Lego plant pieces are about to get greener.
The 85-year-old Danish toymaker announced it has begun production of new sustainable Lego pieces, made from plant-based plastic.
"Botanical elements such as leaves, bushes and trees will be made from plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane in the future and will appear in LEGO boxes already in 2018" the company said.
The move is part of the LEGO Group’s commitment to use sustainable materials in core products and packaging.
“At the LEGO Group we want to make a positive impact on the world around us, and are working hard to make great play products for children using sustainable materials" said Tim Brooks, Vice President, Environmental Responsibility at the LEGO Group.
"We are proud that the first LEGO elements made from sustainably sourced plastic are in production and will be in LEGO boxes this year. This is a great first step in our ambitious commitment of making all LEGO bricks using sustainable materials.”
The new bricks will be made from a soft, durable and flexible plastic known as polyethylene. Lego said the bio-plastic is just as durable as conventional plastic and can be recycled, however it is not 100 per cent biodegradable.
In 2015, following reports of large amounts of Lego bricks washing up on beaches in the UK, the company set a target of 2030 to reach zero waste in operations.