Sustainable LEGO elements made from plant-based plastic

As part of the LEGO Group’s commitment to using sustainable materials in core products and packaging by 2030, the company has launched a new range of botanical elements — such as leaves, bushes and trees — made from plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane.

More specifically, the new elements are made from plant-based 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. The elements have also been tested to ensure the plant-based plastic meets the LEGO Group high standards for quality and safety.

“LEGO products have always been about providing high-quality play experiences giving every child the chance to shape their own world through inventive play,” said Tim Brooks, Vice President, Environmental Responsibility at the LEGO Group. “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 partnered with WWF to support and build demand for sustainably sourced plastic, and 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 third-party certified following global standards for responsibly sourced sugarcane.

“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.”