Read through the official statement below and watch the official video for more details.

Official details:

UN signals importance of play by adopting official International Day of Play

• Global partners have successfully called on the United Nations to adopt an International Day of Play to champion and protect children’s right to play.
• The International Day of Play will be June 11th, with the inaugural celebration to take place in 2024.
• Global research surveying more than 25,000 children across 36 countries reveals that as many as 73% of children don’t believe adults take play – and how it can help them learn – seriously1.

Billund, March 26th 2024: Play is a fundamental right for every child. Yet, the importance of play in helping children develop life-long skills is often forgotten. With only 30% of adults aware that play is a fundamental birth right adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 19892 there is an urgent need to put play back on the agenda.

To drive this ambition forward, a dedicated network of global organisations, play experts and, most importantly, children and youth themselves, have called on UN member states to support the resolution for an International Day of Play. The LEGO Group, the LEGO Foundation and other founding members of the movement are proud to announce that the UN General Assembly has adopted this international awareness day.

Niels B. Christiansen, CEO of the LEGO Group said about the adoption: “We believe that all children should benefit from the power of play. For more than 90 years we have championed children’s right to play, as we know that it can change lives. It strengthens family bonds and helps children develop essential skills and reach their full potential. We have hosted our own World Play Day the past two years to celebrate the importance of play. Now, we are excited to turn it into a global movement to engage and impact even more children together with our partners. The adoption of an International Day of Play by the UN is a true testament to the power of play and the need to collectively champion and protect all children’s right to play.”

Sidsel Marie Kristensen, CEO of the LEGO Foundation added: “At the LEGO Foundation, our aspiration is for children to become creative, lifelong learners who thrive in a constantly changing world. We know that play fuels curiosity, sparks creativity, unlocks essential skills, boosts well-being and inspires a lifelong journey of learning. Play is the superpower of children, but not all children experience the benefits of learning through play. The challenge for all of us is to make play a part of every child’s reality. An International Day of Play is an important recognition of a child’s right to play. Let’s work together to ensure every child has the space and time to play and be the superheroes they are.”

Play is never just play

Play is universal and taps into children’s natural enthusiasm and curiosity to learn. It teaches them to explore and wonder, connect ideas and experiences and gain a deeper understanding of the world. When children play, they develop essential life skills, which are fundamental to their own and society’s progress.

Amine, Child and Youth Advisory Group member France, said: “Play is not just for fun. It’s an essential part of our human nature. It’s through play that we learn, grow, and develop skills that will shape our future.”

This is why the International Day of Play network of organisations are committed to driving a global play movement for children everywhere for generations to come. The work was initiated by the LEGO Group and the LEGO Foundation in partnership with ADEA, ARUP, BRAC, Change X, Concerned for Working Children, Eurochild, Hasbro, INGKA, International Play Association, IRC, KidZania, NIKE inc., PEDAL, Plan International, Right To Play International, Save the Children, Sesame Workshop and The Mattel Children’s Foundation.

The movement draws on further global insights3 revealing that, on average, three in five (59%) children would like to play more than they do now, whilst four in five (79%) of children would like to play more with their parents or carer. Research also shows that eight in ten (78%) of children say grown-ups don’t always think playing is important and seven in ten (73%) don’t believe grown-ups take play – and how it can help them learn – seriously4.

The world needs more play

UNICEF estimates that 160 million children around the world are working instead of playing or learning5. Yet, even in their darkest moments, children can find their way back to hope, health and happiness through play.

The adoption of a UN resolution for a day centered around play, takes children’s right one step further. It creates a unifying moment at global, national, and local levels to elevate the importance of play as central to children’s learning and wellbeing – ensuring time to play, space to play and support for quality play is prioritised.

The coalition of partners of International Day of Play is celebrating that this important movement has now been ratified, recognising the true power of play at the highest political level. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the power of play on June 11th this year, and every year thereafter.

As we know the LEGO Group has already started their journey on the road to greener production and packing, such as their renewable energy and use of sustainable plastics.

Read the official statement below.

Official statement:

LEGO Group CEO joins Danish businesses in calling for companies and policymakers to stand together globally for a just and green transition to a net-zero future

Billund, September 18, 2023: Today, as leaders of the world are convening at the UN General Assembly in New York LEGO Group CEO Niels B. Christiansen has joined CEOs from 26 Danish businesses, to support UN Secretary-General Guterres’ call for ambitious and credible commitments and clear and transparent plans to “rescue the SDGs”.

The LEGO Group is committed to playing its part in building a better planet for our children to inherit. In August 2023, the company pledged to work with the Science Based Targets initiative to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions) by 2050.

The pledge is an extension of its existing near-term climate target to reduce GHG emissions by 37% by 2032 from a 2019 base, which was previously approved by the SBTi.

A Carbon KPI, which will be tied to executive remuneration from 2024, will track progress towards carbon omissions and science-based targets.

To meet this ambition, the company has recently announced its plans to triple investment in environmental sustainability over the next three years, particularly in areas that will help reduce GHG emissions, spending more than $1.4 billion on sustainability-related activities.

This includes:

• Designing buildings and sites to be carbon neutral run.
• Increasing capacity and production of renewable energy at our site, including factories, offices, and stores.
• Taking CO2 emissions into account across all business decisions, including implementing a Carbon KPI which will be tied to our executive remuneration from 2024.
• Joining forces with suppliers to collectively reduce environmental impact.

The CEO statement represents a unified commitment to global sustainability, advocating for concrete and measurable actions, transparency, and global public-private collaboration. In the statement, 27 CEOs

• reaffirm their commitment to the UN Global Compact Network, the SDGs, and the principles of the Paris Agreement,
• outline actions they commit to undertake to meet net-zero targets,
• address the importance of ensuring a just transition, give recommendations for how governments across the world can enable a faster green business transformation
• call upon Danish regulators and policymakers to support their efforts, level the playing field, and incentivize sustainable choices in continued public-private solid partnerships.

At the LEGO Group, we firmly believe in the power of collaboration. As we move forward with clear actions and targets towards a more sustainable future, we remain committed to working with world leaders, our peers in the private sector, and others to accelerate efforts on climate action.

Read the full CEO statement: CEO Statement from Danish Businesses

Learn more about our recent Net Zero announcement: The LEGO Group pledges to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050

Read more about the LEGO Groups actions on climate action: Climate action in action

Get the latest updates on our environmental activities: Sustainability at the LEGO Group