LEGO will scrap plans to make bricks from recycled bottles.

Lego has scrapped plans to make its bricks from recycled bottles after finding that the manufacturing process would be more polluting than the current production of oil-based bricks.

Image courtesy of Iker Urteaga | @iurte | Unsplash.

The company had been working on the project for two years and had developed prototype bricks made from polyethene terephthalate (PET) bottles, with some other chemicals added. However, after testing, Lego found that using recycled PET didn't reduce carbon emissions. This was because extra steps were required in the production process, which meant it needed to use more energy.

Lego said it remains "fully committed" to making bricks from sustainable materials and continues exploring other options. The company has pledged to make all its packaging from sustainable materials by the end of 2025.

The decision to abandon the recycled bottle plan is a blow to Lego's efforts to cut carbon emissions by 37% by 2032 compared with 2019. However, it shows that the company is taking its environmental commitments seriously and is willing to make necessary sacrifices.

It is also worth noting that Lego bricks are designed to last for generations, so even though they are made from oil-based plastic, they are not a significant source of single-use plastic waste.