36,000 LEGO bricks are molded every minute. That’s a lot of plastic. But earlier this year, LEGO announced they start producing blocks made of plant-based plastic instead of oil-based acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
In their efforts towards more sustainable production, they created LEGO elements made of polyethylene, a soft, durable and flexible plastic sourced from sugarcane. And to ensure sustainable sourcing of raw material, they also joined the WWF Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance (BFA) initiative.
The new sugarcane plastic bricks are shaped like trees and plants, and elements of the set will also appear in other sets of blocks. They are already available since last August in selected countries.
The company has announced its commitment to transition towards sustainability, by setting the goal that, by 2030, the majority of its products and packaging will be manufactured using recycled and/or environmentally friendly materials. The company runs on 100% renewable energy already since last year.
LEGO’s sugarcane bricks are recyclable although not biodegradable, but at least they do not require fossil fuel-based materials for their construction. And with their durability they can easily be passed from one generation of kids to another, rather than ending up in landfill. But having them manufactured from completely biodegradable sources would be the next step forward. Imagine if you could eat your LEGOs!
