Making LEGO bricks more sustainable

It is well documented that the LEGO Group is exploring ways to create LEGO® elements from different raw materials.

They have created several plant-based elements from plant-based plastic, and they have also explored using recycled bottles as a base for bricks. Although not all efforts have been successful, they continue to invest in finding a sustainable material that can produce the same quality bricks as those currently in use.

The LEGO Group has provided an update on the progress of its plan to create sustainable materials and is investing more in efforts to do so. You can find more information below.

Making LEGO® bricks more sustainable

No stone is left unturned to provide renewable and recycled raw materials to create durable, long-lasting and safe LEGO bricks
Annual expenditure on environmental initiatives has doubled in 2025 compared to 2023
Increasing use of the mass balance principle as a basis for achieving sector-wide change in materials supply

Billund, March 6, 2024: We believe it is important to be transparent about our sustainability efforts, including our ambition to make our products from more sustainable materials. Finding alternative materials to make our durable, sustainable and safe LEGO bricks is a major challenge, but one that we want to solve more than ever. As we work to solve this challenge, we will continue to share our progress, both big and small, because we believe it will move us and others forward.

Investing to accelerate progress

Our ambition is to make LEGO products from materials that are renewable and recycled by 2032. This ambition requires investment and by 2023 we will have increased spending on environmental initiatives by 60% compared to 2022. By 2025, we plan to double our annual spend compared to 2023. We know there is no one solution for the challenge we face. There is a range of solutions that will help us achieve our ambition. We remain curious, creative and involved in finding it.

Materials that meet high standards

So far we have tested over 600 different materials for our LEGO bricks and elements. Some have already been successful, such as bio-PE with which we create more than 200 different botanical elements and minifigure accessories. Others have shown potential, but have not met our strict quality, safety and sustainability requirements, or would not have contributed to reducing our environmental footprint. That's the nature of innovation, but we're always learning from the process and making progress.

One of our latest successes is the introduction of a new material called arMABS into our portfolio. This is produced using recycled artificial marble, commonly found in kitchen worktops, and will be used in over 500 different LEGO elements from this year, including all our transparent elements such as lightsabers, windshields and windows. It can be found in approximately 60% of our sets.

We are also excited to be working on developing a material called ePOM, which uses advanced technology to blend renewable energy and CO2 from biowaste. We hope to introduce this soon for certain LEGO elements, such as wheel axles.

Our role in driving change in the sector

We are pleased with the progress we are making and will continue to test new materials and technology as they develop. However, we also want to play a broader role in driving change in the sector. At the moment, the market for high-quality, sustainable plastic – which can be reused for decades – is still nascent, meaning that the quantities and quality of raw materials that we and others decide to need are not yet available. We want to help change this.

Progress with mass balance

One of the ways we plan to do this is by increasing our use of material certified according to mass balance principles. Simply put, this resin is made from a mix of certified renewable or recycled raw materials, such as used cooking or vegetable oils, and virgin fossil fuels. We can use this in our existing production process to create our products without compromising quality or safety.

By 2023, 18 percent of all resin we purchased was certified according to mass balance principles, translating into an estimated average of 12 percent renewables. We plan to significantly increase this percentage in 2024 and beyond. We don't see mass balance as a long-term solution, but for now, as the technology around sustainable materials continues to develop, we believe it is the best option to stimulate the raw materials market, which in turn will help us make our products. more sustainable.

Building a more sustainable future for children

We 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 our most important innovation path. We know that the environment is one of children's biggest concerns and we want to do our part to build a more sustainable future for each new generation of children. We know none of this can be done alone and we encourage a collective effort so we can move forward together.