Volvo Cars
will remove single-use plastics from all its offices, canteens and events
across the globe by the end of 2019. The decision reflects the company’s active
support of the UN Environment Clean Seas campaign, and underlines its ambition
to minimise its global environmental footprint.
The premium car maker will replace over 20 million single-use plastic items such as cups, food containers and cutlery with more sustainable alternatives, including biodegradable products made of paper, pulp and wood. This equates to the removal of over 500 plastic items per employee per year.
The switch will be implemented incrementally. By the end of 2018, single-use plastics will be removed from global events such as car launches, as well as from all offices and restaurants in Volvo Cars facilities in China, Belgium, the United States, Sweden and Malaysia.
During 2019, all national sales companies (NSCs) will eradicate single-use plastics from their operations, including local events.
“Action from the private sector is key to making progress in the fight against plastic pollution and raising awareness. We cannot wait for a binding legislative agreement,” said Lisa Emelia Svensson, Director of Ocean at UN Environment. “In the next 10 to 15 years global plastic production is projected to nearly double, parts of which will end up in oceans if we do not change today. We welcome Volvo Cars saying no to single-use plastics and it’s great to see it leading by example.”
Volvo Cars estimates that the 2018 roll-out alone will result in the replacement of more than 140 tonnes of single-use plastic items with plastic-free alternatives.
“Plastics pollution is one of the great environmental challenges of our time,” said Stuart Templar, Director for Sustainability at Volvo Cars. “We take our responsibility seriously. We must play our part in helping tackle this global problem.”
The company’s action on single-use plastics follows its EUR 300,000 support for the Volvo Ocean Race’s Science Programme. Several of the boats in the 2018-19 edition of the Race are equipped with sensors that are capturing data on marine health from some of the remotest parts of the world’s oceans, including levels of micro plastics.
Sales of the V90 Cross Country Volvo Ocean Race special edition vehicles have contributed to this support. Meanwhile, the car itself contains carpet inlays made from Econyl, a fabric made from 100 per cent recycled nylon, including abandoned fishing nets reclaimed from the seabed.
Volvo Cars is committed to reducing the environmental impact of both its products and operations. In 2017, the company announced an industry-leading commitment to electrify all new Volvo cars launched after 2019. Last month, Volvo Cars reinforced this strategy, by stating that it aims for fully electric cars to make up 50 per cent of its global sales by 2025.
In terms of operations, Volvo Cars aims to have climate-neutral manufacturing operations by 2025. In January this year, the engine plant in Skövde, Sweden, became its first climate-neutral facility.
The premium car maker will replace over 20 million single-use plastic items such as cups, food containers and cutlery with more sustainable alternatives, including biodegradable products made of paper, pulp and wood. This equates to the removal of over 500 plastic items per employee per year.
The switch will be implemented incrementally. By the end of 2018, single-use plastics will be removed from global events such as car launches, as well as from all offices and restaurants in Volvo Cars facilities in China, Belgium, the United States, Sweden and Malaysia.
During 2019, all national sales companies (NSCs) will eradicate single-use plastics from their operations, including local events.
“Action from the private sector is key to making progress in the fight against plastic pollution and raising awareness. We cannot wait for a binding legislative agreement,” said Lisa Emelia Svensson, Director of Ocean at UN Environment. “In the next 10 to 15 years global plastic production is projected to nearly double, parts of which will end up in oceans if we do not change today. We welcome Volvo Cars saying no to single-use plastics and it’s great to see it leading by example.”
Volvo Cars estimates that the 2018 roll-out alone will result in the replacement of more than 140 tonnes of single-use plastic items with plastic-free alternatives.
“Plastics pollution is one of the great environmental challenges of our time,” said Stuart Templar, Director for Sustainability at Volvo Cars. “We take our responsibility seriously. We must play our part in helping tackle this global problem.”
The company’s action on single-use plastics follows its EUR 300,000 support for the Volvo Ocean Race’s Science Programme. Several of the boats in the 2018-19 edition of the Race are equipped with sensors that are capturing data on marine health from some of the remotest parts of the world’s oceans, including levels of micro plastics.
Sales of the V90 Cross Country Volvo Ocean Race special edition vehicles have contributed to this support. Meanwhile, the car itself contains carpet inlays made from Econyl, a fabric made from 100 per cent recycled nylon, including abandoned fishing nets reclaimed from the seabed.
