Volvo to drop leather in all cars by 2030

The upcoming Volvo C40 Recharge will be the first model to come from the Swedish car-maker without the option of a leather interior as part of plans to ditch animal hides from all new Volvo vehicles by 2030.

Motivated by growing concerns surrounding emissions and deforestation caused by cattle farming, Volvo says that instead of leather it will offer more sustainable materials, starting with its all-electric cars.

New materials set to be introduced include everything from reclaimed cork from the wine industry to bio materials from sustainably felled forests, plus Nordico – a fabric made from plastic bottles.

Wool-blended upholsteries will continue to be available in Volvo EVs but the Chinese-owned Scandivian car-maker says the wool will come from certified farmers who ensure the welfare of their sheep.

Volvo says its new cruelty-free, recyclable interiors will help it adopt a circular production model by 2040, ensuring all its vehicles will be made of recyclable materials and capable of being recycled.

Currently, the brand is working towards 25 per cent of all content in its cars being recycled or recyclable.

Stuart Templar, Volvo’s sustainability boss, said: “Being a progressive car maker means we need to address all areas of sustainability, not just CO2 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.

“Finding products and materials that support animal welfare will be challenging, but that is no reason to avoid this important issue,” said Templar.