LEGO to scale up use of renewable plastics in its bricks, with goal of replacing fossil fuels by 2032

LEGO announced plans Wednesday to scale up its use of renewable plastics in the production of its signature bricks, marking a shift away from its reliance on fossil fuels. LEGO has set 2032 as its target date to reach a goal of using entirely renewable and recycled materials.

All LEGO bricks are made from resin, which includes a mix of virgin plastics made from fossil feedstocks, as well as renewable materials. The company says it is working to increase the percentage of certified renewable or recycled materials, which means less oil would go into the bricks that are used to create everything from Titanic replicas to Hogwarts Castle.

LEGO says it has tested over 600 different materials over the last eight years in an effort to make the bricks more sustainable – with varying levels of success. The company uses a production method to manufacture its bricks known as "mass balance," which involves mixing virgin fossil fuels with renewable materials, like cooking or plant oils.