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Volvo’s Environmental Heritage

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Volvo’s Environmental Heritage

Volvo Cars are constantly striving to reduce the overall life-cycle impact each Volvo has on the environment, right through from manufacture to disposal:

85% Recyclable

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At present, new Volvo cars are designed to be 85%* recyclable, and for 95% recoverability. In addition, the Volvo XC60 is RRR-certified (Reuse, Recycling, Recovery) to 95%. This model is Volvo's first to be type-approved with regard to recycling. In order to secure this approval, the car manufacturer must show how the car is recycled at the end of its life.

*In accordance with regulations including European Directive 2000/53/EC on ELVs (End-of-Life Vehicles).

Climate-neutral electricity at Volvo

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Since 1 January, 2008, Volvo Cars manufacturing units in Europe use only green electricity, hydropower. Thus we support development of climate neutral electricity production. This is our latest step in making our manufacturing units in Europe climate neutral.

New recycling train and press line inaugurated

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Volvo Cars Body Components in Olofström is investing in the future. The most modern stamping system in Europe - a new line with five presses and ten robots - produces body parts for the Volvo XC60. And the new Recycling Train, which transports scrap for reuse, means about 5,000 fewer truck transports and 55 percent lower carbon dioxide emissions in one year.

Allergy-friendly in-car environment

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Offering an allergy-friendly in-car environment is a high priority for Volvo Cars. Our achievements include:

  • All of our upholstery materials and interior textiles are tested for over 100 harmful or allergenic substances and emissions, and meet the requirements of Oeko-Tex Standard 100.
  • All leather is chrome-free
  • Nickel leakage from metal components is minimised.
  • Volvo Cars' advanced Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) reduces the levels of certain harmful gases and particulates. With the launch of the new Volvo S80 in 2006, we also introduced our Clean Zone Interior Package (CZIP), a feature developed specifically for allergy-sufferers, and providing interior air recommended by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association.

The Swedish Asthma & Allergy Association now recommends four Volvo models - the S80, V70, XC70 and XC60 when equipped with Clean Zone Interior Package. The CZIP consists of IAQS and automated ventilation. The IAQS is available for all our models.

Environmental Projects

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Volvo Cars are involved in a number of environmental projects in partnership with AB Volvo. An example is Volvo Adventure, an environmental competition for young people around the world conducted in collaboration with UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme).

 

Environmental Heritage Timeline

  • 1945 Volvo introduces remanufactured spare parts - an exchange system still in use
  • 1972 UN Global conference on the environment in Stockholm: Volvo raises the critical role of the car in society
  • 1976 Three-way catalytic converter with oxygen sensor (Lambdasond®) removes up to 90% of noxious exhaust fumes - first on market.
  • 1982 Torslanda plant begins to use waste heat from local oil refinery
  • 1987 Torslanda water treatment plant removes 90% of harmful effluents
  • 1989 New, proactive environmental policy
  • 1989 Life-cycle assessment using EPS (Environmental Priority Strategies in product design)
  • 1989 Volvo demonstrates alcohol power technology: cleanest car tested to date
  • 1989 Introduction of internal environmental audits
  • 1989 Plastics in Volvo cars marked to facilitate recycling
  • 1990 First award of Volvo Environment Prize
  • 1991 Volvo Cars first to introduce car free of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  • 1991 Paintshop at Torslanda plant is the world's cleanest
  • 1992 Asbestos eliminated from car production
  • 1992 Volvo Environmental Concept Car (ECC)
  • 1993 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) no longer used in climate systems of series-produced Volvo cars
  • 1994 ECRIS, a new research facility for environmentally optimised dismantling
  • 1995 Volvo Bi-Fuel, Volvo Cars' first generation of methane-driven cars
  • 1995 Introduction of standards to improve dealers' environmental activities
  • 1995 Launch of Car & Eco Care, the Volvo Cars range of environmentally labelled car care products
  • 1996 Dialogue on the Environment provides environmental training for all employees
  • 1996 Introduction of environmental standards for suppliers
  • 1998 Introduction of PremAir® - a radiator coating designed to convert harmful ground-level ozone into pure oxygen
  • 1998 Volvo Cars is first carmaker to publish environmental product information (EPI) for cars (originally named EPD)
  • 1999 IAQS (Interior Air Quality System) introduced for cleaner cabin air
  • 2000 Tailpipe emission control technology from Volvo Cars' ULEV engines becomes available globally
  • 2001 New generation of Bi-Fuel cars
  • 2002 Volvo Adventure environmental education programme for young people (formerly Volvo Young Environmentalist Award)
  • 2002 PZEV engine introduced in California - second on market.
  • 2002 New Volvo cars designed for 85% recyclability
  • 2003 Volvo Cars achieves global ISO 14001 certification
  • 2004 Introduction of particulate filter for diesel engines
  • 2004 Volvo Cars' new V8 engine is world's first V8 to comply with ULEV II
  • 2004 Volvo 3CC sustainable mobility concept car unveiled
  • 2004 Volvo S40 1.6D is first Volvo car with fuel consumption less than 5 l/100 km
  • 2005 Bioethanol (E85) powered Volvo S40/V50 Flexifuel launched in Sweden
  • 2006 Volvo Flexifuel launched in eight more markets
  • 2007 IAQS & Automatic ventilation recommended by Swedish Asthma & Allergy Association
  • 2007 Volvo Flexifuel offer launched in several more European markets
  • 2007 Volvo Flexifuel offer broadened - 3 models and 5 engines introduced
  • 2007 Volvo ReCharge Concept - a plug-in hybrid with 100 km battery range – introduced
  • 2008 Volvo uses only green electricity (hydropower) in European manufacturing units
  • 2008 Powershift technology introduced - automatic transmission with 8% lower fuel consumption compared to conventional automatic transmissions. Available in C30/C70/S40/V50
  • 2008 Volvo C30/S40/V50 1.6D DRIVe introduced - with CO2 emissions of 115 (C30) and 118 g/km (S40 and V50)
  • 2008  Volvo Car Corporation is the first car manufacturer to own a wind tunnel that fully simulates the airflow around and underneath the car's body, combined with wheel rotation on a flat road surface
  • 2008 The Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association recommends the Volvo S80, V70, XC70 and XC60 when equipped with IAQS and automated ventilation
  • 2008 Volvo V70 2.5FT/Gas announced in Sweden for five fuels: E85, biogas, CNG, hythane (biomethane with low-blend of hydrogen) and petrol; Volvo V50 Tri-Fuel introduced in Italy - for E85, LPG and petrol; and  Volvo V50 Multifuel introduced in Switzerland - for 4 fuels: E85, biogas, CNG and petrol
  • 2009 DRIVe low-emission range rolled out to 7 models within the Volvo range – the Volvo C30, S40, V50, V70, XC60, XC70 and S80.
  • 2009 New start/stop technology fitted to S40, C30 and V50 DRIVe models, meaning CO2 emissions cut to just 104 g/km.
  • 2009 Volvo S40 DRIVe start/stop wins What Car? Green Car of the Year
  • 2010 CO2 emissions on C30, S40 and V50 reduced yet further to 99g/km
  • 2010 It is announced the Volvo C30, S40 and V50 will be London Congestion Charge Exempt from January 2011
  • 2011 DRIVe variants for the all new S60 and V60 are launched