The Impact of Plastic Waste and Lego’s Efforts in Decarbonization
Introduction
In today’s world, the issue of plastic waste has reached critical levels. Various organizations and advocates are raising awareness about the environmental and health hazards associated with excessive plastic production and poor recycling rates. This article explores the insights and efforts of Lego, a renowned toy company and a key contributor to plastic waste, in addressing the problem of plastic pollution.
Lego’s Decarbonization Efforts
One of the key figures in the fight against plastic waste, Judith Enck, president of Beyond plastics, criticizes companies for making empty promises about reducing plastic production without taking concrete actions to back them up. She emphasizes the importance of companies like Lego not making announcements until they actually implement their plans.
Lego’s contribution to plastic pollution is significant, considering the projections by the World Economic Forum that global plastic production will double in the next 20 years. However, Lego has made efforts to address this issue, investing heavily in decarbonization. For example, in 2015, the company established a Sustainable Materials Center with a generous investment of $155 million.
Paolo Taticchi, a corporate sustainability expert at University College London, acknowledges Lego’s commitment to decarbonization and considers the company “quite credible” in its efforts. Despite the setback of a failed recycled PET (rPET) project, Lego continues to employ 150 engineers to work on alternative sustainable initiatives.
Although Lego’s operating profits recently took a significant dive, it is apparent that decarbonization has become a necessity for organizations. Without finding a viable solution to address the plastic waste issue, companies like Lego may struggle to survive in an increasingly environmentally conscious world.
The Challenge of Finding Alternatives to ABS
Growing concerns about plastic persistence in the natural environment have intensified the search for practical alternatives to the widely used plastic material ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). Gregg Beckham, a researcher at the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, explains the difficulties in finding a functional, bio-based replacement for ABS.
Beckham and his colleagues are currently working on developing a bio-based alternative, but it remains uncertain whether it will possess all the special properties required for top-quality Lego pieces. Multiple companies are also engaging in similar technological advances to scale up sustainable materials, offering hope for a future with less reliance on conventional plastics.
The Enduring Presence of Plastic Waste
The longevity and persistence of plastic waste are evident through various instances around the world. Abandoned plastic materials, possibly including Lego pieces, have been discovered in unexpected places, such as former Soviet nuclear bases in Poland. The presence of plastic waste, even in remote locations, highlights the need for urgent action to tackle plastic pollution.
Another alarming consequence of plastic waste is its accumulation in the world’s oceans. Tracey Williams, author and founder of the Lego Lost at Sea project, has been documenting the retrieval of Lego pieces caught in fishermen’s nets. A study co-authored by Williams suggests that small Lego ABS pieces can generate microplastic particles in the sea for several centuries, posing a threat to marine ecosystems.
Interestingly, many of the Lego pieces collected by Williams are up to 50 years old, showcasing the resilience and durability of ABS plastic. Despite their long exposure to the ocean, some of these recovered pieces remain in good condition, highlighting the potential for ABS to provide a solution to Lego’s sustainability challenges.
Summary
In summary, Lego faces the daunting challenge of reducing its plastic waste footprint while maintaining the quality and durability of its iconic toy pieces. The company has invested significantly in decarbonization efforts and continues to employ engineers to explore sustainable alternatives to ABS. However, finding a practical substitute for ABS presents numerous obstacles, and the enduring presence of plastic waste in the natural environment underscores the urgency of addressing the issue.
Despite the setbacks and criticisms, Lego’s commitment to sustainability is commendable. The company’s investments and initiatives demonstrate its recognition of the need to evolve and adapt to a changing world. As discussions on plastic waste intensify, it is crucial for organizations like Lego to lead the way in finding innovative solutions that protect the environment for future generations.
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“In the future, they should not make these kinds of announcements until they actually do it,” says Judith Enck, president of Beyond plastics. According to projections by the World Economic Forum, global plastic production will double in the next 20 years, and yet, in the United States, for example, advocates claim that the vast majority of plastic, 95 percent is never recycled.
Paolo Taticchi, a corporate sustainability expert at University College London, says Lego can be considered “quite credible” in its efforts to decarbonize because the company has invested heavily in this effort. For example, in 2015 Lego contributed $155 million to establish a Sustainable Materials Center. Despite the failure of the rPET project, 150 engineers still work there working on alternative initiatives, the company says.
But Taticchi doesn’t mince words. Today, decarbonization is not just a nice-to-have: “You’re not going to survive as an organization if you don’t find a solution.” By the way, last month, Lego reported Its operating profits had plummeted 19 percent, the biggest dive since 2004.
It’s very difficult to find a practical alternative to ABS, says Gregg Beckham of the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. He and his colleagues are working on a functional, bio-based replacement for ABS. Would it have all the special properties needed for a top-quality Lego piece? “TBD,” he says, noting that “multiple companies” are now working to scale similar technology.
There is growing awareness of how plastic can persist in the natural environment. Even toys made from long-forgotten plastic materials have appeared, including possible Lego pieces. at a former nuclear missile base in Polandwhere the families of Soviet officers lived secretly.
And don’t forget all the Legos in the ocean. Every month or so, Tracey Williams, author and founder of the Lego project lost at sea, catches up with local fishermen in Cornwall, England, who save Lego pieces that got caught in their nets. In 2020, she was co-author of a study That suggested that small pieces of Lego ABS could remain in the sea, generating microplastic particles, for between 100 and 1,300 years.
Some of the pieces collected by Williams are up to 50 years old. However, most come from a lost shipping container that was filled with nearly five million Lego pieces. A rogue wave hit the vessel tokyo express in 1997, causing the cargo to fall into the water.
“You can only really tell that they have been at the bottom of the sea for 26 years by the marine life that grows on them,” he says. “They survive remarkably well.”
The wear and tear of the recovered pieces varies, but, surprisingly, some are in good condition to be used again, despite their long stay under the waves or trapped in sand dunes. And that, the sheer durability of ABS, may provide Lego with an answer, or part of an answer, to its problems.
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