The LEGO Group achieved its ambition to balance 100% of its energy use with energy from renewable sources, and they did it three years ahead of schedule! This impressive feat was made possible through DKK 6 billion investment in two offshore wind farms and an adamant dedication to being a good example for children.

LEGO Group CEO Bali Padda said:

“We work to leave a positive impact on the planet, and I am truly excited about the inauguration of the Burbo Bank Extension wind farm. This development means we have now reached the 100% renewable energy milestone three years ahead of target. Together with our partners, we intend to continue investing in renewable energy to help create a better future for the builders of tomorrow.”

They celebrated their achievement by building the largest ever LEGO® brick wind turbine, winning a Guinness World Records™ title.

Then, they challenged children around the world to create their own renewable energy solutions and share them on the LEGO website. They hope that their example will inspire young people to do their part in the future.

Padda said:

“We see children as our role models, and as we take action in reducing our environmental impact as a company, we will also continue to work to inspire children around the world by engaging them in environmental and social issues.”

One of the two wind farms they invested in is a 258-megawatt offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea. It is the largest in the world producing enough energy to power an estimated 590,000 residential homes.

Brick By Brick

Independence from fossil fuels starts with one piece at a time, growing bigger as those pieces come together, just like building with LEGO bricks. Which is exactly what they’ve done. The LEGO Group has supported the development of more than 160 megawatts of renewable energy since 2012.

To really get an image of how massive the company is, here are some facts so you can picture just how much energy they require: the 86-year-old company is the largest toy manufacturer in America, bringing in an estimated $2 billion in annual sales in the U.S. alone, and has 42 offices around the world. More than 360-gigawatt hours of energy were used by the LEGO Group (in 2016 alone) to produce the more than 75 billion LEGO bricks sold around the world during the year. For them to cover all that energy expenditure completely off renewables is huge!

The total energy output from the investments now exceeds the energy consumed at all LEGO factories, stores, and offices globally. However, The LEGO Group isn’t stopping here as it’s continuing its investment in renewable energy solutions.

Padda said:

“Together with our partners, we intend to continue investing in renewable energy to help create a better future for the builders of tomorrow.”

20,000 solar panels will be installed on the roof of the LEGO factory in Jiaxing, China. This will produce almost 6 gigawatts of energy per year. Equivalent to the electricity usage of more than 6,000 Chinese households and reducing CO2 emissions by more than 4,000 tonnes annually.