LEGO to invest $400 million in sustainability, begin phasing out plastic packaging next year [News]

Today The LEGO Group announced an increased commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, pledging to spend $400 million USD over the next three years to fast-track a variety of green initiatives and social programs. The most visible difference to fans will be the introduction of paper bags in LEGO packaging, which are set to replace the clear plastic bags that hold each step’s pieces in LEGO sets. The company plans to trial run the new paper bags next year, with the goal of making all its packaging sustainable by 2025. Tim Brooks, Vice President of Environmental Responsibility at The LEGO Group, said, “We have received many letters from children about the environment asking us to remove single-use plastic packaging. We have been exploring alternatives for some time and the passion and ideas from children inspired us to begin to make the change.”

In 2015, LEGO, which is the world’s largest toy manufacturer, pledged to make all of their products from sustainable materials by 2030, a goal that they’ve reiterated this year. The new paper packaging is another step in that roadmap, following on the company’s initial tests in 2018 of making some LEGO elements from sustainably sourced plant-based plastic. The company released a small promotional set in that year featuring a handful of the plant-based plants pieces.

Update Sept. 29, 2021: LEGO says it will begin phasing in paper packaging starting in 2022.

Another aspect of the company’s green initiatives is its commitment to carbon-neutral manufacturing by 2022. This will include expanding the use of solar panels at its plants and installing more efficient machinery for some steps of the brick-molding process. LEGO also aims to reduce water usage and eliminate waste destined for landfills.

In addition to the environmentally focused investments, the company’s $400 million pledge will go toward funding a variety of social initiatives for children, such as the LEGO Foundation’s education-driven learning through play experiences that focus on problem solving, collaboration, and communication. Christiansen said “We believe [children] should have access to opportunities to develop the skills necessary to create a sustainable future. We will step up our efforts to use our resources, networks, expertise and platforms to make a positive difference.”

Read LEGO’s full press release below, as well as see more images of the new paper packaging.


LEGO Group to invest up to US$400 million over three years
to accelerate sustainability efforts

  • Next step is to begin to phase out single-use plastic bags from LEGO® boxes in latest move to make all packaging sustainable by 2025.
  • Further investments will also be made in creating more sustainable products, achieving zero waste & carbon neutral operations, circularity and inspiring children to learn about sustainability through play.

BILLUND, September 15th, 2020:  The LEGO Group today announced it plans to invest up to US$400 million – covering ongoing costs and long-term investments – across three years to accelerate sustainability and social responsibility initiatives. The company, which has made a series of moves over the past 10 years to build a better planet for future generations, believes it’s increasingly urgent and important to prioritise environmental and social activity.

The LEGO Group CEO, Niels B Christiansen said:  “We cannot lose sight of the fundamental challenges facing future generations.  It’s critical we take urgent action now to care for the planet and future generations. As a company who looks to children as our role models, we are inspired by the millions of kids who have called for more urgent action on climate change. We believe they should have access to opportunities to develop the skills necessary to create a sustainable future. We will step up our efforts to use our resources, networks, expertise and platforms to make a positive difference.”

As a next step, the company will begin to phase out single-use plastic bags used in LEGO boxes to package the loose bricks. This is part of its ambition to make all its packaging sustainable by the end of 2025. From 2021, Forest Stewardship Council-certified recyclable paper bags will be trialled in boxes.

Christiansen said: “We have received many letters from children about the environment asking us to remove single-use plastic packaging. We have been exploring alternatives for some time and the passion and ideas from children inspired us to begin to make the change.”

Moving away from the existing packaging is not a simple task and will take time as new material must be durable, light weight and enhance the building experience. Several prototypes made from a range of different sustainable materials have so far been tested with hundreds of parents and children. Children liked the paper bags being trialled in 2021 as they were environmentally friendly and easy to open.

Long-term investment in building a sustainable future

In addition to developing and implementing sustainable materials, the up to US$400million investment will also focus on a range of social and environmentally focussed actions to inspire children through learning through play, making the business more circular, and achieving carbon neutral operations. The activity will drive meaningful, long-term change aligned to two United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: #4 Quality Education and #12 Responsible Consumption and Production:

Children

By 2022, the LEGO Group aims to reach 8 million children around the world annually with learning through play through a range of activities with partners, in collaboration with the LEGO Foundation. It will build on its work with organisations such as UNICEF, Save the Children and local partners to scale up programmes that give children-in-need access to play and opportunities to develop life-long skills such as problem solving, collaboration and communication.  In 2019, 1.8 million children were reached through such programmes.  25% of profits from the LEGO Group go to funding the LEGO Foundation’s projects, activities and partnerships.

