LEGO to launch first sustainable bricks this year

LEGO botanical elements such as leaves, bushes and trees will be made from plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane.

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, featuring in LEGO boxes this year.

The move is part of the LEGO Group’s commitment to use sustainable materials in core products and packaging by 2030.

Tim Brooks, vp, environmental responsibility at the LEGO Group, commented: “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.”

The new sustainable LEGO elements are made from polyethylene, which is a soft, durable and flexible plastic, and while they are based on sugar-cane material, they are technically identical to those produced using conventional plastic.

Tim added: “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.”

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 material for the bioplastics industry.

Want to read more news like this? Simply sign up to our daily digest by clicking here. You can also follow @LicensingSource on Twitter.