Posted on November, 27 2013

Denmark: The LEGO Group today announced it would join the WWF Climate Savers Programme and would expand the dialogue with suppliers to reduce the total impact on the environment. 

As part of the agreeement the LEGO Group will work with suppliers to co-create solutions to address the supply chain carbon emission impact, will look into being more sustainable and by  the end of 2016, reduce by at least 10 per cent the energy used to manufacture one tonne of LEGO elements compared to 2012.

The LEGO Group has also committed to produce more renewable energy than the company uses in its facilities, to be 100% renewable by 2016.

“Rapid climate change is the largest threat against nature and human society worldwide. This is a key focus for WWF globally. Working with companies, such as the LEGO Group, which shares our concern, is essential to be able to achieve our vision of 100 % renewable energy by 2050," said Gitte Seeberg, CEO of WWF Denmark.

"With the support of WWF, Climate Savers member companies have cut their CO² emissions by more than 100 million tonnes since 1999. This is about twice the current yearly CO² emissions of Denmark. Therefore, changes in corporate practice are essential if there is to be real progress for the climate,” he said.

"Partnering with WWF is an important step in our efforts to get the best out of our sustainability initiatives. We are proud to contribute to WWF’s overall vision of 100% renewable energy by 2050 and already now they have played a part in the targets we have set – and how we can achieve them,” said LEGO Group’s CEO, Jørgen Vig Knudstorp.

Just a tenth of the total carbon emission related to LEGO® products originates from processes taking place at LEGO factories during production of LEGO bricks and sets, the rest of the emission stem from supply chain activities, prompting the toy manufacturer to include a greater focus on collaboration with suppliers to reduce total carbon emissions.

“If we are able to inspire and enable our supply chain to also achieve a reduction in their production at a similar level, the total emissions would be reduced by 100,000 tonnes. Such a reduction would be equivalent to taking approximately 28,000 cars off the streets!” says Robbert Stecher, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs at the LEGO Group.

For a number of years the LEGO Group and the WWF have had a dialogue on a range of sustainability topics such as sourcing sustainable packaging materials through FSC and partnering on the launch of the WindMade initiative.

Now the formal partnership puts focus on going beyond zero carbon emissions.The LEGO Group is on track to meet this ambition with the commissioning of an offshore wind farm in Germany where the production of energy from the LEGO Group’s part of the wind farm equals the energy consumption of approximately 100,000 residential homes.

More than 10 years ago, WWF created the Climate Savers Programme, a unique programme to mobilize leading multinational companies to cut their CO2 emissions in absolute terms and lead on the issue of climate change. Over the decade more than 20 world-known companies have shown that it’s possible to reduce their carbon footprint while growing both their business and shareholder value.

To be included, companies in the Climate Savers Programme agree to reduce their CO2 emissions in accordance with an individual reduction target defined by WWF, the company and independent technical experts.