Currently, more than three-quarters of its coloured bricks are ABS: new (‘virgin’) plastics based on fossil raw materials. The company does look for alternatives and has already tested more than 600 materials in the process. For instance, there were plans to produce the bricks from bio-based raw materials. These turned out not to achieve the required strength. Lego also tried to make the bricks entirely from recycled bottles. Those attempts were abandoned due to cost and production problems.
However, Lego is just giving up, said Christiansen. The company is willing to pay up to 70% more for certified renewable resin from which the bricks are made. That offer should persuade plastic manufacturers to increase production. By 2032, Lego aims to switch completely to renewable and recycled plastic.
This does not mean that Lego toys will become more expensive. Christiansen told The Guardian that the company is shouldering the extra production costs so as not to put consumers off. It hopes that higher production volumes will reduce costs in the future.
See also:
- LEGO abandons use of circular or biobased plastic bricks (Agro&Chemistry, 27 September 2023)
- Biobased materials ‘super important’ for LEGO (Agro&Chemistry, 9 December 2021)
- Toy sector more sustainable (Agro&Chemistry, 4 August 2016)
- Lego: millions in R&D for new materials (Agro&Chemistry, 29 October 2015)
Image: Jfkjaya/Shutterstock
