Volkswagen has forged a partnership with the Darmstadt-based start-up, Revoltech GmbH, aimed at developing groundbreaking sustainable materials derived from industrial hemp. This collaboration seeks to revolutionize automotive interiors, with a target for integration into Volkswagen models by 2028.
The initiative focuses on a bio-based material produced entirely from regional hemp industry residues. This innovative material, designed to be processed on existing industrial machinery, offers full recyclability and compostability after its lifecycle in a vehicle. Initial presentations of this material have met with enthusiastic approval from customers, underscoring its transformative potential.
Kai Grünitz, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Technical Development, highlighted the company’s commitment to pioneering solutions from diverse industries. “In our search for new materials, we are very open to new ideas from many different industries. At Technical Development, we place a strong focus on innovative, creative and sustainable solutions for holistic, resource-saving vehicle development.”
Andreas Walingen, Head of Strategy for the Volkswagen brand, emphasized the strategic importance of sustainability. “The sustainable use of resources is a key pillar in our ACCELERATE strategy and is therefore firmly anchored in our mindset and our actions. Our clear goal is to fuse customer wishes, sustainability requirements and corporate interests.”
Revoltech’s CEO and co-founder, Lucas Fuhrmann, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, describing the surface material, LOVR, as a scalable and transformative advancement for sustainability in the automotive industry.
LOVR represents a significant leap forward—a single-layer, 100% biological surface material crafted from industrial hemp, cultivated primarily for the food sector. The material, a promising alternative to synthetic leather, is created by binding hemp fibers with a fully bio-based adhesive. Its potential for large-scale production is assured, thanks to its compatibility with existing industrial infrastructure.
Volkswagen’s collaboration with Revoltech spans multiple departments, including Materials Technology, Design, and Components Development, all working together to explore potential applications for this material in upcoming vehicle projects. Customer surveys have already shown strong support for this initiative, suggesting that LOVR could soon become a staple in Volkswagen’s vehicle interiors.
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