Are LEGO Advent Calendars part of a throwaway culture?

A BBC Newsround article suggests that ‘throwaway’ advent calendars are unethical, using the LEGO calendars as an example.

With Christmas approaching, BBC Newsround is looking at advent calendars and questioning whether disposable advent calendars are ethical – and is using a LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar to illustrate the point.

The article highlights that the plastic used often cannot be recycled by local councils and that glitter used on the boxes means the cardboard often can’t be recycled either.

In the case of LEGO products though, the company is keen to highlight that the bricks are intended to last forever. When launching the ‘plants from plants’ initiative, spokespeople for the LEGO Group were keen to point this out. So while the problem of packaging disposal that plagues the toy industry is relevant, it is hard to describe the LEGO advent calendars as ‘throwaway’ – especially as the box makes a backdrop for the models and storage solution for the elements.

December 1 arrives in just four days’ time, so anyone who has not yet ordered their LEGO advent calendars should do so quickly – there are four to choose from this year:

Harry Potter 75964 Advent Calendar
Star Wars 75245 Advent Calendar
Friends 41382 Advent Calendar
City 60235 Advent Calendar

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