Article Summary
How does Volvo use sustainable material in the VNL and VNR?
- Eco-friendly components: Features front splash shields made from 75% U.S.-sourced, post-industrial recycled plastic to lower carbon emissions.
- Premium certified wood: Offers genuine, responsibly sourced Ayous wood veneer trim (FSC and PEFC certified) on Ultimate trim models.
- Recycled Cabin Interiors: Incorporates up to 75% recycled fibers in seatbacks and 50% recycled content in carpets, manufactured in Hampton, New Hampshire, using a zero-waste, on-site recycling process.
- Future Development Goals: Plans to expand domestic recycled plastics to 44 instrument panel components, while developing bio-composites (such as hemp), ocean plastics, recycled textiles, and easier design-for-disassembly recovery.
Volvo's long-haul VNL and regional VNR may be new, but not all of the materials used in their construction are. The company has upped its use of recycled and renewable materials in its latest heavy-duty truck models as part of a broader push to curb manufacturing carbon emissions.
"Every component of a truck presents an opportunity to reduce environmental impact," said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America.
The manufacturing shifts put into place in May include replacing standard components with high-recycled-content alternatives:
- Splash shields: Located inside the front wheel wells, these parts are now manufactured using 75% post-industrial recycled plastic sourced domestically within the United States.
- Cabin interiors: The truck cabins feature interior carpets made of up to 50% recycled material, produced in Hampton, New Hampshire, where manufacturing scrap is recycled on-site. Additionally, the seatback components contain up to 75% recycled fibers.
- Premium trim: For its high-end Ultimate trim level, Volvo is introducing genuine Ayous wood veneer trim sourced from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), bypassing the simulated wood finishes common in the commercial trucking industry.
Volvo Trucks uses 75% recycled plastic on the splash shield.
Volvo plans to eventually scale these material changes across its production lines and aims to introduce recycled plastic into 44 separate instrument panel components, utilizing supply chains based entirely in the U.S. to minimize logistics-related emissions.
Looking further ahead, engineering teams are testing bio-based composites that incorporate hemp and agricultural byproducts, alongside reclaimed ocean plastics and recycled textiles. The company said future vehicle development will also focus heavily on "design-for-disassembly" principles to ensure trucks can be easily decommissioned and stripped for high-value component recovery at the end of their lifecycles.