Circularity

The LEGO System in Play inspires endless play possibilities that supports the principles of circular design – a product made of quality materials that can be used and reused. The quality, durability, safety and consistency of LEGO bricks mean they can be passed from generation to generation. Bricks made today, fit those made more than 40 years ago.

Programmes will be put in place to encourage people to donate their pre-loved bricks to children in need of play. LEGO Replay, which was successfully trialled in the United States in 2019, will be rolled out in two additional countries by the end of 2022. So far, LEGO Replay has donated bricks to over 23,000 children across the United States[1].

Sustainable Materials

Work will continue on the company’s Sustainable Materials Programme, which employs more than 150 experts, to create sustainable products and packaging. In 2015, the Group set a target to make its products from sustainable materials by 2030. It will expand its use of bio-bricks, such as those made from sugar cane, which currently account for almost 2% of its element portfolio.

It will continue research into new, more sustainable plastics from renewable and recycled sources, and join forces with research institutes and other companies especially those developing new recycling and bio-based material production technologies to find materials which are as durable and high quality as those used today[2].

The planned investments include both costs associated with the development of new sustainable materials and the investments in manufacturing equipment.

Zero Waste & Carbon Neutral Operations

The Group’s manufacturing operations will be carbon neutral by 2022. To achieve this, additional solar panels will be installed on all its factories and onsite capacity will be supplemented with the procurement of renewable energy. Further investments will be made to improve energy usage, for example by installing new systems that use ambient air in cooling processes during LEGO brick production.

Improved waste handling and reduction in water consumption will further reduce the Group’s operational impact on the environment. No waste will be diverted to landfill by 2025 and water use will drop by 10% by 2022[3].

Joining forces to have a positive impact

The LEGO Group will continue to work with organisations such as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, World Wild Fund for Nature, RE100, UNICEF and Save the Children in order to create the greatest impact.

Christiansen said:  “At a time when the world is facing numerous challenges, companies must take action to create a lasting positive impact on the environment and society.  No one can do it alone.  I urge companies, governments, parents, children and NGOs to continue to join forces to create a sustainable future for our children, the builders of tomorrow.”

Speaking about the letters the company receives about sustainability from children, Vice President, Environmental Sustainability, Tim Brooks said:  “Children share the most fantastic and creative ideas about how we can be more environmentally friendly when they contact us. We respond to every letter and many are shared with the CEO and Environmental Responsibility team for further consideration. I love hearing from children. It’s the best part of my job!”

If you know a child that has an idea to help shape the LEGO Group’s sustainability ambitions, visit LEGO.com/service to share it with Tim and the team.

[1] Since October 2019

[2] Partners include University of Budapest, University of Amsterdam, Aarhus University and consortia including Bio-speed (consortium consisting of Danone, L’Oréal, Michelin, Bic and Faurecia as well as the LEGO Group)

[3] Tracked against 2019 usage


5 comments on “LEGO to invest $400 million in sustainability, begin phasing out plastic packaging next year [News]

  1. bricktales

    I like this. Not only for the environmental reason, but also it will be kind of fun opening up a bag and not really knowing what’s inside. Kind of like opening a collectible minifig if you don’t identify it by feel first.

  2. Tobi

    I appreciate the effort but it is more than sad that even the “Vice President of Environimental Responsibility” had to be asked about this more than pressing matter by “lots of letters from childern”. Moreover he feels no shame to admit that LEGO hadn’t come up with this by themselves…

  3. Exxos

    Also, less likely to accidentally throw out a piece with a paper bag as plastic bags have a tendency to hold them in.

    @JakeRF; I have never had a lego set that was only 10% full, usually they are around 40% to 60% full. But yeah, they likely could decrease box size by a small margin regardless. Probably 20~25% and still retain the packing and shifting air volume needed. Square meterage of display is not something lego should consider in this age as everything is tiny — you do not need a big lego box unless there is a ginormous 3D baseplate in there. Especially because lego has abandoned standardized packaging sizes, so there is even less reason to have so many oversized boxes.

  4. Chris Adams

    To take the “mystery” out of it, could Lego print images on the bags of the contents and quantities, as they do in the instruction books?

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