Volvo To Use Only Recycled & Eco Materials For EV Interiors, Forgoes Leather
Image via Volvo
Volvo has announced it is forgoing leather in all of its electric vehicles. While it hasn’t been the first to transition to eco-conscious cars, the company said it hopes to only offer fully-electric vehicles by 2030.
This commitment from the Swedish firm to animal welfare and eco-friendly production has come at the right time, as it prepares to launch its first fully electric car—the C40 Recharge—by the year’s end. Polestar, a Tesla rival in the high-end EV market, is also owned by Volvo.
According to Input, while some think leather is a sustainable by-product of meat, many eco-conscious activists feel otherwise. Cows are known to produce lots of greenhouse gasses, and raising cattle for their leather hides could be a worse option than recycled plastic.
To go alongside its leather-free mandate, Volvo has also said all its future EV interiors will be made from bio-based and recycled sources. The company has even created its own material, Nordico, made from recycled PET bottles, bio-based material from sustainable forests, and recycled corks from the wine industry.
Image via Volvo
“Being a progressive car maker means we need to address all areas of sustainability, not just CO2 emissions,” said Stuart Templar, Director of Global Sustainability at Volvo.
“Responsible sourcing is an important part of that work, including respect for animal welfare. Going leather-free inside our pure electric cars is a good next step towards addressing this issue.”
As more and more automakers throw their hat into the EV ring, consumers will have even more options to choose from. Better designs, sustainable materials, and competitive prices? Sounds like a win.
Image via Volvo
[via Input and Volvo, images via Volvo]
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