Polestar, the Swedish electric car maker that spun off from Volvo in 2017, has announced that it reduced its relative CO2 emissions per vehicle by 8% in 2022 compared to 2021. This is a significant achievement for a company that aims to be the world's most transparent and sustainable EV brand.
Polestar's CO2 reduction is mainly due to improvements in its supply chain, manufacturing, and logistics processes and increased sales of its Polestar 2 model, which has a lower carbon footprint than its predecessor, the Polestar 1. The company also claims that it has offset the remaining emissions from its operations and products through verified carbon credits.
Polestar's CEO, Thomas Ingenlath, said in a press release that the company is proud of its progress but also aware of the challenges ahead. "We are not satisfied with just being better than our competitors. We want to be better than ourselves, year after year. We know that we still have a long way to go to reach our ultimate goal of climate neutrality by 2030, but we are determined to get there," he said.
Polestar is one of the few EV makers that publish detailed life cycle assessments (LCAs) of its vehicles, showing the environmental impact of each production stage, use, and disposal. The company also publishes its annual sustainability report, which discloses its carbon footprint, water consumption, waste generation, and other key indicators.
Polestar's transparency and sustainability efforts have earned it praise from customers, media, and experts alike. The company was recently awarded the World Car Design of the Year for the Polestar 2, as well as the Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy 2023. The company also received a Gold rating from EcoVadis, a leading platform for corporate social responsibility ratings.
Polestar aims to become the first climate-neutral car maker by 2030 without relying on carbon offsets or credits. The company plans to achieve this by using more renewable energy sources, increasing the use of recycled materials, developing circular business models and collaborating with its partners and stakeholders.
Polestar's CO2 reduction announcement comes at a time when the global EV market is growing rapidly, driven by consumer demand, government incentives, and environmental awareness. According to BloombergNEF, EV sales are expected to reach 14 million units in 2025, up from 3.1 million in 2020. Polestar aims to capture a significant market share with its stylish, high-performance, and eco-friendly vehicles.
Polestar is not only a car maker but also a pioneer of a new way of doing business in the automotive industry. The company challenges the status quo with its innovative products, services, and values. Polestar is showing that it is possible to combine design, performance, and sustainability in a way that appeals to both customers and the planet.
