February 27, 2025 – The LEGO Group has unveiled an eco-friendly innovation that is set to revolutionize the toy manufacturing industry: new tires made with over one-third recycled materials. These materials, sourced from discarded fishing nets, ropes, and engine oil, mark a significant step towards sustainability for the LEGO Group.
The new tires have already started appearing in some LEGO sets and are planned to be fully integrated into all product lines by the end of this year. This initiative not only underscores the LEGO Group’s commitment to environmental protection but also represents a solid progress in achieving its goal of using more renewable and recycled materials in production by 2032.
According to insights from the Color Masterbatch Industry Network, this novel tire material is crafted by cleverly combining discarded fishing ropes and nets from fishing vessels with recycled engine oil, significantly reducing the reliance on original fossil fuel components. Currently, this new material, containing at least 30% recycled content, has been utilized in seven LEGO tire components. The new tires are indistinguishable from traditional ones in both performance and appearance, earning warm welcomes from LEGO fans.
Annette Stube, Chief Sustainability Officer at the LEGO Group, expressed, “We are thrilled to incorporate this environmental innovation into our product sets. Over the past five years, we have invested considerable time and resources in research, development, and testing to ensure that this new recycled material meets our high standards for quality, safety, and durability. Tires are just one aspect of our push for product sustainability, and we will continue to strive for more eco-friendly materials and technologies in the future.”
In addition, the LEGO Group has taken multiple initiatives towards sustainability. For instance, since 2018, it has been using bio-polyethylene (bio-PE) to make some components, such as minifigure accessories and flower and plant elements. Currently, more than 200 different LEGO components are made from this material, and over half of LEGO sets include at least one such component.
Furthermore, the LEGO Group is actively exploring the use of innovative materials like recycled artificial marble (arMABS) and e-methanol. Recycled artificial marble has been used to create transparent elements such as lightsabers, windscreens, and windows, while e-methanol, a material made by mixing renewable energy with carbon dioxide from biological waste, will be used in the production of biodegradable materials in the future, further enhancing the environmental friendliness of LEGO products.