Visit my office at Skolnik HQ, and you will soon discover that we are big fans of Lego. We admire their creativity & engineering, and their instructions are a great example of clarity in communication.
But according to a recent article in the Wall St. Journal, there is trouble in Lego land, and things are in pieces!
Lego A/S, the Danish company, plans to switch how it packages collectibles known as Minifigures from crinkly plastic bags to recyclable cardboard boxes.
Understanding the angst requires some assembly.
- Best known for producing billions of toy bricks, Lego also draws legions of fans who love its minifigures.
- The tiny toy people with detachable legs, torsos, and heads were once simple, with docile smiles and two dots for eyes.
- Now, there are thousands of varieties, from a character dressed as a giant slice of pizza to a banjo-toting Kermit the Frog.
Some minifigures come in collectible series, and determined enthusiasts aim to gather them all. Lego sells these minifigures and their accessories in opaque plastic mystery packages often known as “blind bags.” That means fans may have to buy multiple bags, guessing at what’s inside, to complete each series. The plastic bags allow people to “cheat” by feeling the minifigure inside and figuring out what it is without opening the bag.
Yes, but: Lego, like many companies, has faced challenges trying to seamlessly adopt sustainable materials, such as a new brick. Only about 7% of Lego packaging these days isn’t made of sustainable materials, and that portion includes the plastic bags for collectible minifigures, according to the company.
In a written statement, Lego said, “We know that some fans feel the plastic bags to identify the contents,” of the minifigure series. With that in mind, the company said it did look at various packaging, including paper bags, but found them not durable enough for probing. “We will continue to listen to all points of view from our fans.”
Our thought bubble: We will keep buying Lego minifigs even if they are in a recycled cardboard box, but we have a better idea, use a steel drum instead!