Volkswagen invests in industrial hemp leather for car interiors

Following the example of brands such as Ford, BMW and Mercedes, Volkswagen has entered into a cooperation with the German start-up Revoltech GmbH from Darmstadt to research and develop sustainable materials based on industrial hemp for its automotive components. Hemp could be used by Volkswagen as a sustainable surface material in its car models from 2028.

It’s no secret that industrial hemp is an innovative and sustainable material for car interiors, being easier to produce, lighter and more resistant, while having a zero carbon footprint.

According to a Volkswagen Press Release, of August 30, “the 100% bio-based hemp material uses waste from the regional hemp industry”. The hemp can thus be produced in existing industrial facilities and recycled or composted at the end of its useful life in a car. “The first presentations of the innovative material have already received very positive response and feedback from customers”, says the renowned German car brand.

Kai Grünitz, Board Member for Technical Development at the Volkswagen Brand, 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 the development of holistic and resource-saving vehicles.”

Andreas Walingen, Head of Volkswagen Brand Strategy, added: “Sustainable resource use is a key pillar of our ACCELERATE strategy and is therefore firmly anchored in our mindset and actions. Our clear goal is to merge customer wishes, sustainability requirements and corporate interests.” Walingen added that the cooperation between Revoltech and Volkswagen is a good example of the benefits that start-ups and established companies can achieve by combining their respective strengths in a targeted manner, with the aim of preparing new resources for use in cars as much as possible.

Lucas Fuhrmann, CEO and co-founder of Revoltech GmbH said: “Our innovative surface material called LOVR™, which we are developing and testing for the automotive industry in cooperation with Volkswagen, is a scalable and innovative solution for sustainability in the automotive sector.”

100% bio-based leather alternative from industrial hemp
Together with the start-up Revoltech GmbH, the Volkswagen brand’s pre-development team is working on a material innovation as a substitute for imitation leather. This material made from what is known as industrial hemp grown for the food industry is an all-natural, 100% organic single-layer surface material called LOVRTM (the letters stand for leather-free, oil-free, vegan and waste-based) that is being developed specifically with the automotive industry in mind.

Hemp fibres and a completely organic adhesive are combined using a special technology and processed into a surface material. This truly circular material comes from regional hemp fields and is fully recyclable or compostable when it reaches the end of its useful life. It is produced from hemp industry waste that is no longer useful. In addition, it can be manufactured in existing industrial facilities, thus enabling rapid scalability – making it also suitable for use in large-scale production.

Volkswagen’s Materials Technology, Component Design & Development, Volkswagen Group Innovation and the start-up Revoltech GmbH are pooling their know-how to include as many perspectives as possible in the development work. Potential applications are being identified in collaboration with Component Development. Possible use in vehicle projects is planned from 2028 onwards. The material has received very positive feedback in customer surveys.

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Laura Ramos

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With a degree in Journalism from the University of Coimbra, Laura Ramos has a postgraduate degree in Photography and has been a Journalist since 1998. Winner of the Business of Cannabis Awards in the category "Journalist of the Year 2024", Laura was a correspondent for Jornal de Notícias in Rome, Italy, and Press Officer in the Office of the Minister of Education of the 21st Portuguese Government. She has an international certification in Permaculture (PDC) and created the street-art photography archive “Say What? Lisbon” @saywhatlisbon. Co-founder and Editor of CannaReporter® and coordinator of PTMC - Portugal Medical Cannabis, Laura directed the documentary “Pacientes” and was part of the steering group of the first Postgraduate Course in GxP's for Medicinal Cannabis in Portugal, in partnership with the Military Laboratory and the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon.

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