The Denmark-based toy company just broke ground on a new carbon-neutral run factory in Chesterfield County near Richmond, Virginia.
LEGO is well-known for its variously colored interlocking plastic bricks accompanying an array of gears, figurines called minifigures, and various other parts. Soon, it will be recognized for having one of the largest carbon-neutral factories in the world. When completed in 2025, the LEGO factory aims to demonstrate net-zero emissions from electricity and fuel use using on-site or off-site renewable energy.
The 340-acre site will have rooftop and ground solar panels (15,000 to 20,000 roof panels and 35,000 to 40,000 ground panels), and an on-site 35 to 40 megawatt solar plant, targeted to fulfil the total annual energy requirements of the site. The site will be designed to support the company’s sustainability goals, which include reducing its absolute global carbon emissions by 37 percent by 2032. The company will use the latest energy-efficient production equipment, while buildings and manufacturing processes are designed to minimize energy use.
There will be 13 buildings spanning more than 1.7 million square feet, ranging from office spaces, molding, processing, packing buildings, and a high bay warehouse. LEGO aims to secure Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification for the new factory once it is completed.
FULL STORY: LEGO breaks ground on $1B carbon-neutral factory in Virginia
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