According to its Annual Report 2025, over 95% of Lego’s sold packaging by weight was made of paper-based materials, with the company expecting to reach at least 96.8% this year.
Lego states its intention to transition all its packaging into FSC-certified and responsibly sourced materials, made from either renewable or recycled feedstock. It aims to achieve technical recyclability while cutting down on single-use plastics.
A ‘key step’ towards this goal was the introduction of paper prepacks inside its Lego boxes. Made from at least 95% paper with a thin plastic coating for sealing and strength, the bags have been certified as technically recyclable in the European Union, United States, and Canada.
Over 95% of Lego’s sold packaging by weight is now made from paper, cardboard, or other paper-based materials, the report indicates. This marks a 93% increase in the last four years and aligns with Lego’s target for 2025; the company anticipates that it will sell at least 96.8% sustainability-minded packaging materials, including its extended line, in 2026.
Lego also claims to have successfully transitioned 56% of its packaging lines to paper-based materials. Factories in Vietnam and China had ‘mostly’ completed this transition by November 2025, the company reported; its factory in Czechia is set to complete the process this year, followed by Mexico in 2027.
Its Mexican warehouses are now utilizing reusable wooden pallets, with the move thought to have eliminated 100 tonnes of wood waste last year. Additionally, the company claims to have achieved a 60% reduction in landfilled waste since May 2025 by optimizing sorting practices and introducing more efficient disposal alternatives at the facility.
Overall, Lego states that it achieved its zero-waste-to-landfill ambition for the fourth consecutive year. Even so, its total waste volume came above its 30,200-tonne target in 2025, with Lego anticipating that its waste reduction programmes will make a noticeable difference ‘over the next few years’.
Its total combined (market-based) greenhouse gas emissions also increased by 0.2% between 2024 and 2025, the report clarifies. This outcome is attributed to strong sales and a subsequent rise in Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services – 16% of which is attributed to packaging and other sources.
If you liked this story, you might also enjoy:
The ultimate guide to packaging innovation in 2026
Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation: what to know in 2026
Everything you need to know about global packaging sustainability regulation
No comments yet