The LEGO Group broke ground on its new carbon-neutral run factory in Chesterfield County near Richmond, Virginia, USA. This is a US $1 billion investment in the company’s long-term growth globally and will help delight millions of children in the Americas with LEGO® play.  

Once completed in 2025, the 340 acres site, the size of 260 American football fields, will have rooftop and ground solar panels and an on-site 35-40 MW solar plant, generating the equivalent of the energy needed to power approximately 10,000 American homes. The LEGO Group’s ambition is for the solar plant to match the total annual energy requirements of the site.  

·       US $1 billion investment, set to open in 2025. 

·       Company’s second facility in the Americas and seventh globally to support long-term growth. 

·       More than US $1 million committed to support local organisations

·       1,760 jobs created, currently recruiting for 500 positions.

·       Carbon-neutral run facility with on-site solar plant to match total annual energy requirement. 

·       Groundbreaking ceremony attended by top state officials and key community partners.

The site will be designed to support the company’s sustainability ambitions, including reducing its absolute global carbon emissions by 37 per cent by 2032*. It will use the latest energy-efficient production equipment while buildings and manufacturing processes are designed to minimise energy use.  

Carsten Rasmussen, Chief Operations Officer of the LEGO Group said: “We are absolutely delighted to mark the beginning of construction here in Virginia. We are grateful for the fruitful collaboration we have had with all partners across the Commonwealth of Virginia who share and support our ambition to build this factory.  

“We are working hard to reduce emissions at the LEGO Group and are really excited about our plans to build this solar plant as we push towards a better world for our children to inherit. 

“Our new site will allow us to inspire millions of children across the Americas through play and we can’t wait to get started.” 

Today’s groundbreaking ceremony was attended by LEGO Group Chief Operations Officer, Carsten Rasmussen; LEGO Group Regional President, Americas, Skip Kodak; along with top Virginia state officials and key partners. 

*The LEGO Group aims to reduce its absolute global carbon emissions by 37 per cent by 2032 compared to 2019.