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 Lego has started using polymer from plants in some of its toys as part of a move
away from oil-based plastics.

 The Danish firm’s first bioplastic offering is made from sugarcane and will be used in
“botanical” elements including leaves, bushes and trees.

 The bioplastics are set to appear in stores later this year as Lego moves towards
sustainable raw materials in all its products by 2030, a goal it first announced in 2012.

 Tim Brooks, vice president of environmental responsibility at Lego said: “We are proud
that the first Lego elements made from sustainably sourced plastic are in production and
will be in Lego boxes later this year. This is a great first step in our ambitious
commitment of making all Lego bricks using sustainable materials.”

 The new elements are still polyethylene, one of the most commonly used polymers, but it
is made from ethanol produced from sugarcane instead of hydrocarbons. Lego said the
new pieces are technically identical to the oil-based plastics they replace. “Children and
parents will not notice any difference in the quality or appearance of the new elements,
because plant-based polyethylene has the same properties as conventional polyethylene,”
said Brooks.

 Plant-based polyethylene elements currently account for 1-2% of the plastic pieces
produced by Lego.

 Lego said it had joined the Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance, an initiative by the
environmental NGO the WWF, to ensure the raw materials for its bioplastics are
sustainably sourced.

 The firm said any new sustainable materials needed an “ever-lighter footprint” than the
materials they replaced in a number of key areas, including social impact, fossil fuel use,
human rights and climate change.

 In 2015 Lego announced plans to find sustainable alternatives to all of the materials it
uses, including its iconic plastic bricks. At the time the firm also announced it was
investing 1bn Danish krone ($165m) into a Sustainable Materials Centre to research
alternatives.
 Raw Materials in Legos

            Legos are an essential part of a child’s adolescence. They help build the foundation for creativity
and play. The Lego Company was first founded in 1932 by Danish carpenter, Ole Kirk Christiansen

.Originally starting with cellulose acetate, the company now uses acrylonitrile butadiene styrene to
create the small blocks. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, abbreviated to ABS, is a common thermoplastic
used in many products. These toys go through a long process to be made. First, raw materials are
needed to start the cycle, which then go through the production system, forming the mold of the blocks
and finally the excess waste that comes out of the entire life cycle.

From their 2012 Progress report, it is stated that their long term goal is to “generate enough renewable
energy to balance our ongoing energy needs”[4]. Last year, the LEGO Group reached a recycling rate of
88% and is in the process of planning a wind park to balance the energy consumption[5]. The raw
materials used are approved by the company to be safe. ABS is the main plastic used in the production
of LEGO bricks. Acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene go through various processes to become the
thermoplastic they are used for. Found in the earth then modified and extracted, these raw materials go
through a long way to become the LEGO bricks we know today.

            Crude oil is the main source of ABS. It goes through several chemical processes to convert the
large molecules in crude oil into smaller molecules to make a chain for the plastic[6]. Plastics are very
popular because they can be changed easily and customized by varying the atomic structure[7].
Acrylonitrile is very flexible, tough and has high strength. In addition to these characteristics, it
contributes to heat resistance and chemical resistance when combined with butadiene and styrene[9].
Butadiene adds “higher impact strength, toughness, low-temperature property retention, and
flexibility”[10]. Lastly, styrene provides “rigidity, glossy finish, and ease of process ability”[11] One of the
most common ways of processing ABS is by graft polymerization of acrylonitrile and styrene onto a
polybutadiene latex, blending it and drying the result[12]. Another way is to manufacture the three
polymers separately from the styrene-acrylonitrile latex and then blend and dry[13].

      

             Some health risks of butadiene include increased risk of cancer, irritation in the eyes, nose, and
throat, drowsiness and lightheadedness[33]. Butadiene has low-water solubility and evaporates when
exposed to the environment[34]. Although this chemical has many threats, if it is handled carefully, then
there is no harm. Additionally, the LEGO Group makes sure that the substances used in the making of
their toys are not harmful to people.
The LEGO Group has produced millions of these bricks and is established as a successful toy company.
They have pledged to improve their sustainability and the raw materials used in the production of the
plastic bricks and figures. All the raw materials originate from crude oil[55] and are tested to make sure
they are safe. The LEGO Company aims for a higher energy efficiency and zero wastes. In addition, the
creation of their own wind farm will aid in producing their own energy sources. Starting from 1958 until
today, the LEGO Group has used plastics in the processing of their toys. Acrylonitrile, butadiene, and
styrene are the main raw materials used in creating these popular blocks and continue to aid in the
success of the company