The Problem

LEGOs are a great toy. They promote creativity, problem solving, and fine motor skills. However, they are very expensive and out of reach of many families. Today, one simple, 100 piece set can cost up to $50!

Billions of LEGOs sit unused in people’s homes. These LEGOs are neglected by parents whose kids have outgrown them. The bricks gather dust in closets and basements. Luckily, we have found them a new purpose.

Discarded LEGOs do not biodegrade. A single LEGO brick can take up to 1,300 years to decompose! Consider the example of the Great Lego Spill in 1997. Traveling from Rotterdam to New York, the cargo ship Tokio Express hit a massive wave. 62 shipping containers tumbled overboard, broke apart, and cast almost 5 million LEGOs into the Atlantic Ocean. For years, these LEGOs have been washing ashore in many countries, intact and in perfect condition.