Home
Search History
Clear History
{{item.search_key}}
Hot Searches
Change
{{item.name}}
{{item.english_name}}
Subscribe eNews
Once A Week Once Every Two Weeks
{{sum}}
{{sum}}
Login

Please Login

Subscribe To Tags, See What You Want To See

Sign Up For Events, Expand your network

Unlock Private Messages, Participate In Interactions

 Register

Hi.{{userInfo.company_name_english||userInfo.truename_english}} Hi.{{userInfo.truename||userInfo.phone||userInfo.email}}

Applications

Pre-Registration for swop 2025 is Now Open, 950+ Exhibitors to Gather in Shanghai for the Decade-Long Packaging Extravaganza

K 2025 Live: EREMA's new laser filter features 100% larger screen surface

K 2025: Bumper brackets with PCR content at Borealis and Borouge booth

Products

BASF introduces light stabilizer for demanding outdoor applications at K Fair

Clariant expands sustainable flame-retardant capacity in China

Syensqo launches elastomers and lubricant fluids with certified circular content

Activities

  • K 2025 Live: Set to open tomorrow following press conference highlights

  • Rubber Street at K: Advanced rubber and elastomer under your nose

  • Meet Bernex at K Show

Pictorial

Industry Topic

ASEAN: The Next Manufacturing Hub

Innovative and Sustainable Packaging

Green Plastics: News & Insights

CHINAPLAS

CHINAPLAS 2025 Focus

CHINAPLAS 2024 Focus

CHINAPLAS 2023 Focus

Exhibition Topic

K 2025 FOCUS

CHINA INSIGHT

Fakuma 2024 Highlights

News Videos

K 2025 Live: Cutting-edge technologies tackling market demands

K 2025 Live: A look ahead to film production

K 2025 Live: Subscribe to smarter and more energy-efficient plastic recycling

Conference Videos

[Live Replay] Star Plastics: A Global Solution Provider of Sustainable Material for Your Circular Economy.

[Live Replay] Wanhua Chemical: Green Horizons, Health Guardians - Advancing ESG and Low-Carbon Transition, Innovating Medical Material Solutions

ENGEL e-cap 380

Corporate/Product Videos

Jiangsu Liside New Material Co., Ltd.

Dow 45 years in China

Carbon Removal and Carbon Emission Reduction Tech Solution——Yuanchu Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd.

Exhibition

Playback TECHHUB 2025@CPRJ Live Streaming for CHINAPLAS

Playback TECHHUB@CPRJ Live Streaming for CHINAPLAS

Events

Playback On April 14, the "6th Edition CHINAPLAS x CPRJ Plastics Recycling and Circular Economy Conference and Showcase" at the Crowne Plaza Shenzhen Nanshan is currently being livestreamed!

Playback 5th Edition CHINAPLAS x CPRJ Plastics Recycling and Circular Economy Conference and Showcase

News
NEW
HOT
 Events
NEW
HOT
 SPE Asia
NEW
HOT
 Special
NEW
HOT
 Live
NEW
HOT
 eNews
NEW
HOT
 Essential Guide
NEW
HOT
 Event Calendar
NEW
HOT
 Survey
NEW
HOT
 CHINA INSIGHT
NEW
HOT

Home > News > Recycling

Lego drops plan to make bricks from rPET, challenge underlined

Source：Adsale Plastics Network Date ：2023-09-27 Editor ：VC
Copyright： Original work. Please do not reprint.

Lego has abandoned its pilot program to make recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) bricks from recycled plastic bottles, according to media reports, after calculations indicating that the manufacturing process would have a higher carbon footprint than the production of oil-based bricks.

 

The Danish toymaker unveiled its first prototype rPET Lego bricks in 2021 as part of the mission to have all of its products made from sustainable materials.


Lego_rPET bricks_plan_480.jpg 

Lego unveiled its first prototype bricks made from rPET in 2021. (Photo: Lego)

 

As reported, Lego tested rPET as a more sustainable alternative to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) it uses in 80% of its toys. It has found, however, making bricks from the recycled material would require retooling manufacturing facilities and involve more production steps, which would ultimately generate more emissions over the product's lifecycle.

