Moms and dads- if your house is anything like mine was growing up, then you may have to play the walk-around-the-carpet-without-stepping-on-a-Lego game. The LEGO® Group has been revamping their toys and increasing philanthropic efforts since its creation in 1932.
The group’s most recent attempt to give back and practice sustainable business is the launch of the LEGO® Replay pilot program. On October 8, 2019, the LEGO® Group announced that they are now accepting used LEGO® bricks and parts to be inspected, cleaned and donated to children across the United States.
LEGO® has partnered with Give Back Box, Teach For America and Boys & Girls Club of Boston to help children in need get the chance to enjoy one of the most popular toys in the world.
How can you donate?
The steps are simple: collect any old, loose, or sets of LEGO® bricks that your child no longer plays with; put them into a cardboard box; and visit www.lego.com/replay to print a free UPS shipping label. This package will go to the Give Back Box facility for inspection and cleaning.
Give Back Box is a charity that focuses on recycling 11 million tons of used clothes and articles that end up in the landfill. Both the LEGO® Group and the charity believe that this is the most sustainable and useful way to dispose of your LEGO®’s , as they were made to last generations.
Tim Brooks, Vice President of Environmental Responsibility at the LEGO® Group is quoted, “We know people don’t throw away their LEGO® bricks,” on the LEGO website, “The vast majority hand them down to their children or grandchildren. But others have asked us for a safe way to dispose of or to donate their bricks. With Replay, they have an easy option that’s both sustainable and socially impactful.”
After the inspection process, the majority of the toys will go to Teach For America, where they will be in charge of bringing them to classrooms around the country. The rest of the bricks will go to Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston for their after-school programs. The first shipments were said to go out to the non-profits this month (November). The pilot ends in spring 2020, when the program will then be evaluated on its success.
For more information visit the LEGO Group’s website at: