Lego cancels Shell deal after Arctic drilling protest
Lego has pulled out of a deal with Royal Dutch Shell PLC over controversy regarding oil drilling in the Arctic.
The Danish toy maker announced Thursday that it wouldn't renew its 2011 deal with Shell, which allows the gas station to give Lego sets to customers buying at least 30 liters (7.8 gallons) of gas.
The announcement comes after activist organization Greenpeace launched a viral video campaign depicting a Shell drill in the Arctic made of Lego bricks covered with oil. Shell has expressed plans to drill for oil on Alaska's Arctic coast.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Joergen Vig Knudstorp, Lego's CEO, said in a statement that the Greenpeace protest "may have created misunderstandings" among Lego stakeholders. Vig Knudstorp added that Lego didn't want to be a part of the controversy, saying the company had urged Greenpeace to approach Shell directly. Greenpeace, meanwhile, said the Lego announcement was "fantastic news."
Lego will continue the Shell agreement until its expiration, though Vig Knudstorp did not offer a set date.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
Baltimore bridge disaster: Who is going to pay and how?
Today's Big Question Politicians, legal experts, and the insurance industry are all grappling with the financial fallout of America's worst infrastructure tragedy in years
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Melting polar ice is messing with global timekeeping
Speed Read Ice loss caused by climate change is slowing the Earth's rotation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Stick guitar
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published