Lego: Fun and Green!
by TreeHugger on 12.23.04
I’ve always thought Lego was pretty environmental just because it never ends up in a landfill. I mean, who would ever throw it away? Other toys come and go, but you can always build something new with Lego. But imagine our delight when the Massive Change exhibition tipped us off that Lego’s an eco-aware company in other ways. For one thing, they eliminated PVC from their packaging material several years ago and are striving to label the materials for separation and recycling as best as possible. The bricks themselves? Though they’re mostly new material, any waste from the molds (at least, over 99% of it) is recycled into Lego pieces and the company’s even...
...developed a process for recycling the mish-mash of colors and different plastics swept up off the floor. Efforts are made to reduce the energy needed for molding, and the cooling system uses water rather than chemicals that deplete ozone.
The enviro PDF on the company website covers everything from reusable shipping crates to ladybug larvae that naturally protect plants from pests at Legoland California. It’s more than a comprehensive guide to environmental policy, covering the basics of how plastic is manufactured, recycling methods, and all sorts of other stuff you might actually learn from. And it’s honest, too: though we’re disappointed to hear that Lego doesn’t use recycled paper for its printed matter, we’re glad they don’t try to cover the fact up in greenwash. Instead, they explain why they’ve made the choices they have—those endless little baggies that come in the boxes, for example, are necessary so parts can be weighed to make sure your model jet plane isn’t missing half its landing gear. The guide brags where it should but fully discloses everything else. ::LEGO Company [by KK]
