Caring for the world in which we live has become more important than ever in recent years. The next generation is mindful of the impact we are having on the environment and just as the LEGO Group inspires creativity through play it’s also doing its part to build a better future. The LEGO Group has a number of plans and changes in place to work towards becoming a more sustainable company. Recently the LEGO Group have revealed prototype bricks that have been created using plastic sourced from recycled bottles. Although it will be a while before they start appearing in LEGO sets, sustainability sourced bricks are already in many sets. A couple of years ago the first elements to be created from plastic sourced from sugar cane were introduced into sets. Now many of the plant elements such as leaves, flowers and trees are created by this plant-based plastic.
Beyond the elements found in LEGO sets, the bags they are currently packaged in also creates a large amount of plastic waste. These will slowly be phased out in favour of more easily recycled paper bags. These should start to appear in sets towards the end of the year or in early 2022. In box packaging has already started to evolve with instruction booklets and stickers now being housed in recycled card envelopes in place of plastic.
Sticking with paper bags, LEGO stores have switched from plastic carrier bags to paper ones in stores across the world. These have helped to cut out a huge amount of plastic use and introduce a cool new way to keep your new LEGO goodies safe.
The new LEGO HQ building is packed with environmentally friendly features. Including solar panels on the roof of the parking garage and Sedum plants on the roof of the main building to absorb water and CO2. With the water being used to irrigate the surrounding wild meadows and parks built into the surrounding land.
From the point of view of playsets, we’ve seen the Vestas Wind Turbine set re-released with the addition of a few plant-based elements and LEGO City’s energy supplier Octan has branched out to provide greener fuel and even electric cars. Other citizens of LEGO City have also pointed a spotlight on the environment with sub-themes focused on sea life and wildlife.
5th July 2021
You have to applaud The Lego Group for making it their priority to be as environmentally responsible as they can. For a company that make toys from plastic, it’s often a case of damned if you do and damned if you don’t!
I think they do more than most, or at least they’re more vocal than, other large manufacturers of plastic products.
Their move from plastic bags to paper ones in store, is a great step forward. But, they don’t currently have a bag big enough for the largest of sets and will still offer the jumbo plastic version as an alternative. Well, they do in my local Lego store.
I don’t know how much more TLG could do?
I’ve often read comments from others that you should be able to recycle unwanted Lego in store. But, you can already do that by passing it on to family and friends or by donating it to a charity store. Or, even selling it via online auction sites. I don’t think it would be practical to be able to drop off old Lego for a number of reasons including hygiene. I gather store already recycle Lego swept from the floor that has fallen from the PAB or BAM but I couldn’t imagine that it would be easy to recycle old sets, unwanted Lego or even the cardboard and paper they’d come with?