Volkswagen has entered a cooperation with the German startup Revoltech to research and develop sustainable materials based on industrial hemp. These could be used as a sustainable surface material in Volkswagen models from 2028.
The material is made from 100% bio-based hemp and uses residues from the regional hemp industry. According to Volkswagen, it can be produced in existing industrial plants and recycled or composted at the end of its service life in an automobile. The first presentations of the innovative material have already received a very positive response and feedback from customers.
Andreas Walingen, head of strategy at the Volkswagen brand, said, “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.”
He added that the cooperation between Revoltech and Volkswagen was a good example of the benefits to be gained by startups and established companies from the targeted combination of their respective strengths – with the goal of developing new features for use in automobiles as swiftly as possible.
