LEGO to take steps to reduce environmental impact

[onions]

i guess it takes Greenpeace to strongarm LEGO into changing it's packaging. this is has been going around the newswires, but this article is the earliest instance i can find on reporting the matter.

i've been complaining about their packaging for awhile, saying that the boxes are way too big, it's a waste of materials and taking it's toll on the environment all up and down their supply chain. they've already begun reducing box sizes, but i still feel like more can be done. still, baby steps. and i like that they are finally acknowledging that they are doing something about it.

[Daz Hoo]

That's good news.

I too was thinking recently that LEGO was very timid regarding environmental issues and adopting policies and measures to reduce its environmental impact. On the otherhand, LEGO bricks are well known to last a very, very long time, while most toys produced nowadays cannot claim that.

But, you're right: over-packaging is a issue at LEGO, so to read that they have finally the intention to do something about it is good news.

[ecastlinhutch]

I love their three pronged approach. Toy companies have to realize treating our planet with respect is important. The current packaging the toy industry is using is just not sustainable in the long run. Hopefully the wasteful packaging will be trimmed. A lot more can surely be done, but this is a great start. Hopefully other companies will follow LEGOs lead.

[dWhisper]

It wouldn't surprise me if they had to make the change in greater part to comply with other vendors. Walmart has been pushing a lot of suppliers to sign on to these pledges as well, and has been making pushing suppliers/manufacturers in china to drop suppliers like that. Sure, because of bad history in part, but also to lower prices.

I wonder when they were put into place... my Hoth base box has a different material composition than any other LEGO box I've seen. Different enough I actually noticed it, when I usually just toss boxes.

[onions]

nick, how were the elements packed into the box? still lots of empty air or more efficient use of space?

[GIR3691]

Does this include those near-unrecyclable plastic bags the parts come in?

[MrCRskater]

Does this include those near-unrecyclable plastic bags the parts come in?

This is also one of my big pet peeves. What is the reason that they have to be made out of that strange cellophane-on-steroids material?

[hrdcrgamer]

It's great to hear of a large company taking steps to reduce its environmental impact. Hopefully, more will follow suit.