lego

The Danish giant LEGO is expanding its sustainability efforts with a brick prototype created entirely from recycled plastic. Unveiled earlier this week, the new design uses PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic extracted from plastic bottle waste, and is the toymaker’s latest advance in its commitment to producing more sustainable products.

“The biggest challenge on our sustainability journey is rethinking and innovating new materials that are as durable, strong and high-quality as our existing bricks, and that fit with the LEGO elements manufactured over the past 60 years. With this prototype we can show the progress we are making.”

– Tim Brooks, Vice President of Environmental Responsibility at LEGO

For over three years, scientists and engineers have tested more than 250 variations of PET, as well as hundreds of other formulas, to ensure the product meets safety and quality standards. Although LEGO now has a reliable prototype, at least one more year of testing and development is still required before possibly continuing production.

Photos: Lego