What the Future Holds
Going Beyond
Sustainability in automotive manufacturing means much more than producing locally emission-free electric vehicles and switching to 100% renewable energy for manufacturing. We focus on all aspects of sustainability – from sourcing materials to their application in our production models. By adopting circular economy principles and using recycled materials, our goal is to substantially decrease CO₂ emissions and preserve our planet’s finite resources. That’s why we put so much effort into developing and testing sustainable materials. We also aim to go beyond our legal obligations; we carefully examine every component and process while continuously exploring innovative approaches.
Cooperation is the key
Our journey towards sustainability is reflected in several technical studies, prototypes, and our ongoing collaboration with experts, universities, and suppliers. We also value feedback from the public, including from the media and prospective customers. This helps us to gauge consumer demand and better understand our customers’ needs.
Technical study of a sustainable Enyaq
This technical study is our latest exploration into the future of sustainability. We’ve used the all-electric Enyaq as our canvas, focusing not only on recycled materials but also on recyclable and closed-loop materials. As an example, this show car has been manufactured using 52.2 kg of plastic recyclate, which is more than double the amount used in a production Enyaq. Employing these solutions in production vehicles could save approximately 62 kg of CO₂ per vehicle, or, in other terms, offset the carbon footprint of running an average household refrigerator for an entire year.
Technical study of a sustainable Enyaq
This technical study is our latest exploration into the future of sustainability. We’ve used the all-electric Enyaq as our canvas, focusing not only on recycled materials but also on recyclable and closed-loop materials. As an example, this show car has been manufactured using 52.2 kg of plastic recyclate, which is more than double the amount used in a production Enyaq. Employing these solutions in production vehicles could save approximately 62 kg of CO₂ per vehicle, or, in other terms, offset the carbon footprint of running an average household refrigerator for an entire year.
Enyaq’s predecessor:
Study of a sustainable Octavia
Our technical study based on the Enyaq production model was preceded by the sustainable Octavia. With the Octavia, our emphasis was on the interior, particularly on materials that customers can see and touch. Although recycled and recyclable materials are currently the most promising in terms of sustainability and quality, natural materials can be a valuable addition. For example, they offer an eco-friendly alternative to chemicals in leather tanning.
Sustainable design
As demonstrated by both of these technical studies, our aim is to identify materials that can be reused in a circular fashion, transforming old materials into new. However, the need to separate different materials presents a significant challenge in terms of recyclability. Taking car seats as an example – even if every component is recyclable, the glue holding them together makes recycling difficult. That’s why we’re developing seats made from a single material, known as a mono-material. Additionally, we’re applying circularity principles to explore solutions in, for example, the fashion industry, where much of the produced clothing ultimately ends up in landfills or is incinerated. We’re exploring the possibility of using this waste to manufacture seat covers for our vehicles.
Sustainable design
As demonstrated by both of these technical studies, our aim is to identify materials that can be reused in a circular fashion, transforming old materials into new. However, the need to separate different materials presents a significant challenge in terms of recyclability. Taking car seats as an example – even if every component is recyclable, the glue holding them together makes recycling difficult. That’s why we’re developing seats made from a single material, known as a mono-material. Additionally, we’re applying circularity principles to explore solutions in, for example, the fashion industry, where much of the produced clothing ultimately ends up in landfills or is incinerated. We’re exploring the possibility of using this waste to manufacture seat covers for our vehicles.
Futurama exhibition
At our internal Futurama exhibition, we introduce our designers’ visions for sustainable materials, colours, and finishes for future models. This platform allows designers to present their innovative concepts, focusing on monomaterials, sustainable resources, and component simplification, as well as haptic and AI-based design. Previous exhibitions have featured creative approaches like using fibres recycled from old clothing, plant‑based paints, and leather processed with coffee bean husks or wastewater from olive oil production. Some of these forward-thinking solutions are already being integrated into our production vehicles.
