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Production has started on a range of sustainable LEGO® elements made from plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane. The new sustainable LEGO ‘botanical’ elements will come in varieties including leaves, bushes and trees.
The move is part of the LEGO Group’s commitment to using sustainable materials in core products and packaging by 2030.
‘At the LEGO Group we want to make a positive impact on the world around us, and are working hard to make great play products for children using sustainable materials. We are proud that the first LEGO elements made from sustainably sourced plastic are in production and will be in LEGO boxes this year. This is a great first step in our ambitious commitment of making all LEGO bricks using sustainable materials.’
Tim Brooks
Vice president, Environmental Responsibility at the LEGO Group
The new sustainable LEGO elements are made from polyethylene, which is a soft, durable and flexible plastic. While they’re based on sugar-cane material, they’re technically identical to those produced using conventional plastic.
This also means that two LEGO bricks produced decades apart can still fit together.
‘LEGO products have always been about providing high quality play experiences giving every child the chance to shape their own world through inventive play. Children and parents will not notice any difference in the quality or appearance of the new elements, because plant-based polyethylene has the same properties as conventional polyethylene.’
Tim Brooks
Vice president, Environmental Responsibility at the LEGO Group
While there’s no common, official definition of a sustainable material, its source, chemical composition, use (in a product) and management (at end-of-life) – plus the impact it can have in both environmental and social areas – are all key.
The LEGO Group believes a new sustainable material must have a lighter footprint than the material it replaces across key environmental and social impact areas, such as fossil resource use, human rights and climate change.
The LEGO Group has partnered with WWF to support and build demand for sustainably sourced plastic, and has joined the Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance (BFA), an initiative of WWF, to secure fully sustainable sourcing of raw materials for the bioplastics industry.
The plant-based plastic used to make the botanical LEGO elements is certified by the Bonsucro Chain of Custody standard for responsibly sourced sugarcane.
‘It is essential that companies in each industry find ways to responsibly source their product materials and help ensure a future where people, nature, and the economy thrive. The LEGO Group’s decision to pursue sustainably sourced bio-based plastics represents an incredible opportunity to reduce dependence on finite resources, and their work with the Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance will allow them to connect with other companies to continue to think creatively about sustainability.’
ALIX GRABOWSKI
A senior program officer at WWF
Click here to find out how LEGO celebrated going 100% renewable.
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