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Volvo Cars: New Electric Cars Leather-Free

Swedes are relying on sustainable, bio-based, and recycled materials instead of leather in new e-models and aim to use fewer animal products in manufacturing as well. They are striving for a holistic approach to increase sustainability and circular economy. The C40 Recharge PE is leading the way.

Stripped away: The Swedes want to banish leather from interiors and are starting with the C40 Recharge PE. | Photo: Volvo Cars
Stripped away: The Swedes want to banish leather from interiors and are starting with the C40 Recharge PE. | Photo: Volvo Cars
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Johannes Reichel

The Swedish subsidiary of the Chinese Geely Group, Volvo Cars, will from now on forgo leather in new electric vehicles. Starting with the Volvo C40 Recharge Pure Electric, all fully electric Volvo models will be equipped without animal textiles in the future, as promised. By 2030, the Scandinavians aim to offer only pure electric cars. They are working on replacing the materials used throughout the automotive industry and finding high-quality and sustainable sources. By 2025, the company aims to use 25 percent recycled and bio-based materials in new vehicles, also to become a fully circular company by 2040. As part of its climate protection plans, the company also aims for all direct suppliers, including material suppliers, to use 100 percent renewable energy by 2025, according to the Swedes.

Environmental damage and emissions from livestock farming

The move to a leather-free interior is also driven by concerns about the negative environmental impacts of livestock farming and deforestation, according to the statement. Estimates suggest that livestock are responsible for about 14 percent of global human-caused greenhouse gas emissions - the largest share from livestock farming. Instead of leather, sustainable materials from bio-based and recycled sources will be used. For the interior, the Swedish manufacturer has developed the textile Nordico, which consists of recycled materials such as PET bottles, bio-based material from sustainably managed forests in Sweden and Finland, and recycled corks from the wine industry. With this material, which will be used in the next generation of models, they believe they are setting a new standard for interior design in the segment. They will also continue to offer wool blends from suppliers, but only if they are certified for responsible sourcing. The company aims to ensure full traceability and thus animal welfare in its wool supply chain.

“We need to address all areas of sustainability, not just CO2 emissions,” says Stuart Templar, global head of sustainability at Volvo Cars.

Moreover, the manufacturer also wants to reduce the use of by-products from livestock farming. These are typically used in or during the manufacture of plastics, rubber, lubricants, and adhesives - either as part of the material itself or as a process chemical in manufacturing or processing. For the company, this is only consistent: the renunciation of leather is a step in the right direction, but the automotive interior alone does not become vegan by this measure. With the goal of actively replacing these materials as much as possible, Volvo Cars takes a strong and ethical position. The premium car manufacturer aims to contribute to a lower demand for materials that contain animal products, thus reducing or preventing animal suffering. “It is a challenge to find products and materials that support animal welfare. But that is no reason to avoid this important issue,” says Stuart Templar. “It is a worthwhile path. Those who think progressively and sustainably must face difficult questions and actively try to find answers to them.”

Translated automatically from German.
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