Recycling
Much of our packaging is now primarily made from paper and cardboard, which are more likely to be recycled than other materials. But some of our packaging still contains single-use plastic, which isn’t as sustainable. That’s why we are introducing recyclable packaging across all areas of our business from our core products to licensed products produced by our partners. Any new packaging we develop gets tested extensively by ourselves and independent laboratories to confirm its recyclability before we use it.
We encourage recycling and provide consumers with guidance on how to responsibly dispose of their LEGO® packaging. The rules for how to recycle vary between countries, regions and municipalities, so we encourage people to check with their local authorities on how to correctly dispose of our recyclable packaging.
LEGO® boxes
Our LEGO boxes are made of cardboard (corrugated fiberboard PAP20 or non-corrugated fiberboard PAP21) from responsibly sourced materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®C117818). They can be recycled where infrastructure and access to paper and cardboard recycling exist.
Multiple identification codes
In some cases, a LEGO box might feature material identification codes for corrugated fiberboard (PAP 20), non-corrugated fiberboard (PAP 21), and paper (PAP22). In these cases, the LEGO box is made of corrugated fiberboard but there will be one or more smaller boxes made from non-corrugated fiberboard and/or paper-based bags inside. This is indicated by triangular symbols with chasing arrows.
Bags in LEGO boxes
We’re in the process of switching from single-use plastic to paper-based bags. While our boxes currently still feature bags made from polypropylene (PP) or low-density polyethylene (LDPE), we will gradually be replacing them with bags made from over 95% paper. These bags will contain a thin plastic coating on inside that enables sealing of the bags and ensures that they are fit-for-purpose to hold LEGO bricks.
Our new paper-based bags are made with paper from Forest Stewardship Council® certified forests and FSC-controlled wood and have been verified as recyclable in the European Union, United States and Canada. We encourage people to check with their local authorities for how to correctly dispose of our paper-based bags.
LEGO baseplate packaging
Since 2022 we are using paper-based packaging for our LEGO baseplates, which used to be wrapped in single-use plastic. The packaging is made from paper with a thin plastic coating on the inside, which enables sealing of the packaging and helps protect the product.
How2Recycle®
LEGO boxes in the US and Canada feature the How2Recycle® label. This promotes packaging recycling and provides US and Canadian consumers with clear guidance to responsibly dispose of or recycle their LEGO packaging.
Electronic products and batteries
These should be sorted and disposed of separately from other types of waste, which is a requirement by EU legislation. National or local schemes are in place for disposal and collection of electronic products. Separation of different material types is important for facilitating recycling and recovery. We encourage you to contact your local municipality for advice on sorting rules.
Sustainable packaging
We will switch to recyclable packaging across all areas of our business.