Lego Hits 52% Recycled and Renewable Plastic in 2025

Lego just proved that even the world's favorite plastic bricks can go green without losing their snap.

The Danish toymaker announced that 52 percent of the materials it purchased in 2025 came from recycled or renewable sources, a massive leap from 33 percent the year before. That means more than half of what goes into making those colorful bricks now comes from something other than virgin oil-based plastic.

The company uses an accounting method called "mass balance" to track its progress. Think of it like mixing renewable energy into a power grid: the plastic suppliers blend recycled materials, bio-based plastics, and traditional plastics together, then Lego buys from that combined pool.

About 4 percent of Lego's materials come from completely separate, traceable sources. The botanical leaf pieces and minifigure accessories are made from sugarcane plastic, while those clear window pieces come from recycled artificial marble countertops.

Lego has tested over 600 potential replacement materials so far, working closely with suppliers to make sure each option meets the company's famous quality standards. Every brick still needs to click perfectly with pieces made decades ago.

The company doesn't have a firm deadline for reaching 100 percent sustainable materials. Instead, it commits to increasing the percentage every single year, a slow but steady approach that ensures quality never drops.

The Ripple Effect

Lego's shift matters beyond just toy boxes. Plastic resin accounts for 26 percent of the company's supply chain emissions, which make up 99 percent of its total carbon footprint.

By choosing recycled and renewable plastics, Lego avoided about 68 percent of the emissions that would have come from virgin plastic in 2025. That's progress happening quietly inside every brick.

Marcian Lee, an analyst with Lux Research, called Lego's commitment "virtuous" compared to other toymakers. Most companies aren't making these changes because no strong laws require them to do so yet.

Other major brands are watching. Crocs, the foam shoe company, has adopted the same mass balance approach for its products. As more companies join in, the market for recycled and renewable plastics grows stronger and more affordable.

The road ahead still has challenges. Lego's overall emissions have actually increased by more than 60 percent since 2019 as the company has grown. But its science-based target aims to reduce emissions by 37 percent by 2032, with sustainable materials playing a key role.

Every Lego brick built today is one small, satisfying click toward a cleaner future.