Volvo has shunned the option of leather upholstery in the new, pure-electric C40 Recharge crossover, and plans to do so for all electric cars it makes going forward.
The brand will offer only electric automobiles with leather totally free interiors from 2030. Volvo says it has been motivated by growing issues about the negative impacts of cattle farming on the planet, with the firm estimating rising greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced deforestation.
Volvo targets range of 621 miles for EVs by 2030
Instead of leather, Volvo will use a variety of sustainable materials to line the interiors of its electric cars, including reclaimed cork from the red wine industry, bio material from sustainably felled forests and Nordico – a new textile created by the brand made from plastic bottles.
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Volvo will also continue to offer wool blend upholstery on its EVs – but it’ll only source the wool from certified responsible suppliers, to guarantee the welfare of the sheep.
The new cruelty-free, recyclable interiors will also play into Volvo’s supreme ambition of adopting a circular production model by 2040. That implies all of the material in the brand’s cars will be recyclable. In the near term, it implies that the brand is aiming for a quarter of its materials to consist of recycled and bio-based options.
Stuart Templar, Volvo’s sustainability director, said: “Being a progressive automobile maker implies we need to address all areas of sustainability, not just CO2 emissions. responsible sourcing is an essential part of that work, including respect for animal welfare. Going leather-free inside our pure electric automobiles is a good next step towards addressing this issue.
“Finding products and materials that support animal welfare will be challenging, but that is no reason to avoid this essential issue,” said Templar.
“This is a journey worth taking. having a really progressive and sustainable mindset implies we need to ask ourselves challenging questions and actively try to find answers.”
Now click here to read all about Volvo’s upcoming entry-level electric crossover…