Volkswagen has partnered with German start-up Revoltech GmbH to explore and develop sustainable materials derived from industrial hemp. The goal is to introduce this eco-friendly material as a surface option in Volkswagen vehicles starting in 2028.
The new material is being designed to replace imitation leather. This material, known as LOVRTM (an acronym for leather-free, oil-free, vegan, and residue-based), is crafted from industrial hemp grown for the food industry and is 100% natural and bio-based. The hemp fibers are combined with a fully bio-based adhesive using specialized technology to create a single-layer surface material specifically tailored for automotive applications. This sustainable material is sourced from regional hemp fields and is fully recyclable or compostable at the end of its lifecycle. It is made from hemp industry residues, which would otherwise go unused, and can be produced using existing industrial facilities, making it scalable and suitable for mass production.
Kai Grünitz, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Technical Development said, “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 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 for start-ups and established companies to be gained from the targeted combination of their respective strengths – with the goal of getting new features ready for use in automobiles as swiftly as possible.
Lucas Fuhrmann, CEO and co-founder Revoltech GmbH said, “Our innovative surface material called LOVR™ that we are developing and testing for the automotive industry in cooperation with Volkswagen is scalable and groundbreaking for sustainability in the automotive sector.”
Volkswagen’s Materials Technology, Design, and Components Development departments, along with Volkswagen Group Innovation and Revoltech GmbH, are pooling their expertise to consider various perspectives in the material’s development. The teams are working together to identify potential applications, with plans to integrate the material into vehicle projects as early as 2028. Initial customer feedback on the material has been overwhelmingly positive.