Batterijakten

Objective

The Swedish Battery Recycling Initiative, organized by VARTA, Clas Ohlson, Håll Sverige Rent (Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation), and El-Kretsen, aimed to educate fourth-graders about sustainable battery recycling while mobilizing them in a nationwide collection drive. The campaign combined environmental education with retail engagement, encouraging students to gather used batteries for proper recycling and reducing hazardous waste.

Solution

Isbit Games developed a cross-platform mobile game (iOS, Android, PC, Mac) where players choose between two characters—Elijah or Elin—and search for missing batteries in their city while learning about recycling and environmental impact. The game was integrated into an annual national contest where Swedish fourth-grade classes competed to collect the most batteries at designated Clas Ohlson stores during a contest period (typically February–March). The winning class received a prize of 20,000 SEK and an opportunity to meet with popular Swedish entertainers. The game narrative framed battery recycling as a mission to stop a "malicious mercury battery," making environmental education engaging and gamified.

Results

In the first edition, 30,000 fourth-graders participated and collectively collected 268 tons of used batteries. The game achieved over 100,000 downloads in Sweden. The initiative sustained for at least five years (documented through 2019), consistently collecting hundreds of tons of batteries annually. The game received a 5-star rating on pappasappar.se (a Swedish parenting review site). A sequel, Batterijakten 2, was developed, demonstrating the franchise's viability.