Volvo Beats Carbon Reduction Goal by 10M Tons

Volvo last year reduced the total lifetime CO2 emissions of its products by 40 million tons against a 2008 baseline, beating its goal by 10 million tons, according to the automaker’s 2014 sustainability report.

The company also exceeded its target to reduce CO2 emissions from its production plants by 0.2 million tons (12 percent), compared to 2008, instead achieving a 20 percent reduction (0.4 million ton) by the end of last year.

Other 2014 highlights from Volvo’s report include:

• achieved ISO 14001 certification for 98 percent of its major production plants;
• assessed 100 percent of automotive products suppliers in high-risk countries;
• ensured more than 94 percent of automotive products suppliers are certified to ISO 14001; and
• introduced the greenhouse gas (GHG) 2014-certified engines for Volvo Trucks’ VN series, offering North American customers fuel-saving potential of up to 3 percent.

Also in 2014, the automaker renewed its partnership with a new commitment to the World Wide Fund for the nonprofit’s Nature’s Climate Savers program. As part of the commitment Volvo will develop and demonstrate technologies with efficiency improvements, which the company estimates will be at least 30 percent better than a standard 2013 model.