05. Mar 2018

LEGO to transition to sustainable plastics starting 2018

LEGO botanical elements such as leaves, bushes and trees will be made from plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane in the future and will appear in LEGO boxes already in 2018.

mProduction has started on a range of sustainable LEGO elements made from polyethylene based on ethanol produced from sugarcane.
Although sourced form sugarcane, this polyethylene, which is a soft, durable and flexible plastic, yields products technically identical to those produced using conventional plastic. The elements have been tested to ensure the plant-based plastic meets the high standards for quality and safety that the LEGO Group has, and consumers expect from LEGO products.
Polyethylene elements are 1-2% of the total amount of plastic elements produced by the LEGO Group; The sustainable product range covers LEGO botanical elements such as leaves, bushes and trees made entirely from plant-based plastic.
"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," said Tim Brooks.
The move is part of the LEGO Group's commitment to use sustainable materials in core products and packaging by 2030.
"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," said Tim Brooks, Vice President, Environmental Responsibility at the LEGO Group.
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. The plant- based plastic used to make the botanical LEGO elements is certified by the Bonsucro Chain of Custody standard for responsibly sourced sugarcane. All suppliers must comply with the LEGO Group's Code of Conduct, which specifies strict requirements for ethical, environmental and health & safety standards based on leading global guidelines.
The group works closely with its suppliers to ensure life-cycle assessments are conducted, which map the environmental impacts from the production of the bio-based material.

"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," said Alix Grabowski, a senior program officer at WWF. "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."

The LEGO Group believes a new sustainable material must have an ever-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 group has targeted 2030 to reach zero waste in operations, and introduced sustainable paper pulp trays for the LEGO advent calendar, reducing plastic waste from going to landfill.

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