LEGO Group: Growing Profits & Reducing Environmental Impact

LEGO is a toybox staple – there are more than a trillion pieces in existence, and around 36 billion more produced each year. 

The company only continues to grow, achieving double-digit improvements in both revenue and operating profit in 2024, outpacing the toy market. 

Its 2024 Annual Report and Sustainability Statement show 13% growth in revenue and 10% growth in operating profit.

“At the LEGO Group, we put children at the heart of everything we do and we want to play our part in creating a better and more sustainable world for them to inherit,” says Niels Christiansen, CEO of the LEGO Group, in the report.

“Our fundamental belief is that play helps children to learn. Our ambition is to reach as many children as possible with LEGO play, while limiting the effect our operations have on the environment.

“We must all take responsibility to resolve the environmental challenges we're facing. As a company beloved by children globally, we consider it vital to secure a safe future for the next generation.”

LEGO Group’s approach to the environment

By 2032, the LEGO Group aims to make its bricks and elements from more renewable or recycled materials.

However, there are three main challenges in its way: 

• LEGO bricks are made for children, so must meet very high safety standards
• Bricks need to meet high durability and quality criteria to ensure they can be reused for generations
• New materials need to be precision engineered so they fit with old bricks. 

The company says it has tested more than 600 different materials to date.

All LEGO factories globally have started production with new paper-based bags and 30% of its packaging lines have been upgraded, with the aim of transitioning fully by 2027. 

It has a science-based target of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 37% by 2032 from a 2019 baseline and achieving net zero by 2050. 

The company says that its first priority is to reduce emissions in its value chain, but it is also looking to “create positive climate and nature impacts further beyond”.

It supported four new high-quality carbon removals projects in 2024 with a commitment of more than US$2.7m. 

Social impact at the LEGO Group

The LEGO Group has partnered with KultureCity and Hidden Disability Sunflower to support its colleagues and consumers with non-visible disabilities. 

KultureCity is a nonprofit that aims to enhance accessibility in public spaces for people with non-visible disabilities and sensory needs, and LEGO stores in the US and Canada were certified for sensory inclusion.

It has also introduced LEGO branded Sunflower lanyards for its colleagues with non-visible disabilities, conditions and sensory needs in Denmark and the UK. 

“We believe that play at work creates purposeful connections, inspires creative thinking and supports wellbeing,” the report says.

The company offers initiatives like Play Day, where LEGO employees globally can stop working and play together, and Play Agent training.

It has also impacted more than 12 million children around the world with social responsibility and local community engagement activities.

Niels says: “Our social responsibility and community programmes are designed to impact children’s lives by bringing learning through play to those who need it most.”

Explore the latest edition of Sustainability Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE. 

Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.

Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand