The Lego Group last year launched bricks made of plant-based polyethylene, which included botanical elements like leaves, trees and bushes, and paved the way towards the Lego Group’s ambitious commitment to making products using sustainable materials by 2030.
The Treehouse is one of the largest Lego Ideas sets to be released, and is a challenging build that features more than 3,000 parts and includes more sustainably manufactured bricks than any other set released to date: all 185 plants and leaves are made from sustainable materials sourced from sugarcane. This includes the treetop canopy, which has interchangeable sets of green summer leaf elements and yellow and brown autumn leaf elements.
Robert Greenstein, co-founder of The Great Yellow Brick Company, says: “I was blown away when I first saw the set, not only because it looks amazing, but also because it connects strongly to the very reason that Lego is investing so much time and effort in identifying new and sustainable materials and to preserve natural resources. It really is an important step in the brand’s ambitious target of making all Lego elements from sustainable materials.”
The Treehouse is an example of how the Lego Group uses co-creation to foster innovation, as the original idea was submitted through the Lego Ideas platform, where Lego fans can upload their creative builds. Users then have a chance to review and support the model and, given sufficient support, the build can end up as a certified Lego set with the help of Lego master designers. In this case, the model was submitted by fan designer Kevin Feeser from Nancy, France. Kevin’s motivation for creating a treehouse stems from his passion for the great outdoors, combined with his sophisticated Lego building skills.
The Lego Ideas Treehouse model is available directly from Lego Certified Stores in Sandton City and Menlyn Park, or from www.greatyellowbrick.co.za from 1 August 2019.