The Volvo Group manufactures a large number of products with varying impact on the environment. Because of this we follow the basic principle that each product should have a smaller environmental impact than the one it replaces, which imposes demanding requirements in terms of environmental considerations when developing new products.
However, the greatest environmental impact of the Volvo Group’s products occurs when they are being utilized.
From cradle to grave
Therefore we implement a life-cycle approach in order to follow the environmental impact of the products from design to scrapping and recycling. Since more than 90 percent of the total environmental impact of a product arises when it is in use, the emphasis of environmental work is on reducing fuel consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and other air pollutants.
Analysing every detail
Volvo Group also uses the EPS (Environmental Priority Strategies in product design) tool to perform life-cycle assessments. The tool distinguishes six sub-stages:
- preliminary study
- concept study
- detailed development
- final development
- industrialization and commercialisation
- follow-up
Each sub-stage includes definite environmental targets that must be met if the process is to continue.
Grey and black chemical lists
To limit and eventually phase out hazardous substances from products and production process, the Volvo Group has drawn up black and grey chemical lists.
The black list indicates chemicals that may never be used and the grey list shows those whose use is to be restricted.
The environmental declaration of products
As part of efforts to describe a product’s environmental impact throughout its life-cycle, environmental product declarations are prepared. They comprise three sections: production, use and scrapping.
The production section describes such aspects as energy consumption, emissions and waste. The use section presents fuel consumption, emissions and spare part utilization and the third section deals with scrapping.