Have you ever thought about what happens to LEGO® bricks when they are no longer wanted? They are built to last, but that can become a problem when unwanted LEGO® pieces are thrown away instead of being reused.
Across the UK, old LEGO® sets and loose bricks can be found tucked away in garages, sheds, lofts and cupboards. When they are no longer needed, some may eventually be thrown away and sent to landfill. Because LEGO® bricks are made from highly durable plastic, discarded bricks can remain intact for a very long time. Estimates referenced by WeBuyBricks suggest that LEGO® products can remain intact for up to 1,300 years before breaking down.
But the same durability that means LEGO® bricks can last for decades also means they can be enjoyed for decades. Rather than throwing unwanted LEGO® sets and pieces away, reusing them gives them the opportunity to become part of someone else's collection or build.
LEGO® sets and bricks are extremely popular product, which means there are large quantities of LEGO® sets and pieces in homes across the country. When children grow up and move away, or when families simply no longer want their old LEGO® collections, the pieces can be forgotten about in lofts, garages and sheds. Eventually, some unwanted LEGO® pieces may be thrown away. Once they reach landfill, however, their durability means they won't simply disappear in a short period of time.
As the team explains:
I don't think you realise how popular LEGO® [products] are and how much LEGO® [sets] people have in the garages, the sheds, the lofts, when the kids move out and go to university and people just take it to the tip.
This means there is a huge opportunity to keep unwanted LEGO® sets and pieces in circulation rather than sending them to landfill.
LEGO® bricks are made from a highly durable plastic called ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). The material needs to be strong and firm enough for LEGO® pieces to connect securely and withstand repeated use. That durability is one of the reasons LEGO® bricks can last for such a long time. However, it also means that discarded LEGO® pieces can take hundreds of years to decompose.
The team explains:
LEGO® [brick] itself is made from a really durable plastic called ABS which can take hundreds upon hundreds of years to decompose.
This is why keeping unwanted LEGO® bricks in use for as long as possible can be a better option than throwing them away.
LEGO® bricks need to be made from a strong, firm plastic because they are engineered to click together. The pieces have to withstand being connected, separated and rebuilt repeatedly without easily breaking. This makes LEGO® [bricks] different from many products that are designed to be used for a limited period before being replaced.
According to the WeBuyBricks team, the durability of LEGO® pieces is something that should be viewed positively.
It's a highly well engineered, robust product. The best thing to do with LEGO® [products] is actually look at it as a positive.
Instead of seeing the long lifespan of LEGO® bricks as a problem, it can be an opportunity to keep using the same pieces for many years.
LEGO® pieces can remain usable for decades. The team has seen LEGO® pieces that are 40 or 50 years old which can still look remarkably similar to pieces produced today.
We have some pieces that are 40 or 50 years old. You put them next to the exact same piece that was produced this year, and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
This demonstrates just how long LEGO® pieces can remain useful. Rather than being treated as something that needs replacing, the same LEGO® bricks can be passed from one owner to another and continue to be enjoyed.
If you have LEGO® sets or bricks that are no longer being used, throwing them away isn't the only option. They can be passed on, sold or reused by someone else. This is particularly important for LEGO® pieces because of their durability. A collection that has been sitting untouched in a loft for years could still have plenty of life left in it. Reusing those pieces gives another builder the chance to create something with them, while also helping to keep durable plastic products out of landfill.
Reusing LEGO® bricks means existing pieces can stay in circulation instead of being discarded. Rather than producing a new set or using new pieces every time someone wants to build, pre-loved LEGO® bricks can be enjoyed by new owners.
For WeBuyBricks, this is an important part of the company's approach to sustainability.
So the best way for us to save the planet is by not knocking it to landfill and reusing this LEGO® [product]. That's what we're trying to do here. Each set at a time.
The idea is simple: if LEGO® bricks are made to last, they should have the opportunity to be used for as long as possible.
Sustainability is an important part of WeBuyBricks' approach to unwanted LEGO® sets and pieces. The company wants to help prevent usable LEGO® pieces from being thrown away and instead give them another opportunity to be enjoyed. This means taking pre-loved LEGO® sets and bricks and helping them find new owners who can build with them again.
As the team explains:
Sustainability in our business is fundamentally important. It's essential that we all do as much as we can to try and help the environment.
For WeBuyBricks, sustainability isn't just about what happens to unwanted LEGO® pieces. It's about recognising that a durable product can continue to have value long after its first owner has finished with it.
LEGO® bricks are designed to withstand repeated use, so there is no reason for them to have to stop being useful after one owner has finished with them. A LEGO® set that has been sitting in a loft for years could potentially be enjoyed by a new builder. Individual LEGO® pieces can also become part of completely different builds and collections. By keeping these pieces in use, we can make the most of the durability that LEGO® was designed with.
The team sums it up:
It does last a long time so why not reuse it time and time and time again? It doesn't break down.
Reusing LEGO® bricks gives them a longer life and helps prevent usable pieces from becoming unnecessary waste.
When unwanted LEGO® sets and pieces are passed on to someone new, they can continue to be built, collected and enjoyed rather than sitting unused or being thrown away. For WeBuyBricks, giving these pieces another life is at the heart of what the business does.
Taking those pieces of LEGO® that potentially could go to landfill and giving somebody the chance not only to reuse it but to enjoy it again, sort of makes us get up in the morning and do what we do.
LEGO® bricks are built to last, and that doesn't have to be a problem. Their durability means they can be reused by different people, enjoyed in new builds and kept in circulation for years to come. Instead of ending up in landfill, an unwanted LEGO® collection could have plenty of building left to do.
LEGO® bricks are made from highly durable ABS plastic and can take hundreds of years to decompose. Rather than throwing unwanted LEGO® pieces away, reusing them gives them the opportunity to remain in use for much longer.
LEGO® bricks are made from a highly durable plastic called ABS, which stands for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The material needs to be strong enough for LEGO® pieces to click together and withstand repeated use.
LEGO® bricks can remain usable for decades. The WeBuyBricks team has seen LEGO® pieces that are 40 or 50 years old and still look very similar to newer pieces.
Instead of throwing unwanted LEGO® sets away, consider passing them on, selling them or finding someone who can reuse the LEGO® pieces. This gives the bricks another opportunity to be enjoyed and helps keep them out of landfill.
Reusing LEGO® bricks keeps existing pieces in circulation for longer instead of sending durable plastic to landfill. Because LEGO® pieces can last for decades, giving them to another owner allows the same pieces to be enjoyed again and again.
WeBuyBricks buys unwanted LEGO® sets and bricks and then resells them to new owners. By giving pre-loved LEGO® pieces another opportunity to be enjoyed, the aim is to keep them in circulation rather than allowing them to end up in landfill.
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