Lego’s most recent environmental and social governance (ESG) report quietly leaves out something that was front and center in the previous year: any mention of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Unlike its 2023 version, the 2024 report avoids terms like “diversity,” “LGBTQ+,” or “people of colour,” focusing instead on more operational and environmental metrics. The only appearance of the word “diversity” now comes in the context of “biodiversity,” marking a clear pivot in tone and messaging.
In 2023, Lego had been more vocal about its DEI efforts, talking about its aim for gender balance, especially in leadership roles. The company even provided figures showing that 41.5% of its Director-level and above roles were filled by women, which it admitted was slightly below its target. It celebrated initiatives designed to uplift women and underrepresented groups in the workplace, citing strong support from leadership and HR teams as key to that progress.
There was also an emphasis last year on employee-led groups, which created space for various communities—women, people of color, LGBTQ+ employees, and those from different age groups or with accessibility needs. Programs like the Navigator initiative were meant to help develop female talent in senior positions. But none of these programs or groups are named in the latest report. Still, the data point about women in senior roles remains, though it’s now marked as an “ambition only” goal, making it stand apart from more traditional performance indicators like emissions or workplace injury rates.
This move follows a broader trend where companies, facing political and public scrutiny, are scaling back public-facing DEI commitments. For instance, JPMorgan made a similar choice in its own reporting, stripping DEI-related language while still offering demographic data.
Despite these removals in the official ESG document, Lego continues to keep its inclusive branding alive on its website. A dedicated page still emphasizes a commitment to a welcoming and diverse work culture, speaking to values like belonging, paid leave, disability support, and mental well-being.
In the end, Lego appears to be recalibrating how it presents its values—still keeping inclusivity in its messaging, but dialing down the emphasis in its more formal reporting. The intention might still be there, but the tone is clearly more cautious and strategic.
