Wild Republic Founder, G.B. Pillai was named “Champion of Sustainability” winner at the prestigious toy of the Year (TOTY) awards

Independence, OH (September 30, 2023) – Wild Republic, an international toy company committed to the development of high-quality plush and toys that nurture our children and encourage a love of nature, is pleased to announce their Founder, G.B. Pillai, received the Champion of Sustainability award at the prestigious Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards held in New York City. For more than 40 years Mr. Pillai has been the driving force behind the company’s commitment to nature and conservation while proactively striving to be as environmentally friendly and ethically responsible as possible. The Champion of Sustainability is a new category for the TOTY Awards and was developed to recognize an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the space. Considered the Oscars of the toy industry, the TOTY Awards is the most prestigious awards event in the toy industry.

“It is a true honor to receive the Champion of Sustainability award,” says Mr. Pillai, founder of Wild Republic. “More than forty years ago, my wife Kamala and I made it our mission to educate our children about the importance of nature, conservation and our environment. These lessons can be found in every facet of our company, from our product development to charitable giving and I’m happy to have made this my life-long mission.”

Mr. Pillai adds, “I’m happy to pass on my legacy and mission to my grandson, Vishnu Chandran, who is now the CEO of Wild Republic. Under his direction, the company will continue its mission of educating our youth about the importance of nature, our environment and conservation.”

What began under the vision and guidance of G.B. Pillai, to create an environmentally friendly and ethically responsible toy and plush lines continues with his grandson and now CEO of Wild Republic, Vishnu Chandran. Chandran adds, “There is no one more deserving of this award than my granddad. His dedication to conservation, sustainability, and education about our planet, is the cornerstone of our company and continues to be the driving force in everything that we do. I’m so proud of him, and so proud to be able to call him my granddad as well.”

History of Sustainability

Wild Republic, with G.B. Pillai, as the driving force, started making strides in conservation and sustainability long ago by continually researching ways to preserve natural resources and minimize deforestation and by selecting alternative natural sources for the products. The company strives to protect and preserve wildlife, natural habitats, and ecosystems through environmentally conscious and recyclable packaging. Wild Republic also strives to reduce unnecessary waste by developing high quality, affordable products that will last for generations to come.

Promise to the Planet

While the importance of sustainability has always been at the cornerstone of Wild Republic, Mr. Pillai and the company have reaffirmed their commitment to lessening its carbon footprint by reducing, reusing, and sourcing sustainable products with a Promise to the Planet initiative that includes fewer chemicals, recycled plastic beans in their plush, 80% recycled cardboard, printing packaging and tags in earth-friendly soy ink and more. The company has continued to make strides toward this goal by converting its production processes to eliminate single-use plastics and include reusable and biodegradable packaging, phthalate-free non-toxic materials, and fully sustainable resources.

Give Back

In addition, the company is led by a give-back philosophy inspired by Mr. Pillai’s love of all living things. Among many of the organizations started by or funded by Wild Republic is a girls home in India supporting sixty residents at a time where these, mostly orphaned, girls are cared for, educated, and given opportunities for a bright future, a home for retired milk cows in India, a shelter for homeless dogs also in India, numerous and continual donation programs for hospitalized children throughout the world and much more.

Looking Ahead

Mr. Pillai’s personal mission and therefore the company’s mission is to foster an environment where nature inspires our children to preserve and protect our planet for generations to come. For 2024, as an example, Wild Republic is focusing, through product and education, on the importance of rainforests. The new rainforest products will not only delight but also help educate us on why we need to protect rainforests throughout the world. A portion of the proceeds of this new line of products will be given to conservation efforts to help preserve rainforests.

The TOTY Awards were announced on September 29th in New York City as the kickoff to Toy Fair®. The TOTY Awards are the biggest night of the year for toys, where the industry gathers to recognize innovation across every category of play. The night is also the ultimate fundraiser to support TTF’s work delivering the extraordinary benefits of play to children in need around the world.

For more information about the Wild Republic, please visit www.WildRepublic.com or follow them at:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/WildRepublic
• Instagram: @wild_republic
• YouTube: @wildrepublic
• Pinterest: @wildrepublic

About Wild Republic:

Wild Republic has been delighting consumers around the globe for more than 40 years with an expansive collection of nature-related toys and gifts that foster curiosity about wildlife and educate children about the wonders of nature. Headquartered in Pleasant Valley Rd., Independence, Ohio, Wild Republic has offices throughout the world with international distribution serving zoos, museums, aquariums and retailers. Consumers can also purchase directly at www.WildRepublic.com  and are invited to follow the company on Facebook and Instagram.