Volvo Cars is committed to reducing the environmental impact of both its products and operations. In 2017, the company announced an industry-leading commitment to electrify all new Volvo cars launched after 2019. Last month, Volvo Cars reinforced this strategy, by stating that it aims for fully electric cars to make up 50 per cent of its global sales by 2025.
In terms of operations, Volvo Cars aims to have climate-neutral manufacturing operations by 2025. In January this year, the engine plant in Skövde, Sweden, became its first climate-neutral facility.
Fr:
Volvo Cars va supprimer le plastique à usage unique de ses
bureaux, restaurants d'entreprise et événements
Volvo Cars va renoncer au plastique à usage unique dans
l'ensemble de ses bureaux, restaurants d'entreprise et événements à travers le
monde d'ici fin 2019. Cette décision témoigne du soutien du constructeur à la
campagne « Océans propres » du Programme des Nations unies pour
l'environnement (PNUE), et souligne sa volonté de réduire son empreinte
écologique mondiale.
Le constructeur automobile premium a prévu de remplacer plus
de 20 millions d'articles en plastique à usage unique (gobelets,
contenants alimentaires, couverts, etc.) par des alternatives plus durables
comme des produits biodégradables en papier, pâte à papier et bois. Cette
initiative équivaut à la suppression de plus de 500 articles en plastique
par employé et par an.
La transition se fera de manière progressive. D'ici
fin 2018, le plastique à usage unique sera banni des événements mondiaux
tels que les lancements de véhicules, ainsi que de l'ensemble des bureaux et
restaurants d'entreprise des sites Volvo Cars en Chine, en Belgique, aux
États-Unis, en Suède et en Malaisie.
Courant 2019, l'ensemble des filiales
nationales de vente éradiqueront le plastique à usage unique de leurs
activités, y compris des événements locaux.
« Il est crucial que le secteur privé agisse pour faire
avancer la lutte contre la pollution plastique et susciter une prise de
conscience. Nous ne pouvons pas attendre un accord législatif
contraignant », a déclaré Lisa Emelia Svensson, Directrice de l'initiative
Océans propres du PNUE. « Dans les dix à quinze prochaines années, la
production mondiale de plastique devrait doubler, et une partie de cette
production terminera dans les océans si nous n'agissons pas dès aujourd'hui.
Nous nous félicitons que Volvo Cars montre l'exemple en renonçant au plastique
à usage unique. »
Volvo Cars estime que rien qu'en 2018, son action
permettra de remplacer plus de 140 tonnes d'articles en plastique à usage
unique par des solutions sans plastique.
« La pollution plastique est l'un des grands enjeux
environnementaux de notre époque », a précisé Stuart Templar, Directeur en
charge du Développement durable de Volvo Cars. « Nous prenons nos
responsabilités très au sérieux. Nous devons assumer notre rôle en contribuant
à résoudre ce problème mondial. »
L'initiative de Volvo Cars visant à supprimer le plastique à
usage unique intervient après un don de 300 000 € versé par le
constructeur au profit du programme scientifique Volvo Ocean Race. Plusieurs
monocoques de l'édition 2018/19 de l'Ocean Race sont équipés de capteurs
qui recueillent des données sur l'état des fonds marins dans certaines des
régions océaniques les plus reculées de la planète, et notamment sur les
niveaux de pollution microplastique.
Ce don a en partie été financé par la vente de
l’édition spéciale Volvo Ocean Race du V90 Cross Country. S'agissant du
véhicule lui-même, il intègre des tapis de sol en Econyl, un matériau fait de
nylon 100 % recyclé, issu notamment de filets de pêche abandonnés
récupérés au fond de la mer.
Volvo Cars est déterminé à réduire l’impact environnemental
de ses produits et de ses activités. En 2017, le constructeur a pris un
engagement de premier plan : électrifier l'ensemble des véhicules Volvo
lancés après 2019. Le mois dernier, Volvo Cars a renforcé cette stratégie en
annonçant son objectif de porter les véhicules 100 % électriques à
50 % de ses ventes mondiales d'ici 2025.
Au niveau opérationnel, Volvo Cars prévoit que ses activités
de production deviennent neutres en carbone d'ici 2025. En janvier de
cette année, l'usine de moteurs de Skövde, en Suède, est devenue le premier
site climatiquement neutre du groupe.
Source : Volvo Cars.
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