Making LEGO® Bricks More Sustainable

LEGO believe it’s important to be transparent about their sustainability efforts, including ambition to make products from more sustainable materials. Finding alternative materials to make their long-lasting, durable, safe LEGO bricks with is a significant challenge but one that are more committed than ever to solving. As LEGO work to solve this challenge, they will continue to share their progress, both big and small steps, as they believe this will help keep them and others moving forward.

Investing to accelerate progress

By 2032, their ambition is to make LEGO products from materials that are renewable and recycled. This ambition requires investment and in 2023, they increased spending on environmental initiatives by 60% compared to 2022. By 2025 they plan to have doubled their annual spend compared to 2023. LEGO know there isn’t one solution for the challenge they face, instead there are a range of solutions, that will help achieve their ambition. LEGO remain curious, creative and committed in finding them.

Materials that meet high standards

To date, LEGO have tested more than 600 different materials for their LEGO bricks and elements. Some have already been successful, such as bio-PE which are used to make more than 200 different botanical elements and Minifigure accessories. Others have shown potential, but have not met their strict quality, safety and durability requirements, or would not have helped reduce their carbon footprint. This is the nature of innovation, but they always learn from the process and make progress.

One of LEGO's latest successes is the introduction of a new material called arMABS to their portfolio. This is produced using recycled artificial marble, commonly found in kitchen worktops, and from this year it will be used in over 500 different LEGO elements, including all of their transparent elements such as light sabres, windscreens and windows. It will be found in around 60% of sets.

LEGO are also excited to be working on the development of a material called ePOM that uses cutting-edge technology to mix renewable energy and CO2 from bio-waste. They hope to start introducing this soon, for select LEGO elements, such as wheel axels.

Role in driving industry change

LEGO are pleased with the progress they are making and will continue to test new materials and technology as they develop. However, they also want to play a broader role in driving industry change. Right now, the market for high quality sustainable plastic – that can be reused for decades – is still emerging, which means the quantities and quality of raw materials they and other manufacturers need are simply not yet available. They want to help change this.

Moving forward with mass balance

One of the ways LEGO aim to do this is by increasing their use of material that has been certified according to mass balance principles. In simple terms, this is resin made from a mix of certified renewable or recycled raw materials, such as used cooking or plant oils, and virgin fossil. LEGO can use this in their existing manufacturing process to make products without compromising on quality or safety.

In 2023, 18 percent of all resin they purchased was certified according to mass balance principles, which translates into an estimated average of 12 percent renewable sources. LEGO plan to significantly increase this percentage in 2024 and beyond. They don’t see mass balance as a long-term solution but for now, as technology around sustainable materials continues to develop, they believe it is the best option to stimulate the raw materials market, which in turn will help them to make products more sustainable.

Building a more sustainable future for children

LEGO will continue to join forces with suppliers, research institutions and other industries to develop and innovate new and existing materials to drive the industry’s transition to renewable and recycled materials. Today, this is their most important innovation journey - they know the environment is one of children’s biggest concerns and they want to play their part in building a more sustainable future for each new generation of children. LEGO know all of this cannot be done alone and they encourage a collective effort so they can build progress together.