One of many toy trade’s biggest pioneers in sustainability simply hit a snag in growing eco-friendly choices for its signature product.
As first reported by the Financial Times, The LEGO Group found that its plans to make use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET) to supply bricks would result in larger carbon emissions over the product’s lifetime as a result of new tools required to fabricate them. The information follows the unveiling of the first recycled brick prototype in 2021. On the time, the breakthrough was met with nice fanfare.
The brick produced from recycled water bottles was revealed following the testing of greater than 250 totally different supplies. In 2018, LEGO started producing sure items utilizing bio-polyethylene (bio-PE) — produced from sustainably sourced sugarcane — however they’ll solely be used for smooth items like timber and equipment for minifigures.
With RPET out of the operating, LEGO will proceed searching for new choices to scale back using petroleum in its merchandise.
Regardless of the setback, LEGO continues to make strides in sustainability, together with plans to have net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This follows the groundbreaking of its $1 billion carbon-neutral manufacturing facility that’s presently below building in Virginia.
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