Geely's Volvo Cars said it was aiming for at least 25% of the plastics used in every newly launched model would be made from recycled material by 2025.
It urged suppliers to work more closely with car makers to develop new components that are as sustainable as possible, especially with regards to containing more recycled plastics.
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Tcompany unveiled a specially built XC60 T8 plug-in hybrid SUV which looks identical to the existing model but has had several of its plastic components replaced with equivalents containing recycled materials.
"Volvo Cars is committed to minimising its global environmental footprint," said Hakan Samuelsson, president and CEO. "Environmental care is one of [our] core values and we will continue to find new ways to bring this into our business. This car and our recycled plastics ambition are further examples of that commitment."
The XC60's interior has a tunnel console made from renewable fibres and plastics from discarded fishing nets and maritime ropes. On the floor, the carpet contains fibres made from PET plastic bottles and a recycled cotton mix from clothing manufacturers' offcuts. The seats also use PET fibres from plastic bottles. Used car seats from old Volvo cars were used to create the sound-absorbing material under the bonnet.
"We already work with some great, forward-thinking suppliers when it comes to sustainability," said Martina Buchhauser, head of global procurement. "However, we do need increased availability of recycled plastics if we are to make our ambition a reality. That is why we call on even more suppliers and new partners to join us in investing in recycled plastics and to help us realise our ambition."
Volvo claims its recycled plastics ambition is the most progressive statement around the use of such materials by any premium automotive manufacturer. It earlier committed to eradicate single-use plastics across all its premises and events by the end of 2019.
It also aims to electrify all new cars launched after 2019 and for fully electric cars to make up 50% of its global sales by 2025.
In terms of operations, the automaker aims to have climate-neutral manufacturing operations by 2025.
In January this year, its engine plant in Skovde, Sweden, became its first climate-neutral facility.