 

In order to scale production, the level of disruption to the manufacturing environment was such that the company needed to change everything in its factories, and the result of potential higher carbon footprint was “disappointing”, Lego's Head of Sustainability Tom Brooks told Financial Times.

 

The rPET also requires large amounts of energy for processing and drying, as well as additional chemicals for achieving the durability of current Lego bricks, explained Tom Brooks.

 

rPET not as durable as ABS for Lego bricks

 

A company spokesperson told CNN that Lego has made the decision not to proceed making rPET bricks after more than three years of testing.

 

It is worth noting that the spokesperson added that testing also showed the recycled plastic was not as durable and safe as ABS, and it didn’t have the “clutch power” which enables bricks to stick together and be pulled apart easily.

 

The spokesman emphasized that the company remains fully committed to making Lego bricks from sustainable materials by 2032, as rPET is just among the hundreds of materials tested to replacement ABS.


Lego_rPET bricks_480.jpg

Testing also showed that rPET was not as durable and safe as ABS for Lego bricks. (Photo: Lego)

 

Bioplastics and other alternatives

 

In addition to recycled materials, Lego is investigating alternative solutions including bioplastics. Indeed, the company launched its first botanical-themed elements made from bio-polyethylene (bio-PE) in 2018.

 

Besides, Lego is also looking to exploring the potential of bio-based and recycled substitutes for the chemicals that make up ABS.

 

Nonetheless, Lego CEO Niels Christiansen told Financial Times that he believes no single material will be a magic bullet. He said, “It's just not been possible to find a material like that.”

 

Lego’s decision, no doubt, underlines the challenge companies face in moving from theory to practice on the road to circular economy and carbon neutrality.

 


 Like 丨  {{details_info.likes_count}}
Recycled plastics
Carbon neutral
Circular economy
rPET
 HEBEI TANGNAI TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD.      
 ANHUI ZHONGXIN HONGWEI TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD      

The content you're trying to view is for members only. If you are currently a member, Please login to access this content.   Login

Source：Adsale Plastics Network Date ：2023-09-27 Editor ：VC
Copyright： Original work. Please do not reprint.

Lego has abandoned its pilot program to make recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) bricks from recycled plastic bottles, according to media reports, after calculations indicating that the manufacturing process would have a higher carbon footprint than the production of oil-based bricks.

 

The Danish toymaker unveiled its first prototype rPET Lego bricks in 2021 as part of the mission to have all of its products made from sustainable materials.


Lego_rPET bricks_plan_480.jpg 

Lego unveiled its first prototype bricks made from rPET in 2021. (Photo: Lego)

 

As reported, Lego tested rPET as a more sustainable alternative to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) it uses in 80% of its toys. It has found, however, making bricks from the recycled material would require retooling manufacturing facilities and involve more production steps, which would ultimately generate more emissions over the product's lifecycle.

 

In order to scale production, the level of disruption to the manufacturing environment was such that the company needed to change everything in its factories, and the result of potential higher carbon footprint was “disappointing”, Lego's Head of Sustainability Tom Brooks told Financial Times.

 

The rPET also requires large amounts of energy for processing and drying, as well as additional chemicals for achieving the durability of current Lego bricks, explained Tom Brooks.

 

rPET not as durable as ABS for Lego bricks

 

A company spokesperson told CNN that Lego has made the decision not to proceed making rPET bricks after more than three years of testing.

 

It is worth noting that the spokesperson added that testing also showed the recycled plastic was not as durable and safe as ABS, and it didn’t have the “clutch power” which enables bricks to stick together and be pulled apart easily.

 

The spokesman emphasized that the company remains fully committed to making Lego bricks from sustainable materials by 2032, as rPET is just among the hundreds of materials tested to replacement ABS.


Lego_rPET bricks_480.jpg

Testing also showed that rPET was not as durable and safe as ABS for Lego bricks. (Photo: Lego)

 

Bioplastics and other alternatives

 

In addition to recycled materials, Lego is investigating alternative solutions including bioplastics. Indeed, the company launched its first botanical-themed elements made from bio-polyethylene (bio-PE) in 2018.

