Recycled Plastic Bottles Now Have A New Home And It's Made Of Lego | Alternative Fruit

One of the world's major problems of the day is what to do with all the waste plastic. Throwing it into landfill is the old solution. We know that landfill sites are highly toxic to the environment, even years after they've been recovered. Down to earth methods take care of the environment and now we do our best to recycle things. Plastic only has so many uses, and once it's been formed and used, the number of things it can be used for is decreased further. Unlike glass, which can be smashed and ground into dust, plastic retains its shape. It has to be literally cut apart with blades and teeth in order to break it into small bits. These bits still retain their original shape, so the bits are made as small as possible. Flakes and tiny balls are common substances these days. Some types of plastic can be reshaped once warmed up, the material can melt and be bent or stuck together. Other types do not do this.


According to The Guardian, Lego intend to release new blocks made of recycled plastic within two years. The toy company have designed a new beige coloured block that's made from plastic recovered from plastic bottles. It's a simple 4 x 2 oblong that we've likely all played with. The block itself also contains additives to make it the same strength as regular pieces. Traditional Lego is made from plastic that likes to grab the surface when placed together. This is how the blocks stick so well but can still be easily pulled apart.


Getting this new recycled material to behave like normal Lego bricks has taken three-years of research. Many combinations of materials were used and tested to find the perfect match. A team of 150 scientists and engineers have been employed to continually find more sustainable and down to earth forms of their popular and useful product. There's no substitute for Lego when it comes to learning how to use your imagination and follow instructions, however the plastic they are made from needn't be a drain on the planet's resources.


It was in 2018 when the Danish brand moved into using recovered oil to make their bricks, putting a cork in the well once and for all. However, the amount of waste plastic in the environment is alarming so it was in everyone's best interests to go ahead and find out how to use it. Let's hope many more industries discover ways to fully utilise this abundant and durable material. If it can be turned into bricks for toy houses, how far is that from the real thing?

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