LEGO has been a building block of many happy childhood memories since the 1930s, but as the world reforms its views on sustainability and works toward a more eco-friendly future, LEGO is shifting its operations to meet new environmental expectations.
LEGO’s signature building blocks rely on fossil fuels to sustain the production of 100,000 tons of plastic bricks every year. Although their ideology on production has changed, these structural reforms cannot take place immediately, so the company is taking targeted small steps to move in the right direction.
Currently, the company is becoming greener by getting rid of plastic bags in their packaging by 2025. Niels B. Christiansen, CEO of LEGO says that their shift away from plastic is going well and that they are making good progress toward reaching other sustainability goals, such as achieving carbon-neutral manufacturing by next year and reducing all carbon emissions by 37 percent by 2032.
The family-owned business has set a goal to have an environmentally friendly, oil-free product by 2030, and has dedicated $400 million and a team of 100 people to reach this goal within their self-imposed timeline.
LEGO is experiencing record-high sales during this pandemic as many people look for creative outlets within their homes, and their loyal customers have expressed concern for the company’s environmental practices.
“The feedback we get from our customers is very clear,” Christiansen says. “The younger kids are, the more direct they are with their views on green transition and sustainability.”
If you want to support LEGO by making a purchase, but do not want to invest in a plastic set, the company has launched its Botanical Collection made up of mindfully designed plant-based pieces.
