Lego aims to make all its famous bricks from recycled or renewable plastic by 2032, removing fossil fuels from its production.
Currently, Lego bricks are made from an oil-based material called ABS, which is not biodegradable and hard to recycle. The Danish company is working hard to change this, with 22% of the plastic used in its bricks in early 2024 coming from renewable and recycled sources, up from 12% in 2023.
This move is part of Lego’s efforts to be more environmentally friendly. Previously, the company considered making bricks from recycled water bottles but abandoned the plan in 2023 because it didn’t reduce carbon emissions as expected.
Plastic pollution is a growing problem, with an estimated 171 trillion pieces of plastic now in our oceans, up from 15 trillion in 2006. Scientists say that plastic toys like Lego bricks could last between 100 and 1,300 years in the sea, adding to the problem.
Despite these challenges, Lego is committed to finding better solutions. Thanks to increased profits, the company can now invest in more expensive but greener alternatives, pushing them closer to their goal of fully sustainable bricks by 2032.
