Volvo Cars announced their plan to make their cars fully electric vegan-friendly or leather-free by 2030. This plan is a part of an ethical stand for animal welfare. Moreover, Volvo also set a target to use 100 percent renewable energy by 2023 and make 25 percent of the material in Volvo to be bio-based content or recycled material. So, the materials can be continually reused by 2040. This plan also coincides with the sustainable aspirations of Volvo's plan to offer an all-electric car lineup by 2030.
Starting with the new C40 Recharge, all-new fully electric Volvo models will be completely leather-free. However, Volvo's current electric car, The C40 Recharge model, is already leather-free. The company uses materials made from forestry byproducts, recycled corks, and plastic bottles. According to Reuters, the head of design Robin Page said it has the leather-like characteristics: warm and soft.
According to the Volvo Cars article, the company's move towards a leather-free interior is also driven by concerns about the negative environmental impacts of cattle farming, including deforestation. Livestock is estimated to be responsible for around 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, with the majority coming from cattle farming.
Volvo Cars will also continue to offer wool blend options from suppliers certified as responsible sourcer. Volvo Cars are also working to reduce the use of waste products from commonly used livestock production. The company takes this step because it believes that going leather-free is a step in the right direction.
