More recycling is the name of the game.
Volkswagen has plans to make the interiors of all its new electric vehicles more sustainable using more recycled materials. The ID. Buzz has led the charge on this front, like using alternative materials made of ocean plastic and PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) bottles to make up different interior and underbody pieces.
The ID. 3, ID. 4, ID. 5, and ID. 7 will get more recycled materials starting this year. This is yet another step on the company's path toward sustainability as it aims to cut carbon emissions back 40% by 2030. Using more recycled materials in its cars has the dual benefit of not only helping to cut the company's carbon impact but also helping to raise environmentally conscious buyers' opinions of the brand.
On top of using ocean plastic, VW's other electric models will take a lot more from the ID. Buzz. The big one is going to be the use of different materials for the seating surfaces. On the bus, this comes in either the use of Seaqual yarn comprised of 10% marine debris and 90% recycled PES yarn for a 32% decrease in CO2 emissions over conventional materials, or ArtVelours Eco with a 71% recycling share.
The headliner and floor of the ID. Buzz is completely made of recycled polyester. Chrome is also on the way out because its creation is apparently very environmentally harmful. Instead, VW has opted for a liquid paint with a chrome look with a bio-based binder.
All these new materials being used definitely raise the question of durability, because the last thing you want your new car doing is falling apart in your hands.
VW agrees, and this is why most of the recycled materials in the car only make up a portion of whatever they create. The company says that the reused materials must always offer the same characteristics as conventional ones in terms of look and feel.
“Through the widespread use of recycled materials and the animal-leather-free interior in our ID. models, we are further improving the eco-balance of our vehicles – with high demands on haptical and long-term quality,” says Silke Bagschik, Head of Product Line E-Mobility. “The feedback from our customers confirms that we will continue to expand these sustainable approaches in the future.”
The goal in the end is a wholly optimized approach starting during basic research through development and into production that focuses on cutting emissions wherever possible. We know the company's factories are already extremely environmentally focused, so now it looks like it's working upstream.
Keyword: Volkswagen ID. Models Are About To Get Much More Sustainable