Toy manufacturer Lego has demonstrated a prototype brick made from recycled PET bottles.
It is the first brick to meet the company’s strict quality and safety requirements that is made from recycled plastics.
Over the past three years, material scientists and engineers tested over 250 variations of PET materials and hundreds of other plastic formulations.
However, the new recycled brick isn’t expected to be on sale anytime soon, with another phase of testing expected to take at least a year. This will then be followed by a pilot production stage.
The prototype bricks are made from recycled PET sourced from suppliers in the United States that use US Food & Drug Administration and European Food Safety Authority processes to assure quality.
On average, a one litre plastic bottle creates ten 2 x 4 Lego bricks.
Each of these bricks also uses a bespoke compounding technology to combine the recycled PET with strengthening additives.
Lego Group environmental responsibility vice president Tim Brooks said: “We are super excited about this breakthrough. The biggest challenge on our sustainability journey is rethinking and innovating new materials that are as durable, strong and high quality as our existing bricks – and fit with Lego elements made over the past 60 years. With this prototype, we’re able to showcase the progress we’re making.”
