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

Trinseo launches all-acrylic latex binder for flexible flooring adhesives

Beaulieu Fibres supports CO2 footprint calculations for PP fibres in automotive parts

Simoldes Plastics and ELIX Polymers cooperate on recycled materials for automotive interior

Products

Arburg: Plastic is simply indispensable as a material

Rönesans invests US$2 billion PP production plant and terminal facility in Turkey

Arkema, AkzoNobel and Omya develop sustainable decorative paints with lower carbon footprint

Activities

  • Round Table at Fakuma 2023: “Plastic – Recyclable Rather Than Problem Material!”

  • ArabPlast 2023 – The Success Journey Continues………..

  • GREAT NEWS! INAPA 2023 IS COMING BACK 24 - 26 May 2023 at JIExpo Jakarta, Indonesia

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

CHINA INSIGHT

Fakuma 2024 Highlights

K 2022 FOCUS

News Videos

CHINAPLAS 2025: Bioplastics bloom in wide applications

Pengqiang: Exploring smart feature & core advantages of liquid energy-saving AC systems

CHINAPLAS 2025: Smart technologies drives new quality productive forces

Conference Videos

【Mandarin session:Webinar playback】Covestro: Next-generation flame-retardant medical polycarbonate solutions for housing applications

【Mandarin session:Webinar playback】Covestro: RE Material Solutions: Empowering electronics industry to fulfill new EPEAT standards and lower carbon footpint

【Mandarin session:Webinar playback】Covestro: Covestro's CMF Trends 2025+: Electronics, Automotive and Healthcare

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
 eBook
NEW
HOT
 Event Calendar
NEW
HOT
 Survey
NEW
HOT
 CHINA FOCUS
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 SHANHE NEW MATERIAL CO., LTD.,      
 ZHANGJAGANG RONGSHENG MACHINERY CO.,LTD      
 ANHUI ZHONGXIN HONGWEI TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD      
 Shanghai DODGEN Chemical 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
Husky Banner Ad_EN 信百勒 英文横幅

Leave Comment

Submit

All Comments

No Comment

{{VueShowUserOrCompany(itme.user)}}

{{ toolTimes(itme.updated_at,'s') }}

{{itme.body}}

Reply   
Submit
{{VueShowUserOrCompany(itmes.user)}} {{ toolTimes(itmes.updated_at,'s') }} Reply

{{itmes.body}}

Submit
ANHUI SHAFENG ADVANCED MATERIAL CO., LTD. EN GUILIN GLESI SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD.

Recommended Articles

Recycling
(CHINAPLAS Review) Onstage advanced technologies for chemical recycling
 2025-05-07
Recycling
Aduro and Siemens to deliver advanced automation for Hydrochemolytic pilot plant
 2025-05-07
Recycling
Clariant’s MegaMax 900 catalyst starts at European Energy’s e-methanol plant
 2025-04-28
Recycling
ENTEX: We are still at the beginning of the circular economy in many areas
 2025-04-28
Recycling
(Interview) Debut innovation from Nouryon transforms recycled plastic into high-quality materials
 2025-04-17
Recycling
Recycled Plastics Zone empowers businesses toward sustainability
 2025-04-16
GREENPLAST 2025 AdsaleCPRJ.com A1 - EMP - EN

You May Also Like

{{[item['category']['name'],item['category']['english_name']][lang]}}
{{VueShowUserOrCompany(item.author)}} {{VueShowDisplayName(item.author)}}
Sponsored
{{item.title}} {{item['summary']}}
{{itags.name}}
{{item.updated_at}}
 {{item.likes_count}}       {{item.comments_count}}
Unveiling Unmatched SPC Floor Quality by Boyu Extruder High Quality Calcium Carbonate for You SUZHOU AKIYAMA MOLD CO., LTD
  • Must See
    • News
    Images
    Watch it
1
CHINAPLAS 2025 concludes with resounding 281,206 visitors! See you in Shanghai next year
2
Top 10 Technology Trends: Hails new biomaterials formulations and processing
3
CHINAPLAS 2025 grandly opens! Welcomes 79,894 visitors on the first day
4
800+ experts join CHINAPLAS X CPRJ Circular Economy Conference for close collaboration
5
Circular economy: Technological innovations propel plastic recycling forward
1
CHINAPLAS 2025: Essential tips before your visit
2
CHINAPLAS 2025: Innovated in China - From China to the world
3
CHINAPLAS 2025: Dive into new automotive scenarios created with plastics
4
What solutions did overseas buyers look for at CHINAPLAS 2025?
5
Nouryon: Biobased expandable microspheres achieve weight and carbon reduction
  • 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
Youtube
Adsale Group ｜  About Us ｜  Terms of Use ｜  Privacy Policy ｜  Contact Us ｜  Media Kit ｜  Consent Letter for Processing Personal Data ｜