Volvo – an almost 100 per cent recycled car is “theoretically possible”

Among the Volvo EX30’s many claims – it’s the Swedes’ cheapest car as well as their quickest accelerating – perhaps most notable is its recycled content.

A grand total of 15 per cent of it is reused material. While much of that lies in its metal, flourishes like recycled jeans in its optional denim interior trim are perhaps more relatable to customers quizzing their dealer.

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"We want to hit 25 per cent of recycled material by 2025"

“This car takes us to a new level,” says sustainability manager Anders Nyth. “But 15 per cent is not the limit – we have to go further and do more. We want to hit 25 per cent of recycled material by 2025. The challenge is both availability – high enough quality materials to suit the cars – and the innovation of how we apply it.”

Could his team ever approach a 100 per cent recycled car? “In theory, yes. Steel and aluminium we know well. Plastics have made big steps forward. Glass and rubber are more difficult, and electronics are a big challenge going forward.

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"We have an ambition to be fully circular company by 2040."

“We should be able to recycle our own batteries to make new cells. But we’re not there yet. The cars we build today will live for 15 years, so there’s no real volume for that yet. We’re essentially a generation behind those rewards coming in.

“Having future access to your own materials is important. We have an ambition to be fully circular company by 2040. We need to design cars today so we can recycle as much of them as possible at the end of their life.”