With each passing year the car industry is becoming more focused on developing environmentally sustainable vehicles. Volvo has recently announced it plans to use 25% recycled plastic in all its cars from 2025. This comes off the back of Volvo’s pledge for 50% of its total sales volume to be electric cars as well.
In order to illustrate the point, Volvo have produced a one-off XC60 plug-in hybrid made of recycled parts. The vehicle’s centre tunnel console is constructed from renewable plastics and fibres. The materials were taken from discarded fishing nets and ropes. The renewable components extend to the carpet as well. The fabric is made from PET plastic bottles and recycled cotton mix. PET fibres can also be found in the seat fabric.
Volvo is looking to improve environmental conditions as much as possible. In January 2018, the company announce the Skovde production site had become carbon-neutral. Volvo also committed to removing single-use plastics from all locales by the end of 2019.
CEO Hakan Samuelsson is passionate about the company’s direction. “Volvo cars is committed to minimising its global environmental footprint. Environmental care is one of Volvo’s core values and we will continue to find new ways to bring this into our business. This car and our recycled plastics ambition are further examples of that commitment.”
In addition to the environmental campaign, Volvo is placing a lot of stock in electric technology. With the demand for zero-emissions vehicles rising, Volvo plans to branch out significantly in China, which is the home market of parent company Geely.
