LEGO Characteristics and Sustainability

Hi!

As LUG Ambassador for TBs I got involved into a workgroup to discuss and gather community feedback about sustainability and most relevant LEGO products characteristics in this regard.
Here we're also particularly interested in the feedback from the LEGO Technic community.

This is a wide topic where you may consider many aspects like the raw materials used to produce LEGO bricks, packaging, building instructions, production facilities, energy, delivery chain, social responsibility, etc. And of course many other you'll certainly remember!

To help framing your inputs we got four questions, for which we'd like to hear from you. Please feel free to answer by leaving your comments to this post.

1. First, please list what consumers can generally expect when a toy product is made of "sustainable materials". Kindly elaborate your answers and provide examples, if possible. The richer descriptions you provide, the more we know excatly what you mean!
   Please rank what is most important (1 = most important etc.
    
2. What characteristics of the LEGO experience are currently most important to consumers? For each characteristic, please describe excatly what it is about. The more explanation you provide, the better we understand your input.
   Please rank what is most important (1 = most important etc.)
    
3. What characteristics of the LEGO experiences are relevant to consider when addressing "sustainable materials"? Rich descriptions and examples, please.
   Please rank what is most important (1 = most important etc.)
    
4. Is there anything else you feel is important regarding Sustainable Materials that wasn't covered in the questions above, that might help get a better view about the topic?

Many thanks in advance!

Week TechVideo, 2015 #35 - Motorized Micro Scale LEGO AT-TE

Jason Allemann (JK Brickworks) who uses to come up with some very creative models, presented a PF motorized micro scale LEGO AT-TE (All Terrain Tactical Enforcer from the Star Wars universe), which is not a Technic looking model but there is plenty of Technic in its heart!

We have plenty of small walking mechanisms, but it is always nice to see a new one! Jason even made a variant and slightly larger version which is capable of steering. Look out into the video to find more details.

Jason even got one LEGO Ideas approved project with his Labyrinth Marble Maze, the first functional model succeeding in this LEGO initiative, so I wonder why doesn't he submits more of his nice moving models like this AT-TE or the Kinetic Horse.

You can look for for basic instructions of the six legged walking frame at Jason's website.



Disclaimer:

Please refrain from sending requests to post specific models on this TBs section.

We understand some of you would enjoy to see your creations featured here, but please understand that because only one video gets highlighted per week, it is impossible to accommodate all the great MOCs continuously build by the Technic builders out there. They simply won't fit all and that's also not the purpose of this blog (see the header statement).

Many of your MOCs are scanned anyway and listed for later publication when they do not fit immediately. However some remain in the backlog queue just for too long and eventually loose the relevance or the publication opportunity window. As a rule of thumb, we also avoid publishing MOCs that have been featured by their authors or other fans at some other great web places dedicated to the Technic community out there. It doesn't mean that occasionally some won't get published here anyway.


Thanks for your understanding!

Build THE Mercedes-Benz Truck of the future!

One day during the early 1920’s Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler sat down in Germany and agreed to merge their two car companies into one and start producing Mercedes-Benz cars. They had each made their own versions of the world’s first petrol-driven cars back in 1886. Within years, Gottlieb Daimler sold his first truck – almost 120 years ago!

Some of the first Mercedes-Benz branded diesel powered trucks were built in Stuttgart in 1923. Today, in 2015, half of all trucks on the German roads are Mercedes-Benz trucks.

Just imagine how Karl and Gottlieb would react if they were time-warped from 1925 to 2015 to witness just how big, fast and capable the Mercedes-Benz trucks have become 90 years later! What would they say if they could see what their vision has led to?

Your vision…

Think the new LEGO® Technic 42043 Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245 is the coolest Technic set ever made? (Yeah, we like it, too!) And have you thought about what the perfect truck would look like if you could design your own?

Hold that thought, and now, imagine yourself traveling 30 years into the future, to 2045. You’re taking a brand new Mercedes-Benz Truck out for a spin. It’s the truck of your dreams! What does it look like? How does it move, and what will it haul? What will be required of a truck in the year 2045? What will it be fueled by – diesel, electricity, recycled waste, or something completely different?

Be a visionary, and build the ultimate Mercedes-Benz Truck of the future with LEGO Technic!

Ready, research, design!

How to join

Look back 30 years: how have truck designs evolved since 1985? And looking ahead, can you spot the latest trends in truck design, alternative fuels, transportation needs, infrastructure changes, and combine it all into the perfect future truck?

To join the competition, research, design, and build your model, take a great picture and upload it, and if you feel like recording a video of your design process, feel free to send that to us, too.

Rev up your engines, and join the competition on here on ReBrick! You will find all the fun details and small print there - we can’t wait to see your designs! Enter now until October 5th, 2015!

Win!

One talented design winner will take home an exclusive first prize: LEGO Technic models worth 1,000 EUR, a signed LEGO Technic 42043 Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245 box, and a specialized Winner certificate.

Nine runners-up will each be awarded a signed LEGO Technic 42043 Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245 box, and a specialized Winner certificate.

Before you get started, make sure to read the official rules here.

Watch a video about the competition below:

Happy building, and good luck from the LEGO Technic Team!