Sustainability

Climate change is happening. As a mobility provider, we recognise that we're part of the problem and have a responsibility to act. We're aiming to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. How? By reducing emissions across our entire value chain.

Rear view of a white Volvo XC40 driving on an icy road.

Climate-neutral manufacturing

We aim to have climate-neutral manufacturing operations by 2025. Since 2008, all our European plants have been running on hydroelectric power.

2024

China

Taizhou manufacturing plant is our first climate neutral car plant in China.

2022

Slovakia

Plans announced for new climate neutral car plant in Kosice that opens in 2026.

2021

Sweden

Torslanda car manufacturing plant is our first climate neutral car plant.

2021

China

Daqing car manufacturing plant is powered by 100% climate neutral electricity.

2020

China

Chengdu car manufacturing plant is powered by 100% climate neutral electricity.

2018

Belgium and USA

Solar energy is introduced to manufacturing operations in Ghent & Charleston.

2008

In Europe

All manufacturing units in Europe transition to 100% renewable electricity.

Climate-neutral manufacturing

We aim to have climate-neutral manufacturing operations by 2025. Since 2008, all our European plants have been running on hydroelectric power. Today, our global plants are powered by over 80% climate-neutral electricity. We know it takes a lot of wins – big and small – to achieve our ambitions.

Side view of a woman working on a laptop.

The global standard for reporting on emissions

We’re committed to real results based on an accurate count of all the emissions we’re directly or indirectly responsible for. That’s why we adhere to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) – an international standard of greenhouse gas accounting.

Electric cars – benefits and challenges

Electrification plays a significant part in our vision to become climate neutral by 2040 – but electric cars create new challenges too, for everyone.

The wins created by electric cars are diminished if the charging electricity is generated from fossil fuels. Charging with renewable electricity significantly reduces the lifetime emissions of each car.

Charging also impacts the uptake of electric cars – more charging infrastructure is needed so that more people can make the change.

Partial rear view of a charging XC40 parked outside a cafe where two people are sat facing each other.

At this point in time, people also feel more secure with further range. Big range requires bigger batteries, which impacts on the total lifecycle emissions of the car, and the price.

It’s a complex interplay and we believe electric cars will reach their full potential when we – as a global community – find new ways of providing customers with easy access to charging with renewable electricity.

Life-cycle analysis of our cars

We consider complete transparency about the climate impact of our battery electric vehicles (BEV) to be a corporate and social responsibility. That's why we've disclosed the carbon footprint for each of our new electric cars since 2019, quantified using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology.

Child sits in the back of a parked car

Data transparency and climate ambitions

LCAs enable us to pinpoint carbon intensive materials and processes within our own operations and supply chain – helping us achieve our climate ambitions, as well as true zero emission mobility.

Future

As fully electric Volvos are introduced in the future, we pledge to continue to be transparent about our CO2 footprint on all new cars.

Our position

Our ambition to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 will create many challenges and we want to be transparent throughout this transformation. We want to act responsibly and we want anyone interested in what's happening here at Volvo Cars to be able to explore our progress and know what we stand for.

You're welcome to read the resources in our ESG Policies & Position section and learn more about what we're doing. And of course you're welcome to engage with us where you have expertise you think will help us on our journey.