 

Besides, Lego is also looking to exploring the potential of bio-based and recycled substitutes for the chemicals that make up ABS.

 

Nonetheless, Lego CEO Niels Christiansen told Financial Times that he believes no single material will be a magic bullet. He said, “It's just not been possible to find a material like that.”

 

Lego’s decision, no doubt, underlines the challenge companies face in moving from theory to practice on the road to circular economy and carbon neutrality.

 


全文内容需要订阅后才能阅读哦~
立即订阅
automatic blow molding machine MAAG Bannner Ad (EN)
EPLASTMER NEW MATERIAL CO.,LTD elin Packaging Machinery Co., Ltd TAIZHOU WATON MACHINERY.,LTD

Recommended Articles

Recycling
K 2025 Live: EREMA's new laser filter features 100% larger screen surface
 2025-10-15
Recycling
RecyClass certifies 60% of European plastic recycling capacity
 2025-09-30
Recycling
GIC opens door to Direct Conversion of waste into chemical feedstocks
 2025-09-29
Recycling
EREMA’s ReadyMac recycling machine celebrates sales growth at K 2025
 2025-09-26
Recycling
Kisuma upgrades recycled plastics with magnesium-based additives
 2025-09-24
Recycling
Seoul City tp accelerate waste banner recycling
 2025-09-19
Maguire Bannner Ad (EN) 信百勒 英文横幅
Shini button ad EN 北京化学工业 DODGEN-Reaction and Separation Professional
  • Must See
    • News
    Images
    Watch it
1
World premiere at K: ENGEL unveils first AI-based autonomous injection molding cell
2
Rubber Street at K: Advanced rubber and elastomer under your nose
3
K 2025: The trio from SACMI for future packaging
4
World premiere at K: Kautex to unveil new full-electric blow molding machine
5
K 2025: Italian exhibitors build strong presence amid export slowdown
1
How does Kistler's ultra-small frictional pressure sensor work?
2
ENGEL iQ weight control for high injection precision
3
[Live Replay] Star Plastics: A Global Solution Provider of Sustainable Material for Your Circular Economy.
4
K 2025 Live: VDMA expects growth ahead
5
BARNES brings high-precision hot runner for medical injection molding
  • Hot Specials

You May Be Interested In

Change
  • People
  • Company
loading... No Content
{{[item.truename,item.truename_english][lang]}} {{[item.company_name,item.company_name_english][lang]}} {{[item.job_name,item.name_english][lang]}}
{{[item.company_name,item.company_name_english][lang]}} Company Name    {{[item.display_name,item.display_name_english][lang]}}  

Polyurethane Investment Medical Carbon neutral Reduce cost and increase efficiency CHINAPLAS Financial reports rPET INEOS Styrolution Evonik Borouge Polystyrene (PS) mono-material Sustainability Circular economy BASF SABIC Multi-component injection molding machine All-electric injection molding machine Thermoforming machine

Lego drops plan to make bricks from rPET, challenge underlined

识别右侧二维码，进入阅读全文
下载
x 关闭
订阅
亲爱的用户，请填写一下信息
I have read and agree to the 《Terms of Use》 and 《Privacy Policy》
立即订阅
Top
Feedback
Chat
News
Market News
Applications
Products
Video
In Pictures
Specials
Activities
eBook
Front Line
Plastics Applications
Chemicals and Raw Material
Processing Technologies
Products
Injection
Extrusion
Auxiliary
Blow Molding
Mold
Hot Runner
Screw
Applications
Packaging
Automotive
Medical
Recycling
E&E
LED
Construction
Others
Events
Conference
Webinar
CHINAPLAS
CPS+ eMarketplace
Official Publications
CPS eNews
Media Kit
Social Media
Facebook
Linkedin
Adsale Group ｜  About Us ｜  Terms of Use ｜  Privacy Policy ｜  Contact Us ｜  Media Kit ｜  Consent Letter for Processing Personal Data ｜ 
Copyright © 2025 AdsaleCPRJ.com. All rights reserved.