Lego swapping oil in its bricks for more expensive renewable plastic
Danish toymaker says it is on track to reach its goal of oil-free bricks by 2032
Legoland keeps kids creative, prevents learning loss during summer months
FOX Business' Jeff Flock reports on Legoland New York's ‘Master Builder Experience’ that helps prevent learning loss for kids over the summer months.
Lego says it is on track to achieve its goal of replacing the oil in its bricks entirely with renewable plastics by 2032, after inking deals with major producers that can provide fossil-free materials for the long term.
But the move means a major increase in manufacturing costs.
Lego bricks are displayed at a Legoland shop in Billund, Denmark, on Nov. 29, 2022. (Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Danish toymaker said Wednesday that it plans to gradually swap out the oil-based plastics in its bricks with certified renewable resin, which is 70% more expensive than the raw plastic typically used to make the colorful building bricks.
"This means a significant increase in the cost of producing a Lego brick," CEO Niels Christiansen told Reuters.
HOW ARE LEGO SETS DESIGNED? HISTORY OF THE POPULAR TOYS BUILT BRICK BY BRICK
He suggested that the company would not pass along the added costs to customers, telling the outlet, "With a family-owner committed to sustainability, it's a privilege that we can pay extra for the raw materials without having to charge customers extra."
When reached by FOX Business for comment, Lego noted that its decision to transition away from oil-based plastic in its bricks was not made recently, and the company has tested more than 600 alternative materials over the past eight years.
Family-owned toymaker Lego says it is on pace to fully replace the oil-based plastic in its bricks with renewable plastics by 2032. (Daniel Knighton/Getty Images / Getty Images)
In 2022, Lego began investing more than $1.4 billion in sustainability initiatives over a four-year period in order to transition to more sustainable materials and cut its carbon emissions by 37% by 2032.
Last year, the company had to adjust its plan for making bricks from recycled plastic bottles after discovering "the material didn't reduce carbon emissions," a Lego Group spokesperson told FOX Business at the time.
STUART VARNEY: AMERICA'S TECH GIANTS ARE SPENDING BILLIONS TO FIND GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Lego's oil-free material suppliers are using bio-waste such as cooking oil or food industry waste fat as well as recycled materials to replace virgin fossil fuels in plastic production.
Lego's global sales were up 13% in the first half of 2024. (CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images / Getty Images)
In its latest earnings released Wednesday, Lego reported its sales outpaced the overall toy market in the first half of the year, driven by strong demand in Europe and North America.
The company said sales from January through June rose 13% to 31 billion Danish crowns ($4.65 billion). By comparison, Lego increased first-half sales by 1% last year and 17% in 2022, year over year.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Following the strong start to the year, Christiansen now expects double-digit sales growth in 2024, compared with earlier guidance of single-digit growth.
FOX Business' Daniella Genovese and Reuters contributed to this report.