Lego has just taken a bold step toward a greener future. The iconic toy company officially opened a massive $1 billion manufacturing plant in Vietnam, designed to operate entirely on clean energy by early 2026.

Located in Binh Duong province near Ho Chi Minh City, the factory is Lego’s first in Vietnam, its sixth globally, and its second in Asia. It’s a critical part of the Danish company’s commitment to cut carbon emissions and eventually reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

“We want to make sure the planet our children inherit is one that’s still here and thriving,” said Lego CEO Niels Christiansen.

Spanning the size of 62 soccer fields, this state-of-the-art facility is packed with high-tech automation, including robots that craft Lego bricks with razor-sharp precision—accurate to one-tenth the width of a human hair. While the machines do the heavy lifting, thousands of skilled workers—many trained in Lego’s China factory—will oversee operations.

The factory runs on a solar-powered energy system equipped with 12,400 solar panels and battery storage. While most of its power will come directly from the sun, the remaining 10-20% will be sourced through clean energy agreements with local producers. Thanks to Vietnam’s new Direct Power Purchase Agreement (DPPA), companies like Lego can now buy renewable energy straight from providers—a game-changer for the region’s sustainability goals.

“This factory shows that big, energy-intensive plants can be both green and profitable,” said Mimi Vu, co-founder of consultancy Raise Partners.

Vietnam, one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies, has set its own goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. With manufacturing accounting for 20% of the country’s GDP and half its energy consumption, the Lego factory serves as a much-needed model for sustainable industrial growth.

The new facility is also built with energy efficiency in mind—featuring five smart buildings and a major reforestation effort. Lego has already planted 50,000 trees, double the number it cut down for construction.

In another eco-friendly shift, the Vietnam plant is the first Lego factory to phase out single-use plastic bags, replacing them with recyclable paper alternatives.

To support its expansion in Southeast Asia and Oceania, Lego will also open a distribution center in Dong Nai province. By building factories closer to key markets, Lego hopes to cut logistics costs and shield itself from global trade tensions, including tariffs imposed by the U.S. under the Trump administration.

“Locating production close to consumers helps us stay agile,” Christiansen noted. “We’re watching global growth and consumer sentiment closely.”

Lego still faces a major challenge: making its iconic bricks out of eco-friendly materials. The company has invested over $1.2 billion in research to find alternatives to oil-based plastics. While progress is slow, it’s ongoing.

Today, about a third of the materials used in new Lego bricks come from renewable or recycled sources, though these options are currently more expensive.

“It’s not cheap, but we believe our efforts help build a new supply chain for sustainable plastics,” Christiansen said.

Founded by Ole Kirk Kristiansen in the 1930s, Lego has come a long way from wooden toys to becoming a global symbol of creativity and play. Now, it hopes to become a leader in sustainable manufacturing too.

Source: AP News – Lego opens a factory in Vietnam it says will make toys without adding emissions to the atmosphere

The post Lego Opens $1 Billion Eco-Friendly Factory in Vietnam appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Cate Blanchett and the Rise of Silverware Fashion

Cate Blanchett has never worn so much silver—literally. Not in the form of sequins or crystals, but actual cutlery. Last April, she stunned in Vogue China, donning a corset crafted from two antique silver platters, resembling a 1950s Joan of Arc. Months later, she walked an LA red carpet in a halter-neck top made from 102 vintage spoons. By September, at the Toronto Film Festival, those same spoons were repurposed as metallic fringe on a black blazer.

The Visionary Behind Hodakova

This transformation of everyday objects into high fashion is the work of Ellen Hodakova Larsson, the Swedish designer behind Stockholm-based brand Hodakova. Her unconventional approach extends beyond silverware—she’s created dresses from leather briefcases, bags from belt buckles, and purses from riding boots.

Larsson sources her materials from businesses across Sweden, repurposing overstocked items. Speaking after her Paris Fashion Week show, she shared her creative process:

“It always starts with an intuitive mood. If something speaks to you, I follow the intuition and trust the process.”

Sustainability and Celebrity Endorsement

Founded during the pandemic, Hodakova has attracted fashion-forward celebrities like Tilda Swinton, Greta Lee, Lady Gaga, Emma Corrin, Saoirse Ronan, and Julia Fox. Larsson’s bold upcycling methods also earned her the 2024 LVMH Prize, which included €400,000 and mentorship from luxury executives. Dior’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri praised her:

“It’s the first time we’ve seen a sustainability project with real numbers. She’s selling.”

Larsson’s designs redefine upcycling, a term coined in 1994 by German engineer Reiner Pliz. Instead of altering materials, she preserves their original shape—using ribbon rosettes, ballpoint pens, watch faces, and even envelopes as core design elements.

“When you put something in a different space and use it differently, it changes how you see it.”

A Childhood Rooted in Resourcefulness

Growing up on a horse farm in rural Sweden, Larsson was raised with a “make-and-mend” philosophy. Her family grew their own food, chopped their own wood, and repurposed materials creatively. Her mother sewed clothes from fabric scraps, instilling a mindset that later shaped Hodakova’s ethos.

From Wax Jackets to Wooden Cellos

Hodakova’s most exclusive pieces—such as a dress made from an inside-out wax jacket, worn by Saoirse Ronan at a New York screening—are available only through the label’s website. Made on demand in approximately three weeks, each item is uniquely crafted. Meanwhile, more commercially wearable designs are stocked at Dover Street Market, Ssense, and 24 other global retailers.

Pushing Boundaries with New Designs

In Larsson’s latest collection, trousers were the centerpiece—transformed into floor-length gowns, double-breasted coats, and even nun wimples. Each retained its original waistband, now cleverly repurposed as a belt or neckline. “I love trousers,” Larsson said simply.

Other standout pieces included:

• Bulbous fur coats made from discarded pelt hats.
• Medusa-style dresses, with belts springing outwards like serpents.
• Jackets repurposed from leather pants.
• A final runway look featuring a model dressed only in the shell of a wooden cello.

Sticking to Purpose Over Profit

Amid a global luxury downturn, many designers prioritize commercial viability. Not Larsson. When asked whether she feels pressure to create more wearable styles, she responded:

“You can’t do what everyone else is doing. If you act with good purpose, you’ll find solutions.”

With Hodakova, fashion is no longer just about garments—it’s about reimagining the everyday into something extraordinary.

Source

The post How Hodakova is Redefining Fashion with Upcycled Materials appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.