Finding Innovative Water Solutions for Sustainability

 At the LEGO Group, we are committed to minimising the impact of our operations on the environment. Our focus is on decoupling our growth from our environmental footprint, with specific targets set for our carbon emissions, energy use, water consumption, and waste generation.

LEGO® factories primarily use water to cool moulding equipment and ensure the comfort of our employees. Water is a vital global resource and given the diverse climates in which our factories operate, responsible usage is a growing concern in some regions. We recognise that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to reduce our freshwater use. Therefore, we focus on three key strategies: increasing efficiency, finding alternative sources, and establishing treatment facilities. While we need water clean enough to keep our machines running smoothly, it does not have to meet drinking water quality standards.

Three consecutive years of reduction in fresh water intake

We have successfully reduced global water consumption each year since 2022. In 2024, our global factory consumption was 753,711 m³. While not all our factories have achieved reductions, significant progress has been made at several LEGO sites, contributing to an overall decrease of 56,000 m³ compared to 2023.

Unique approaches to conserving resources

In Monterrey, Mexico, a new water treatment facility has been installed to maximise the reuse of water, including reclaimed municipal wastewater, water from air handling units, and captured rainwater. Overall, the new facility has helped to reduce freshwater and well-water consumption by 85,055 m³, as much as nearly 34 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

In Billund, Denmark, we have developed a system to capture shallow ground water. Last year, 88% of the water used for cooling towers in our factory came from near-surface sources.

In our newly opened factory in Binh Duong, Vietnam, which is LEED Gold certified, we have replaced water cooling with an air-cooling system. We are also minimising freshwater intake via high-efficiency fixtures and fittings, including taps and toilets, and reusing condensate water.

Building a more sustainable future for children

Reducing the impact of our operations, whilst reaching more children with LEGO play remains an important challenge and we will continue to look for new ways to reduce our impact across water, waste and carbon. We want to play our part in building a more sustainable future for each new generation of children.

Read more:

• Download the 2024 LEGO Group Sustainability Statement
• Learn more about sustainable operations at the LEGO Group