibility is also closely monitored with annual audits.
Read more about Tactic’s Responsibility: www.tactic.net/…/responsibility
Mother Earth is the flagship of responsibility
The new game for Fall 2023, Mother Earth, showcases Tactic’s expertise in responsibility in an entirely new way. The Mother Earth board game responds to the environmental concerns especially observed among young people. In these times, we all should think more about how we can help nature and the planet fare better.
Mother Earth approaches environmental issues through positive actions. This entertaining game includes a fun cooperative feature and plenty of interaction among players. The game guides thoughts on what small actions can we achieve to save the Earth. The game is suitable for everyone; it challenges those who already know a lot about environmental issues and also provides food for thought for those who haven’t considered the topic at all.
The mechanics, content, and illustrations of the Mother Earth game reflect environmental values, and the game’s material choices also support sustainable development. Only recycled cardboard is used in the game, and the wooden buttons and dice are FSC-certified. Mother Earth is an excellent example of Tactic’s commitment to promoting sustainable development.
With uncompromising work, Tactic has demonstrated that responsibility and fun can go hand in hand. The company not only produces high-quality and entertaining games but does so in a way that benefits both the environment and people. This makes Tactic not just an innovator in the gaming industry but also a leader in sustainable development.
Learn more about Mother Earth Trivia: www.tactic.net/en/mother-earth/
Tactic is a family business from Pori, Finland, whose innovative and captivating board games are loved around the world. For half a century, Tactic’s factory in Pori has produced products that bring people together to enjoy shared moments. Let’s dive into the heart of the game factory to hear the thoughts of Tactic employees on being Finnish, responsibility, and the importance of games.
Game business in three generations
Tactic is the life’s work of the Heljakka family from Pori, spanning three generations. The Tactic story began in the late 1960s when young Aarne Heljakka’s family received a board game as a gift from an American cousin. It instantly became a hit among the family. Aarne got the idea to manufacture and sell the game in Finland and the rest is history. Starting from a garage in Pori, Kimble has conquered the world, with the company growing to new spheres.
One of Tactic’s key figures is Marketing Manager Jemina Heljakka, who has lived and breathed games all her life. Tactic’s founder Aarne Heljakka is Jemina’s grandfather, and Jemina’s father Markku Heljakka managed the company for nearly 40 years. In the family business, everyone got involved early on in testing and selling games. Jemina recalls fondly how her first pocket money was earned by folding Kimble game boxes on the living room floor.
Tactic’s games are still made in Pori today, where the Heljakka family is actively involved in the company’s operations. Even the retired Markku Heljakka occasionally creates social media content and videos. Jemina believes that working in a family business is very versatile, with broad responsibilities and good influence. It has been great growing with Tactic’s products and gaining the assurance from experience about what works and what kind of games consumers want to play, whether in Finland or abroad.
Roots firmly in Finland
Lauri Nieminen has had the most interesting two years of his career as Tactic’s CEO. A professional in video marketing, Lauri had previously taken Tactic to new markets like the United States. His first game memory is Tactic’s Choco, which made an impression on young Lauri. Lauri has also been a cover boy for Tactic – his picture graces the cover of the first Junior Alias.
Being the CEO of a family business is a great source of pride for Lauri Nieminen. Over the years, he has watched the company grow and diversify, and now he gets to lead this prestigious company. For Lauri, Tactic’s vision remains crystal clear: bringing people together through games and creating unforgettable moments and cherished memories in everyday life.
Being from Finland and having production in Pori are at the core of Tactic’s value proposition. Since the company was founded, work has been done with local resources. Today, Tactic is a significant employer in the region. Responsibility is a matter of the heart for Tactic employees; every worker can truly stand behind the kind of products that leave Pori for the world.
Sustainable development bears fruit
Jemina Heljakka believes that in a family business, it is natural to think about sustainable business practices and ensure its continuation for future generations. Domestic production means that the entire design, procurement, and production chain’s responsibility can be guaranteed. They can choose the right raw materials for products and monitor where the materials come from and how the products are made. They know precisely who makes the products and that working conditions are good at every stage of the production chain. Tactic products usually bear the Key Flag symbol, indicating that the products are made in Finland.
Investment in responsibility is evident in Tactic’s brand. Tactic games are seen as reliable domestic products that are fun to play year after year, game after game. Sociality is also at the core of Tactic’s brand, and people gather around games to enjoy being together. People can safely choose a familiar game manufacturer who considers the environment in the manufacturing process and has the experience to always make the right products for the right need.
Everyone plays their part
Every Tactic employee has their important role in the company’s responsibility chain. Nico Lehtonen, from Pori, is responsible for production consistency. His job includes equipment and property maintenance and renewal. Nico praises Tactic’s excellent team spirit, where everyone works towards a common goal. This also helps in quality maintenance when solutions to process problems are sought together. In Nico’s role, responsibility is also seen in reducing energy costs, keeping the devices efficient, and utilizing all the heat produced by the machines.
Roni Kotkavaara works in Tactic’s warehouse. He started at Tactic as a forklift driver and is now a trainee supervisor. Roni’s job is to send goods from the factory at speed, thus bringing joy to children all over the world. Roni feels good knowing that someone is playing the very game he packed and sent out. According to Roni, Tactic is an excellent employer where they also have fun, as should be in a game factory. According to Roni, responsibility is evident in the warehouse, especially in load optimization. When products are packed tightly, the delivery is sure to arrive intact at the destination.
Game designer Petter Ilander is responsible for the game mechanics at Tactic. Responsibility in game design can be seen, for example, in considering how many times a game can be played before it starts to repeat itself. The bar is high at Tactic, and they always aim to maximize the number of plays. Material choices are also durable; they avoid plastic and consider which cardboard solution would last best from one game to the next.
The future looks bright
Every Tactic employee shares the core values of the family business and implements responsibility in their work. CEO Lauri Nieminen is especially happy about this. The company’s playing field is interesting, and Lauri sees no limits to what Tactic can offer consumers in its main product categories. The world is constantly changing, so there is always work to be done and development to be made.
Jemina Heljakka also sees a bright future for Tactic. Domesticity is an important resource: on the domestic market, new things can be tested, which then spread to other markets. In this way, the company grows and expands its operations responsibly. It is important to continue making sustainable choices that keep the company and employees in good shape and consumers satisfied. This ensures that Tactic remains a pioneer in bringing people together to spend quality time together in the future, too.
Further information: www.tactic.net/…/responsibility