LEGO drops paper from Indonesian rainforests, reduces box sizes [News]

As LEGO spreads various parts of its supply chain and manufacturing process beyond Billund, Denmark and Enfield, Connecticut, the number of countries listed on the box after “Components made in…” has increased dramatically, making it unclear exactly where specific LEGO elements and aspects of the product packaging come from. Some LEGO fans have been concerned about the fact that the country list now includes China. After all, the PRC is not particularly well known for its positive environmental record, nor for hitting the high quality bar set traditionally by LEGO.

Although LEGO has not yet confirmed — despite general consensus among fans — that products like the Collectible Minifigures and magnet sets are manufactured in China, LEGO has recently come clean about its packaging.

Environmental advocacy group Greenpeace reports that LEGO has agreed to stop sourcing paper and pulp products from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), a company based in Singapore notorious for harvesting Indonesian rainforests in an unsustainable manner. LEGO packaging I’ve reviewed does not list either Singapore or Indonesia — though APP does operate plants in China. LEGO’s original response to Greenpeace identifies the offending item as a licensed product actually manufactured by Dorling Kindersley (most likely a book) and therefore not part of LEGO’s core product lines. Nevertheless, Greenpeace has complimented LEGO on its responsiveness to the issue and leadership among toy companies. (Packaging news via Environmental Leader.)

Meanwhile, LEGO is further improving its environmental record by making its boxes smaller. Astute readers will already have noticed that the latest line of LEGO Star Wars battle packs are in smaller boxes, reducing the amount of paper needed to produce the packaging. This is apparently a general trend across all product lines.

Our sources tell us that the move toward smaller packaging was entirely business-driven — that the smaller boxes allow more product to be placed on shelves, while simultaneously giving consumers the impression that they’re getting more LEGO by increasing the “perceived density” of the product (a counter-intuitive result from consumer research). Whatever the reasons, LEGO will be using less paper in its packaging going forward, and that’s a good thing.

Next time you call LEGO, let them know that you’re thankful that they’ve taken these steps to improve sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Programmierung mit LEGO Mindstorms NXT: Robotersysteme, Entwurfsmethodik, Algorithmen

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Das Buch bietet anhand von LEGO Mindstorms NXT-Robotern einen anschaulichen Einstieg in die Informatik. Nach einer allgemeinen Einführung in informationstechnische Prinzipien und Komponenten werden in Teil 2 die NXT-Elemente behandelt. Dazu gehören die Bauteile und ihre Funktionsweisen sowie die grafische Programmierumgebung. Teil 3 führt in die objektorientierte Programmiersprache JAVA und die Programmierung von LEGO-Robotern ein. Softwareprogramme, Aufgabenlös… More >>

Programmierung mit LEGO Mindstorms NXT: Robotersysteme, Entwurfsmethodik, Algorithmen

Legos: Webster’s Quotations, Facts and Phrases

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Ever need a fact or quotation on legos? Designed for speechwriters, journalists, writers, researchers, students, professors, teachers, historians, academics, scrapbookers, trivia buffs and word lovers, this is the largest book ever created for this single word. It represents a compilation from a variety of sources with a linguistic emphasis on anything relating to the term “legos,” including non-conventional usage and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities. … More >>

Legos: Webster’s Quotations, Facts and Phrases

Latest lego Auctions

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Lego Busy City Masterbuilders Paperback by Lego

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48-page 11″x 8.5″ paperback book with stiff board covers containing clear step-by-step instructions in this book so that you can make terrific trucks, boats, cars and planes. This Busy City book takes you to the harbor, the airport, a building site and a busy street. This is NOT the set or kit. This is the paperback book only…. More >>

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Clikits: Friends, Fun & Fashion!: An Activity Book

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CLIKITS snap together and you get something new and different. And the pieces that you use, the colors, the shapes, they all say something different about YOU. Are you ready for some serious fun? The CLIKITS girls have put together an activity book just for you! Filled with puzzles, secret codes, and tons of opportunities to show off your personal style, you and your gal pals are sure to have a blast with this book…. More >>

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Bio?tica para legos

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La historia de la bio?tica tiene mucho que ver con la progresiva participaci?n en la toma de decisiones de pacientes, usuarios y sujetos de investigaci?n implicados en cuestiones dif?ciles de ?tica aplicada a las ciencias de la vida. La ?tica asistencial es la bio?tica centrada en las relaciones humanas de cuidado y asistencia: una ampliaci?n de la ?tica cl?nica al espacio socio-sanitario que aborda los problemas morales que se plantean en la pr?ctica de las profesi… More >>

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The future of construction?

Info PR: n/a I: 2,520 L: 0 LD: 158 I: 75 Rank: 1460493 Age: December 1, 2009 I: 0 whois source Robo: yes Sitemap: yes Rank: 6061142 Price: 1 Links: 108|11 Density

I can only hope that the construction equipment of the future will resemble these adorable robots by Paul Evans (Paul Evans RG&B). These things are covered in details to love. The face offers us a tiny grin, and fascinating asymmetrical eyes. The exhaust stack built into the back of an arm looks nice, and harkens to present day construction equipment. Meanwhile, the bulldozer blade is just that, a perfect example of a brick-built blade, rather than one of the many prefab options out there.

Let’s also not forget the little pun in the name “Gilgamech.”

Sand Baron sky-fi flying wing by Chrispockst

Info PR: n/a I: 2,520 L: 0 LD: 158 I: 75 Rank: 1460493 Age: December 1, 2009 I: 0 whois source Robo: yes Sitemap: yes Rank: 6061142 Price: 1 Links: 107|11 Density

What I like the most about Chrispockst’s Sand Baron flying wing is that he went out of his way to use all kinds of what he calls “un-useful/unusual parts” that work well together to make this thing look like a chunky behemoth.

I especially love the huge off-angle engines around the low sleek cockpit.

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