Recycled plastics going into new Volvos

At least 25% of the plastics used in every newly-launched Volvo car will be made from recycled material from 2025.

That ties in with the company’s commitment to electrify all its new cars after 2019.

Volvo Cars also aims for fully electric cars to make up half its global sales within seven years.

The recycled plastic will come from items such as used car seats, clothing offcuts, plastic bottles and fishing nets.

Volvo Cars is also urging auto industry suppliers to work more closely with car makers to develop next generation components that are as sustainable as possible, especially around recycled plastics.

The company has unveiled a specially-built version of its XC60 T8 plug-in hybrid SUV that looks identical to the existing model, but has several of its plastic components replaced with recycled equivalents.

Volvo NZ general manager Coby Duggan says there is increasing interest in more sustainable materials and he expects the new materials to be well received by the market as they make their way into production vehicles.

“The specially-built XC60 showcases several innovations in the use of recyclable materials, a number of which were first seen in New Zealand during the Auckland stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race,” Duggan says.

“Initiatives such as this focus on recyclability, reinforce the fact that Volvo Cars’ commitment to sustainability runs far deeper than vehicle emissions alone – a message which really resonates with New Zealand customers.”

The company is committed to minimising its global environmental footprint, Volvo Cars president and chief executive officer Hakan Samuelsson says.

“Environmental care is one of Volvo’s core values and we will continue to find new ways to bring this into our business.”

The special XC60’s interior has a tunnel console comprising renewable fibres and plastics from discarded fishing nets and maritime ropes. Its carpet contains fibres made from PET plastic bottles and a recycled cotton mix from clothing manufacturers’ offcuts.

The seats also use PET fibres from plastic bottles. Used car seats from old Volvo cars help provide sound-absorbing material under the bonnet.

The Volvo Ocean Race partnered with the United Nations Environment Clean Seas campaign, focussing on the call to action ‘Turn the Tide on Plastic’ – also the name of one of the boats.