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Lego abandons effort to make oil-free bricks – FT

Published by Uma Rajagopal

Posted on September 25, 2023

1 min read

· Last updated: January 31, 2026

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Lego bricks displayed in a store, highlighting the company's sustainable material challenges - Global Banking & Finance Review
This image showcases colorful Lego bricks in a retail setting, representing Lego's recent efforts and challenges in transitioning to sustainable materials. The article discusses Lego's abandonment of oil-free brick production due to increased carbon emissions.
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Lego abandons effort to make oil-free bricks – FT (Reuters) – Danish Toymaker Lego has abandoned its effort to ditch oil-based plastics from its bricks after finding that its new material led to higher carbon emissions, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. Lego found that bricks made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET), would lead to […]

Lego abandons effort to make oil-free bricks – FT

(Reuters) – Danish Toymaker Lego has abandoned its effort to ditch oil-based plastics from its bricks after finding that its new material led to higher carbon emissions, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

Lego found that bricks made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET), would lead to higher carbon emissions.

“We tested hundreds and hundreds of materials. It’s just not been possible to find a material like that,” Lego Chief Executive Niels Christiansen told the Financial times.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the details of the FT report. Lego did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

Lego had earlier pledged to replace oil-based plastic bricks with ones made from sustainable materials by the end of the decade.

The company had kicked off efforts in 2020 to replace its plastic bricks by sustainable materials. The difficulty was to find a material that would be environment friendly but give the same color, shine and sound of an oil-based plastic bricks.

(Reporting by Shubhendu Deshmukh in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is RPET?
RPET stands for recycled polyethylene terephthalate, a type of plastic made from recycled materials. It is commonly used in various products, including bottles and containers, and is considered more environmentally friendly than new plastic.
What are oil-based plastics?
Oil-based plastics are synthetic materials derived from petroleum. They are widely used in manufacturing due to their durability and versatility but have significant environmental impacts due to fossil fuel extraction and pollution.
What is carbon emissions?
Carbon emissions refer to the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, primarily from burning fossil fuels. These emissions contribute to climate change and global warming.
What is sustainable material?
Sustainable materials are resources that are produced and used in a way that minimizes environmental impact and promotes ecological balance. They are often renewable, recyclable, or biodegradable.

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