Everyone loves Lego. It's one of those childhood playthings that's so perfectly innocent - who doesn't fondly remember the days of trying to build a pirate ship, or creating something entirely original? Well, prepare to have your childhood ruined.
Remember all the fun you had with those Lego sets? As it turns out, those very same sets are killing the environment.
To be perfectly fair, that may be a bit of an overstatement, but it's not all that far from the truth: the materials used to create Lego bricks are far from environmentally friendly, and there's been quite a bit of outcry for the company to do something about it. After all, no one wants to sacrifice the planet over tiny plastic bricks.
Thankfully, it seems as if Lego is ready to find a better solution: the company is investing roughly $150 million into creating the 'LEGO Sustainable Materials Centre' in an effort to rework how their product is made.
At its core, the Lego Sustainable Materials Centre is devoted to fixing the product's environmental footprint...but it's only the first step of many. The company is looking for roughly 100 new employees to staff the center, and the possibility of satellite locations popping up is also on the table. All of this is thanks to the company's General Assembly, which called for a renewed focus on finding more sustainable materials to use in Lego production earlier this year. As it stands, the company is hoping to do so before 2030, though the Sustainable Materials Centre could help put Lego ahead of schedule.
CEO and President of the LEGO Group, Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, confirmed the company's new environmentally-friendly focus:
"This is a major step for the LEGO Group on our way towards achieving our 2030 ambition on sustainable materials. We have already taken important steps to reduce our carbon footprint and leave a positive impact on the planet...Now we are accelerating our focus on materials.
"Our mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow. We believe that our main contribution to this is through the creative play experiences we provide to children. The investment announced is a testament to our continued ambition to leave a positive impact on the planet, which future generations will inherit."
With any luck, one of the most iconic children's toys ever created will be a bit easier on the environment within the next few years.
For more information on the Lego Sustainable Materials Centre, check out the company's official announcement.
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