Posted on June, 09 2017

BILLUND, Denmark (7 June 2017) - The LEGO Group is extending its partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), as part of efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in manufacturing and supply chain operations, and promote global action on climate change.

Together with WWF, the LEGO Group has set ambitious targets to ensure more sustainable means of producing LEGO^® play experiences, and by 2020 has committed to:

• A further 10% increase in carbon (CO2) efficiency per LEGO brick produced
• Continuing to ensure 100% of energy consumption is balanced by production of renewable energy sources
• Further engaging with key suppliers to reduce the CO2 emissions in the full supply chain

The LEGO Group joined WWF’s Climate Savers programme (http://climatesavers.org/) in 2014. Since then it has met or exceeded all its climate targets, including:

• Balancing 100% of energy use with renewable sources through investing DKK 6 billion in two offshore wind farms
• Research and development of more sustainable materials
• Improving energy efficiency of producing LEGO bricks by more than 12%

“Climate change is a major challenge facing the planet, and the LEGO Group has a responsibility to minimise our impact on the planet – the planet that our children will inherit,” said Marjorie Lao, CFO of the LEGO Group, who is responsible for the LEGO Group’s sustainability strategy.  

“We have made solid progress balancing 100% of our energy consumption with renewables, but we know there is more to do to make the production of LEGO bricks more sustainable, especially in reducing CO2 emissions from our factories, and the entire supply chain. WWF is a valuable partner, who challenge us to think differently about how we operate and inspires us to set ambitious climate targets, and to inspire children to take care of the environment.”

Bo Øksnebjerg, CEO of WWF-Denmark said: “We urgently need to take action to pursue sustainable development now and in the future – simply because the planet is under huge pressure. Impacts of climate change are already being felt by many communities and ecosystems worldwide, and we need to mitigate those impacts to secure a better living for our children and generations after them,” and continues: “Our partnership with the LEGO Group is a showcase of how partnerships between businesses and NGO’s can share important goals for protecting nature and our planet. Together we can make the future sustainable.”

Engaging with suppliers to reduce CO2 emissions
The LEGO Group’s 2020 goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by 10%, the equivalent of more than 10,000 tonnes annually, or taking more than 28,000 cars off the roads. In addition, the LEGO Group will continue to work with key suppliers during the next three years to reduce CO2 emissions in its extended supply chain, emissions which account for more than 90% of the 1.1 million tonnes of CO2 produced from sourcing, production, and distribution of LEGO^® bricks.

The LEGO Group conducted an engagement programme with suppliers, Engage to Reduce (E2R) to report and minimise CO2 emissions, and during the next three years it will step-up the programme to include more than 80% of its supply chain and set goals for CO2 reduction based on climate science.

Inspiring children to learn through play
The signing of the extended partnership coincided with the opening of the CIimate Planet (http://climateplanet.org/english)  event in Aarhus, Denmark. The LEGO Group marked the occasion with a building event that involved hundreds of children creating their vision of a sustainable future using LEGO^® bricks.
“Children are our number one priority and will be affected by climate change.  They have wonderful, creative ideas about how to tackle this critical issue. We feel a responsibility to help inspire them to get engaged with important  environmental and social topics,” said Tim Brooks, Vice President of Environmental Responsibility at the LEGO Group.

The LEGO Group has a range of activities to engage children in environmental sustainability. Children across the world can join the LEGO Planet Crew on LEGO.com (www.lego.com/planetcrew/), where they can learn through play about important environmental and social issues, and share their views on the responsibility issues they feel most passionate about.LEGO Life, the Group’s social media platform (https:// www.lego.com/life), which has more than one million users, is hosting a series of challenges during June and July to encourage children to build their vision of a sustainable future using LEGO bricks.
 

For further information:
Matthew Whitby Communication Manager E-mail: Media@LEGO.com Ph: +45 795025351	Cecilie Weinholt Head of Press WWF Denmark E-mail: c.weinholt@wwf.dk Ph: +45 3176 1200

 
As part of the continued partnership with WWF, by 2020 the LEGO Group has committed to:

• Reduce CO2 emissions by 10% per brick compared to 2016

The target will be relative to the amount of bricks produced [tCO2e/ton LEGO bricks produced]. Measured in 2016 data reducing carbon emissions by 10% would result in a reduction of 10,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.

• Maintain the 100% renewable energy achievement

Ensure renewable energy assets continue to produce more energy than is consumed at LEGO Group factories, offices and stores globally.

• Reduce CO2 emissions in the supply chain.
  • Increase the number of suppliers in the E2R programme from 30 to 50, to cover strategic suppliers accountable for at least 80% of the LEGO Group’s direct procurement.  
  • Support suppliers to report their CO2 footprint to the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) (https://www.cdp.net/en) and improve their CDP performance, and set science-based for CO2 reduction targets in line with the LEGO Group’s own research.
• Establish a corporate environmental employee engagement program

Continue to engage employees in reducing the environmental impact of operations, within energy, waste and water consumption.

• Maintain a positive corporate position on climate change

Continue to engage and inspire the public, decision makers and other companies in the climate change agenda.
 
About the WWF Climate Savers Programme
The Climate Savers Programme is WWF’s global platform to engage business and industry on climate and energy. The intention of the programme is to inspire a change in thinking about climate solutions in companies and encourage them to transform themselves to low-carbon leaders, acting as agents of change within their sphere of influence. This leaves member companies in a better position to avoid carbon-related risks while realising opportunities within their long-term business strategies.