Volvo Cars has recently announced its ambition that from 2025, at least 25 per cent of the plastics used in every newly launched Volvo car will be made from recycled material.

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

To demonstrate the viability of this ambition, 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 had several of its plastic components replaced with equivalents containing recycled materials.

"Volvo Cars is committed to minimising its global environmental footprint," said Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Cars. "Environmental care is one of Volvo's core values and we will continue to find new ways to bring this into our business. This car and our recycled plastics ambition are further examples of that commitment."

The special XC60's interior has a tunnel console made from renewable fibres and plastics from discarded fishing nets and maritime ropes. On the floor, the 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 were used to create the sound-absorbing material under the car bonnet.

(Continued on the next page)