There’s only one thing more painful than stepping on a Lego brick, and that’s burning alive as climate change sets the world ablaze. Unfortunately, our favorite Danish toymaker has hit a snag in its efforts to stop using oil in its bricks. Still, it’ll be helpful to have something to give the grandchildren to stop them asking what we’ve done to the planet.

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Lego abandons efforts to make an oil-free brick

Lego’s sustainability efforts have shown just how complex the energy transition can be. The world's biggest toymaker is scrapping its plans for an oil-free brick after the alternative led to even higher carbon emissions.

Two years ago, Lego announced it had tested a prototype brick made of recycled plastic bottles, but CEO Niels Christiansen told the FT that the new equipment required would make it a less environmentally friendly option. The company’s head of sustainability said the shift was “like trying to make a bike out of wood rather than steel”.

Instead, Lego is focusing on reducing the carbon footprint of ABS, the oil-based plastic it currently uses. Right now, ABS needs about 2kg (4.4lbs) of petroleum to make 1kg (2.2lbs) of plastic. It’s also tripling its sustainability spending to $3 billion a year by 2025, which Lego admits could hurt profits.

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