What parent hasn’t experienced the joys and frustrations of the world of LEGO? I’ve stepped on them barefoot, thrown them haphazardly into random bins in no particular order, joyfully pieced together towers and towns, and pulled out my hair in frustration when it came time to organize those little plastic pieces. LEGOs and I have what can only be called a love/hate relationship. Until now.
Now, I have nothing but love for the LEGO and what lies ahead for this ubiquitous building block of fine motor skills and creative play. This month, LEGO Group announced the creation of the LEGO Sustainable Materials Centre with a 1 billion DKK (that’s approximately $150 million USD) investment. The Centre will be committed to research, development and implementation of more sustainable materials.
This isn’t the first step LEGO has made to become more environmentally conscious. In recent years, they have reduced package size and invested in wind energy, among other things. The creation of the Sustainable Materials Centre is another step forward toward the company’s goal to be using sustainable materials by 2030.
So, next time you stumble over those teeny tiny pieces in your wee one’s bedroom, don’t curse them completely, for LEGO is fast heading to the forefront of environmentally conscious and sustainable corporations worldwide. Nothing but love.
Check out the company’s official statement on this investment here. And, if you really want to celebrate, take your kids to LEGOland this summer!
Mollie Michel, editor of A Child Grows in Philly, is a South Philly resident and a Philadelphia public school parent. A recovering non-profit professional, Mollie is also an experienced birth doula, Certified Lactation Counselor, and the mom of two awesome girls and a sweet pit bull named Princess Cleopatra. In her spare time, she is usually trying to figure out how Pinterest works, training for a(nother) half-marathon with her dog at her side, or simply trying to keep up with her increasingly wily daughters.