LEGO Group phases out single-use plastic packaging

LEGO Group phases out single-use plastic packaging

Sustainability

The LEGO Group engineers and designers have successfully replaced single-use plastic in LEGO boxes with paper-based bags.

Crafted from Forest Stewardship Council certified forests and FSC-controlled wood, these bags are recyclable in the EU, US, and Canada.

The rollout, initiated in Europe and Asia this year, will extend to the Americas markets by 2024.

The transition, which began in 2022, involved testing over 70 paper types and formats to meet LEGO's quality standards.

More LEGO boxes in Europe and Asia to contain paper based bags
More LEGO boxes in Europe and Asia to contain paper based bags © The LEGO Group

The bags, comprising 95% paper and a thin plastic coating, ensure LEGO elements' protection and are widely recyclable where paper-recycling infrastructure exists.

Tim Brooks, VP of Environmental Responsibility at the LEGO Group, said: The transition to paper-based bags is a significant milestone in the LEGO Group’s sustainable materials journey. Phasing out single-use plastic from our products has been very important to us as this material is rarely recycled, unlike paper-based bags. We committed to doing this three years ago and have faced a number of technical challenges to find a bag that would not compromise the high standards LEGO fans expect from us. It’s been a true team effort to arrive at this exciting moment and we’re very proud to see the paper-based bag rollout gain real momentum.

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