How is LEGO Making Tyres From Sustainable Materials?
With only 9% of plastic actually being recycled, LEGO is paving the way to increase this debilitatingly low figure.
The LEGO Group is announcing the introduction of its new, more sustainable material for selected Lego tyres.
These new sustainable tyres will be made using recycled fishing nets, ropes and engine oil.
LEGO’s sustainable tyres
The motion behind using recycled engine oil is to reduce the reliance on virgin fossil fuel-based ingredients.
As part of this initiative, the company has invested DKK 1bn (US$ 140.5bn) in research and development to explore alternative materials that reduce environmental impact.
The new tyres will be used in seven LEGO tire pieces, each containing at least 30% recycled content.
The new tyres have already appeared in LEGO sets, indistinguishable from existing tyres.
The company is starting with seven, however by the end of 2025 LEGO plans to have used new tyres in 120 different sets.
This goal is just the start, as the company plans to expand recycled content across more tire styles in the near future.
“This is an exciting step in our ambition to make LEGO products more sustainable and reduce our dependence on virgin fossil fuels," comments Annette Stub, Chief Sustainability Officer at LEGO.
“Over the past five years, we have invested significant time in developing and testing this new recycled material to ensure it meets our high standards for quality, safety and durability.
“The tyres are just one of many options we’re working on to make our products more sustainable and it’s encouraging to see something this innovative making it into our sets.”
The LEGO Group recognises that collaboration is key in driving sustainable innovation.
The company will continue to work closely with suppliers, research institutions and other industries to develop and refine materials – supporting the transition to renewable and recycled content.
How Lego are making new tyres
The introduction of the material, known as rSEBS, is part of the company’s broader efforts to make LEGO bricks and packaging from more sustainable materials.
To date, the LEGO Group has tested more than 600 different materials for its bricks and elements including:
Bio-polyethylene (bio-PE)
Since 2018 the company has used bio-PE, which is a soft, durable and flexible plastic made using Brazilian sugarcane.
Certain LEGO elements like minifigure accessories and botanical pieces are made of bio-PE.
To date, there are 200 elements made from bio-PE, with more than half of all LEGO sets containing at least one of these sustainable components.
Recycled artificial marble (arMABS)
As of 2024 transparent LEGO elements, including lightsabres, windscreens and windows contain 20% recycled material derived from artificial marble.
The LEGO Group produces more than 900 different arMABS elements, which, once fully transitioned, will feature in more than 85% of LEGO sets.
e-Methanol and ePOM
LEGO is collaborating with industry partners to purchase e-methanol, a material produced by blending renewable energy with CO₂ from bio-waste.
This innovative material will be used to produce ePOM, which is expected to debut in select LEGO elements, including wheel axles, in the near future.
The LEGO Group is committed to transforming the raw materials used in its bricks.
By the second half of 2024, 30% of all resin purchased by the company was certified according to mass balance principles – this represents an estimated average of 22% renewable sources.
LEGO’s eco friendly future
LEGO has set ambitious sustainability goals, aiming to ensure that all major products are made from sustainable materials by 2030.
By 2025, LEGO plans for all its packaging to be made from renewable or recycled materials.
Additionally, its LEGO Replay programme encourages customers to donate used bricks, supporting a circular economy by extending product life cycles and reducing waste.
Along with circularity, LEGO is committed to minimising its carbon footprint and currently operates with 100% CO₂ neutrality, supported by two large offshore wind farms.
In lines with the soon approaching Paris Agreement, the company has set a science-based target to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 37% by 2032.
Collaboration plays a crucial role in LEGO's sustainability strategy.
The company partners with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to reduce CO₂ emissions across its manufacturing and supply chain operations.
The LEGO Group has also joined the Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance (BFA), working alongside other major brands to drive demand for sustainable materials and accelerate industry-wide change.
Through these initiatives, LEGO is reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, ensuring that future generations can continue to build and play without compromising the planet’s resources.
There is no single solution to the challenges of sustainability, which is why LEGO is exploring a range of solutions to reduce its environmental footprint and make its products from more renewable and recycled materials.
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