The children's favorite vehicles will receive a more environmentally friendly upgrade. The LEGO group has just announced a big step on its sustainability trip: new tires with over 30% recycled materials.
LEGO occupies waste products that otherwise have negative environmental impacts and would give them a new life in their iconic toys.
These materials fishing, ropes and recycled engine oil are now used sustainably. LEGO takes these away materials, processes them and combines them into a new, durable material called Rsebs (recycled styrene-ethylene butylene styrene).
According to the company's announcement, Lego has started to include its new, sustainably produced tires in current sets.
Interestingly, the recycled rubber material does not change the appearance or the feeling of tire. By the end of 2025, these tires are to be recorded in around 120 different LEGO sets.
“This is an exciting step in our ambition to make LEGO products more sustainable and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels in a virgin way. In the past five years we have invested significant time in the development and examination of this new recycled material to ensure that it corresponds to our high standards for quality, security and durability, ”said Annette Stube, Chief Sustainability Officer.
“The tires are just one of many options that we work to make our products more sustainable, and it is encouraging to see something so innovative in our sets,” added Stube.
LEGO aims to produce its entire product line by 2032 with renewable and recycled materials.
Reduction of the environmental impacts
You will be surprised to know that Lego is the largest tire producer in the world. Although it is a toy company, it is reportedly producing over 300 million units every year.
They offer a variety of over 65 tire sizes and styles, from small motorcycle tires to large off -roads.
The synthetic rubber production is an energy -intensive process that can lead to pollution. And the LEGO products finally end up on landfolter.
Lego's new tire material reaches two main goals: it reduces waste and reduces the company's trust in new materials based on fossil fuels.
“The introduction of this material, known as Rsebs*, is part of the broader efforts of the company, Lego Group bricks and packaging from more sustainable materials,” said the company in the press release.
So far, the company has examined 600 different materials to increase the use of renewable and recycled resources in its products.
37% emission reduction around 2032
In 2021, Lego worked on an ambitious project to create prototype stones from recycled PET plastic bottles.
After two years of research and development, however, the company faced an unexpected challenge. New atlas reported that the transition to this new manufacturing process would actually increase the CO2 footprint of Lego. And the company dropped the plan.
The global toy brand is determined to switch its legendary bricks to more sustainable materials. In addition, LEGO has set a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 37% by 2032.
But Lego's commitment to sustainability does not end with tires. They also use organic polyethylene made of sugar cane, “recycled artificial marble” for transparent elements (such as windows) and research innovative materials such as e-methanol and epom.