To promote their eco-sustainability agenda, the LEGO group has given us a first glance at the final version of the paper bags, which are set to be used in place of plastic packages in the coming times. After examining the new version of LEGO Creator set 31111 Cyber Drone, which is sub-packaged with two new paper bags, it was revealed that despite not being recyclable, the new packaging is more environmentally friendly. 

Although they are called paper bags, they are not entirely made with paper; the interior is fully coated with plastic to strengthen the packaging and prevent tears from the pieces. Also, rather than being glued shut, these bags are sealed, another pointer to the fact that they are not plastic-free. 

The new paper pouches are thin and transparent, so you can easily tell what is packed within. Each paper bag in the set also has individual references. In addition, LEGO designed these new bags with pre-cut bands, which make it a little easier to open and reuse them to store dismantled parts at any time you need to. This is an improvement, considering the current bags can’t be opened without destroying them even a little bit (unless you use a pair of scissors, of course).

These new paper bags are coated with plastic inside, which means they can also be sealed with a machine without much effort. We don’t see how this differs from the current LEGO plastic pouches. 

As expected, these new paper bags will not be instantly utilized in packaging all new sets in the LEGO inventory. However, we should see a progressive switch, possibly until 2025, as the group has set out to gradually install the modified production equipment at all LEGO manufacturing factories in different parts of the globe.