Lego's Environmental Ambitions: A Fragile Reality

Aiming for Sustainability or Causing Harm?

Our planet is inundated with plastic waste. Marine life is particularly affected, as creatures become ensnared in abandoned fishing gear and ingest plastic debris, leading to dire consequences throughout the food chain.

Lego, producing items that are predominantly plastic, is aware of the scrutiny it faces from environmental advocates. While Lego pieces are generally not discarded in landfills—thanks to a robust market for second-hand bricks—any negative attention from figures like Greta Thunberg could impact their profitability.

To counteract this, Lego has begun to produce bricks from materials like sugarcane and recycled PET bottles, pledging to transition entirely to sustainable resources by 2030.

Are They Making Progress?

While Lego has a long history of producing high-quality bricks, integrating new materials into their products presents challenges. Since 1963, their bricks have been crafted from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, allowing them to maintain precise tolerances and a reliable fit.

As Lego designs intricate kits with thousands of pieces—such as the Millennium Falcon set, which comprises 7,541 parts and measures 60cm x 80cm—it is crucial that all components remain secure and durable over time.

Pieces that break apart during play or don’t hold together are simply not acceptable, whether for children engaging in imaginative play or adults displaying their collections.

Fragility in New Designs

In recent years, Lego has introduced alternative materials for certain components, such as foliage, where flexibility is less of an issue. However, the introduction of these new materials into mainstream bricks has led to a decline in quality.

For instance, the newly launched Volkswagen camper van set, containing 1,332 pieces and priced near $250, has sparked dissatisfaction among users.

This set, designed for display and enjoyment, boasts features like operable doors and foldable seats, yet reviews reveal significant flaws:

> "The model looks great in the box, but it falls apart as soon as you pick it up! The wheels detach easily, and the hinges are unreliable. Overall, it’s a complete disappointment."

Widespread Concerns

The critique isn't limited to a few disgruntled customers. A review from “Tips & Bricks,” a dedicated Lego review site, has awarded this set a score of zero out of 100, indicating systemic issues in the quality of recent Lego releases.

Despite the strong allegiance of Lego enthusiasts, it's clear that the quality of their beloved bricks is in jeopardy. The integrity of Lego’s iconic design has been compromised by the new materials, which fail to retain their shape after bending.

Not Just an Isolated Incident

This problem extends beyond a single kit. While Lego might occasionally create specialized bricks, the foundation of their system relies on consistent, reliable pieces.

Other recent products, like the Star Wars AT-AT set, have also received negative feedback, with customers noting that even gentle handling can lead to disassembly.

> "It’s so fragile that just moving it from one place to another causes parts to detach—this is not what I expected from Lego."

A Shift in Manufacturing Standards

The root of the issue may lie in the production of the bricks themselves. While designers have access to older, tried-and-true bricks, the newer pieces manufactured for consumers do not meet the same standards of durability.

The recent surge in alternative brick manufacturers has raised the question: if these other brands can produce quality bricks, where does that leave Lego?

Lego faces a critical juncture in their quest for sustainability. With competition tightening and their traditional market threatened, they must prioritize the fundamental aspect of their business: creating reliable, interlocking plastic pieces.

Half a Train

A tidy little set, but not the whole box

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