Polestar aims for ‘climate neutral’ car by 2030

Polestar has announced its “moonshot goal to create the first truly climate neutral car by 2030”.

The Swedish electric performance car brand launched “Polestar 0” during its first annual review published on April 7, saying the project will drive “design towards zero” focus by eliminating emissions rather than offsetting by planting trees.

The Polestar 0 project will allow consumers to track the company’s carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) footprint and risk minerals along with other sustainability measures.

Environmental experts have warned that offsetting is not sustainable in the long run, the company says.

Questions around the long-term carbon-storage capacity of forests and soils remain, as a forest might be logged, devastated by fire or altered by climate change, it adds.

“Offsetting is a cop-out,” Polestar chief executive Thomas Ingenlath says.

“By pushing ourselves to create a completely climate-neutral car, we are forced to reach beyond what is possible today. We will have to question everything, innovate and look to exponential technologies as we design towards zero.”

Polestar’s sustainability head Fredrika Klarén says: “We’re electric, so we don’t have to worry about combustion engines producing toxic emissions – but that doesn’t mean our job is done.

“We will now work to eradicate all emissions stemming from production. Now is a historic and exciting time for car makers, an opportunity to seize the moment, do better and dare to build the dream of climate-neutral, circular and beautiful cars.”

Climate action is already being incorporated throughout the Polestar business, and climate targets are integrated in the Polestar employee bonus system, the company explains.

Sustainability declarations, common in industries like food and fashion, will be applied to all future Polestar models.

Starting with Polestar 2 and initially disclosing carbon footprint and traced risk materials, labelling will appear on the company website and in Polestar Spaces.

Additional details and information will be added over time.

“Consumers are a huge driving force in the shift to a sustainable economy,” Ingenlath says.

”They need to be given the right tools to make informed and ethical decisions. This makes things very clear.

“Today, Polestar 2 leaves the factory gates with a carbon footprint. In 2030 we want to present a car that does not.”

A Polestar 3 electric performance SUV will later join the portfolio, along with the Precept which showcases the brand’s future vision for sustainability, digital technology and design.