19 votes

As digital innovation reshapes the toy market, Lego's chief executive Niels B Christiansen discusses why playing around is good for children, adults and business

Posted by mycketforvirrad
Tags: business, denmark, innovation.digital, toys, lego, play, ceo, niels b christiansen, interviews, author.adrienne murray, source.bbc worklife
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240725-legos-ceo-on-the-business-case-for-play

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Title
Lego's CEO on the business case for play
Word count
1900 words

7 comments

  1. [7]
    floweringmind
    Link
    Lego is just one big toxic company producing overpriced plastic waste.

    Lego is just one big toxic company producing overpriced plastic waste.

    4 votes
    1. [3]
      Sodliddesu
      Link Parent
      I mean, despite just being a big press release for the company, that's what the article is mostly about but with how long Lego last, compared to most other toy companies, they're hardly the most...

      I mean, despite just being a big press release for the company, that's what the article is mostly about

      Christiansen says Lego has been investing in new materials and hopes to replace many of its products with oil-free alternatives. "This year, we aim to have a significant part of our products made with a good chunk of material coming from non-fossil bases," he says. "It's going to be a journey, but by 2032, we'll get there."

      but with how long Lego last, compared to most other toy companies, they're hardly the most wasteful.

      27 votes
      1. [2]
        Grasamucor
        Link Parent
        My friend recently gave his son all his legos he had stored in the attic, circa 1994-1998 timeframe, and mixed in with all his new sets, they are honestly indistinguishable from one another. Just...

        My friend recently gave his son all his legos he had stored in the attic, circa 1994-1998 timeframe, and mixed in with all his new sets, they are honestly indistinguishable from one another. Just as solidly made still and totally compatible with one another. No other company has that kinda quality control outside of probably very life-critical medical materials/supplies.

        17 votes
        1. BeardyHat
          Link Parent
          When my family ask what my two kids want for gifts, I always, always say Lego and then pass them links to sets my kids don't have. So many toys have gone through our house, they end up destroyed,...

          When my family ask what my two kids want for gifts, I always, always say Lego and then pass them links to sets my kids don't have.

          So many toys have gone through our house, they end up destroyed, missing pieces, at the bottom of the toybox or otherwise bound for the garbage. Lego meanwhile gets played with every day, by the kids and occasionally even by myself and my wife or Aunts and Uncles. The sets can get destroyed or disassembled and go into the rest of the stream to be used for other creations and pieces very rarely are broken. To top this all off, 80% of the Lego in our house is mine from the late 80s, early 90s, so it got passed down and will hopefully get further passed down when my kids are older. My kids have a 4 gallon Lego container that is full to the brim and I have another 6 gallon one of my own Lego I still haven't given them yet, because they're not ready to clean up the potential mess they can make with 10 gallons of Lego.

          6 votes
    2. [2]
      sum4
      Link Parent
      If you believe Lego is just plastic waste, you probably aren't a parent. The sheer volume of junk toys that break or become useless within 30 minutes is staggering. I had no idea how bad it was....

      If you believe Lego is just plastic waste, you probably aren't a parent. The sheer volume of junk toys that break or become useless within 30 minutes is staggering. I had no idea how bad it was. Quality toys are few and far between.

      22 votes
      1. CptBluebear
        Link Parent
        People also don't think twice giving you a lot of this plastic crap on a kid's birthday. I've been trying to put a stop to that by asking friends and family to just chip in for one big ticket item...

        People also don't think twice giving you a lot of this plastic crap on a kid's birthday. I've been trying to put a stop to that by asking friends and family to just chip in for one big ticket item that lasts. So far it's been a success but I still end up with so many crappy toys that I'm not sure where they even came from.

        LEGO lasts decades.

        16 votes
    3. ACEmat
      Link Parent
      Who's throwing away LEGOs?

      Who's throwing away LEGOs?

      13 votes