LEGO plans on investing $400 million over three years. The plan covers current costs and long-term investments. One of which includes eliminating the use of individual plastic bags in its products. (Image Credit: LEGO)
On September 15, 2020, LEGO announced that it plans on investing $400 million over three years in an effort to accelerate sustainability and social responsibility initiatives. The plans cover a wide range of areas. One of which includes eliminating the use of individual plastic bags to package loose bricks in the LEGO boxes by 2025. Next year, the toy-making giant is trialing Forest Stewardship Council certified recyclable paper bags instead. LEGO, which has contributed to building a better planet for the future, says it’s increasingly urgent and important to prioritize environmental and social activity.
However, it won’t be easy to move away from today’s packaging. It could take a while since the new material must be durable, lightweight and improve the building experience. To date, numerous prototypes made of a variety of different sustainable materials have been tested with hundreds of parents and children. The paper bags being trialed in 2021 appealed to the children more because they are environmentally friendly and easier to open.
“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 that 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.” LEGO CEO Niels B Christiansen said.
Additionally, the investment could be used to create more sustainable bricks and packaging. The company is also expecting to focus more on increasing its use of “bio-bricks” made from materials such as sugar cane. Further research into the development of sustainable plastics composed of renewable and recycled materials is also expected.
LEGO also says it hopes to be carbon-neutral by 2022. This could be achieved by implementing new measures, such as installing solar panels at every factory, along with renewable energy procurement deals. The company also aims to cut water usage by 10% by 2022. LEGO is in the process of setting-up programs as an incentive for people to donate pre-used bricks so they can be re-used by children.
In 2018, LEGO’s greenhouse gas emissions reached 1.1 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. LEGO says that 12% of those emissions were sourced from its own operations. That number increased by 6% in 2018 compared to 2017, and the company says its carbon efficiency improved in this period.
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