Wednesday 6 October 2021

Volvo to go ‘leather-free’ in its EVs to protect animal welfare

Volvo Cars has announced that all its new fully electric models will be entirely leather-free to improve animal welfare.

This announcement is aligned with its pledge to only offer electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030.

Instead of leather, the car maker has committed to 25% of the materials used in new vehicles by 2025 being made of recycled and bio-based materials, on its journey to becoming a fully circular company by 2040.

Volvo has also set aims for all of its immediate suppliers to use 100% renewable energy by 2025.

The company has cited the fact that 14% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions derive from human activity around livestock as a key reason behind the decision - to protect wildlife and slash its carbon footprint.

Stuart Templar, Director of Global Sustainability, said: “Being a progressive car maker means we need to address all areas of sustainability, not just carbon emissions.

“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.”