LEGO’s promise to move fully to sustainable materials, products and packaging by 2030 kicked off with a small but meaningful first step: bricks made from plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane. Here’s what these sustainable LEGO pieces are, how they fit with the rest of your child’s collection, and what LEGO has planned next.
Sign up for our free monthly newsletter, packed with ideas, competitions and offers.
In 2015, the family-owned LEGO Group announced its plan to move to sustainable materials, products and packaging by 2030. As part of that commitment, the Danish company we all know and love began production on a range of sustainable “botanical” elements, including leaves, bushes and trees.
You May Also Enjoy: 50+ Free LEGO Instructions: Learn How To Be a Master Builder!
Sustainable LEGO: All the Details
Made from plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane, these botanical elements were the first LEGO pieces of their kind to reach shelves.
The unique design of LEGO bricks, and the company’s consistent focus over the decades, means that two LEGO bricks produced years apart can still fit together perfectly. The plant-based plastic used in these sustainable pieces was tested to meet the same high standards for quality and safety that LEGO — and parents — expect from every brick in the box.
The first set to feature these new sustainably sourced elements, Plants from Plants, launched as part of this initiative. Around the same time, LEGO brought back a Creator Expert favourite from its “Vault” collection: the Vestas Wind Turbine set.
With this set, LEGO aimed to raise awareness of sustainability and renewable energy, developed in partnership with a world leader in sustainable energy solutions. It was released through LEGO Stores and shop.LEGO.com as part of the wider sustainable LEGO push.
—
Looking For More?
Sign in (or create a free account) to browse more free printables, like our 30 Day LEGO Challenge!
Download the 30 Day LEGO Challenge
—
Sustainable LEGO Packaging
Alongside the shift to sustainable bricks, LEGO set out plans for sustainable packaging too — aiming to replace single-use disposable plastics and move toward recycled or sustainably sourced bio-based materials across its range.
LEGO has already made significant changes to production and packaging to reduce landfill waste:
Much of LEGO’s packaging is cardboard or paper-based, which is recyclable, sustainably sourced and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The LEGO Group also partners with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to help reduce CO2 emissions across its manufacturing and supply chain, and to support global climate action.
You May Also Enjoy: Get a Detailed LEGO Model of Your Own House – So Cool!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are LEGO’s sustainable bricks made from?
LEGO’s plant-based elements are made from a bio-plastic sourced from sugarcane, rather than traditional oil-based plastic. They’re designed to look, feel and connect exactly like standard LEGO pieces.
Are all LEGO bricks now made from sustainable materials?
Not yet. These sugarcane-based pieces were an early milestone in LEGO’s wider plan to use sustainable materials across all its products by 2030. LEGO has continued to expand this work since the initial botanical elements launched.
Do the plant-based pieces work with older LEGO sets?
Yes. LEGO has kept its brick design consistent for decades specifically so that new pieces, including the sustainable elements, connect seamlessly with sets from years or even decades earlier.
Is LEGO packaging fully sustainable now?
LEGO has been steadily moving toward more sustainable, FSC-certified paper and cardboard packaging as part of its long-term sustainability goals. For the most current position on its packaging targets, it’s worth checking LEGO’s own sustainability updates directly.
Related Articles
- 50+ Free LEGO Instructions: Learn How To Be a Master Builder!
- Get a Detailed LEGO Model of Your Own House – So Cool!
- Download Our Free 30 Day LEGO Challenge
Save This for a Rainy Day
Not ready to build today? Bookmark this one and add it to your rainy-day activity list for whenever the LEGO mood strikes.
Never Miss an Idea
Want more activity ideas, competitions and family offers like this? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter — it’s a quick, easy way to keep a stream of fresh ideas coming your way.
