Volvo Cars recently announced its ambition that from 2025 at least 25% of the plastics used in every newly launched Volvo car (
www.volvogroup.com) will be made from recycled material.
The company also urged automotive-industry suppliers to work more closely with car makers to develop next-generation components that are as sustainable as possible, especially with regard to containing more recycled plastics.
To demonstrate the viability of this ambition, the company unveiled a specially built version of its XC60 T8 plug-in hybrid SUV, which looks identical to the original model but has had several of its plastic components replaced with equivalents containing recycled materials.
CEO Håkan Samuelsson said: “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.”
The special XC60’s interior has a tunnel console made from renewable fibres and plastics from discarded fishing nets and maritime ropes, while the carpet contains fibres made from PET plastic bottles and cotton from clothing manufacturers’ offcuts.
The seats also use PET fibres, and seats from old Volvo cars were used to create the sound-absorbing material under the vehicle’s bonnet.
In 2017, the company announced its intention to electrify all new Volvo cars launched after 2019.
Last month, it stated that it is aiming for fully electric cars to make up 50% of its global sales by 2025.