European Energy has entered into an agreement with Lego, as well as medical products producer Novo Nordisk, to deliver e-methanol to reduce fossil fuels in the companies’ plastics production processes.
The e-methanol will be produced at European Energy’s PtX facilities in Kassø, in Aabenraa, Denmark.
The production of e-methanol will be based on renewable energy from wind and solar plants which is first used to produce green hydrogen via electrolysis, before further processing into e-methanol, which also requires biogenic CO2.
The first batch is expected to be delivered in 2024.
The agreement will enable the world’s largest toy company and the medical products producer to replace some fossil-based plastic in their production processes with lower-carbon alternatives in the future.
With this move, Novo Nordisk has taken a step into the area of substituting fossil-based plastic with lower-carbon sources to be used in medical devices such as insulin pens.
Lego Group will explore the potential of using the e-methanol to make selected elements in its portfolio and expects to develop prototypes in the coming years with a view to commercialisation in the longer term.
Both companies are looking to invest in technologies that support knowledge sharing and help accelerate progress across the industry.
Nelleke van der Puil, Vice President of Materials at Lego Group, said: “We are proud to join forces with European Energy and Novo Nordisk to accelerate research and progress in the development of lower-carbon plastics.
“As part of our commitment to building a sustainable future for children, we have committed to making our products from more sustainable materials.
“The project will give us our third sustainable material we’ve developed alongside bio-PE and prototype bricks made from recycled PET.
“This agreement is an exciting step towards our ambition.”
CEO of European Energy, Knud Erik Andersen, said: “The use of plastic is an integrated part of the modern world, not only in our daily lives but also in industrial processes and equipment.
“Novo Nordisk and the Lego Group are already leading the way into the future in various ways, and now even more by joining this cooperation.
“This is relevant for all industries keen on transitioning away from fossil fuels.”
Dorethe Nielsen, Vice President of Corporate Environmental Strategy at Novo Nordisk, said: “We wish to drive the decarbonisation of our business forward, and as a producer of plastic devices we wish to reduce the use of fossil plastics by engaging with suppliers in our value chain that can provide the necessary solutions such as e-methanol for plastic production.”