When we think about board and card games, most of us picture fun evenings with friends... not carbon emissions. But every product has a footprint, even one as small and simple as a desk of cards, and it can vary massively depending on how and where it’s made.
At Polar Embassy, sustainability has been a part of our vision since day one. Many of our games are Cradle to Cradle certified. We couldn't publish our climate change card game Sinner or Saviour, which is about CO₂ footprints, without including the CO₂ footprint of the game itself into the gameplay!
The CO₂e footprints of our games vary: 0,29kg CO₂e per Ancestral Healing Tarot Deck to 0,18kg CO₂e per Club of Queens, or 0,05kg CO₂e per Bettgeflüster workbook.
In the spirit of transparency and accessibility, below we approximate the years it takes a single tree to reabsorb the CO₂e emitted from each product's production. We used data from Encon for the calculations:
European Production vs. Overseas Shipping
Take a look at these two cards from Sinner or Saviour:
10.8 kg CO₂: The footprint of shipping a pallet of our games from our printer in Austria to Germany by truck.
280 kg CO₂: The footprint of shipping a similar pallet of card games from Hong Kong to Hamburg by cargo ship.
The difference is staggering: more than 25 times higher emissions for the overseas option! And that’s before you even consider most producers also ship small quantities by air freight, which is far worse.
Why Local Production Matters
Our sustainability philosophy is simple:
- Made in Europe – All of our products are made in Europe. Sinner or Saviour is printed in Austria by a Cradle-to-Cradle certified producer that uses renewable energy, with paper from responsibly managed forests, and using organic inks that biodegrade safely.
- Short transport routes – Less distance traveled means less CO₂.
- Transparency – We publish the CO₂ footprints of our products, so customers can make informed choices.
By choosing regional suppliers and avoiding long overseas supply chains, we can avoid the significant transport-related emissions that are unfortunately our industry's standard.
Learning by Playing
The beauty of Sinner or Saviour lies in its combination of education and entertainment. While you play, you learn about the CO₂ impact of everyday choices — from flying vs. taking the train, to vegan diets vs. meat-heavy ones. This card deck turns climate education into a lively game night conversation.
🌎 Explore our climate change card game Sinner or Saviour here
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Conclusion
So, what’s the carbon footprint of a card game? It depends entirely on where and how it’s made. By producing locally and transparently, Sinner or Saviour proves that even something as simple as a card deck can embody climate-friendly values.
By providing the CO₂e footprint of products on their packaging and web page, we hope to support you in making low-carbon choices. Your purchases as a consumer matter: the next time you buy a game, you’re not just choosing entertainment. You’re also casting a vote for the kind of world you want to live in.
FAQ
What makes Sinner or Saviour a sustainable card game?
It’s printed in Austria Cradle-to-Cradle certified. This means it was made with renewable energy sources, organic inks, paper from responsibly managed forests, and transparent CO₂e reporting.
How big is the difference between local and overseas game production?
Local production can reduce transport emissions by more than 96%. Our Austria-to-Germany route is 10.8 kg CO₂ vs. 280 kg if the games were shipped from Asia.
Why not just offset the emissions?
We do offset between 100-110% of our production emissions. But it's fundamental to note: offsets alone are not a sustainable path forward. We also have to do the work to eliminate emissions. That’s why we prioritize short, sustainable supply chains. Yes, it's lower margin for us now, but we're investing in the supply chains we hope to see thrive in the future.
What is the educational purpose of Sinner or Saviour?
It makes climate science tangible and sparks conversation about sustainable lifestyle choices without shaming any players for their choices.
Can companies use Sinner or Saviour for workshops?
If your audience speaks German, go for it! The game is currently only available in German, and it’s great for schools, workplaces, and team-building events to raise awareness about sustainability.