Volkswagen Group, a German automobile concern, plans to replace cars’ interior leather with bio leather made of cannabis. This is another step towards responsible and sustainable car production.
The bio leather was developed by Volkswagen group in cooperation with Revoltech Team, a German startup from Darmstadt, specifically for the automobile industry. Developers claim that new bio leather imitates animal skin as it is highly resistant and flexible, moreover the new material is 100% recyclable.
Natural and environmentally friendly material is patented under the name LOVR which stands for leather-free, oil-free, vegan and residency-based. For its production, companies will use the capacities of existing industrial hemp plantations in Germany. Eco leather will be used for seat and steering wheel upholstery and other interior elements. The auto giant plans to integrate LOVR into mass car production as early as 2028.
Experts agree that the Volkswagen example will stimulate other automakers to switch to environmentally friendly inner upholstery for their cars and that cannabis has wide prospects in this field. Moreover, it can be assumed that, in the long term, the use of bio material will reduce the cost of car production and, at the same time, it will increase the cars’ attractiveness for the customers.
What is industrial cannabis?
Industrial cannabis is a type of hemp grown for industrial purposes rather than recreational or medical use. It differs from marijuana as it has low levels of the psychoactive substance THC (less than 0.3%). Marijuana contains up to 30% of THC.
Industrial cannabis is an attractive raw material for many industries due to its unique properties: it is resistant, flexible and environmentally friendly. Nowadays it is used to produce a wide range of products including textiles, paper, bioplastic, cosmetics and nutritional supplements.
Unlike marijuana, the cultivation of industrial cannabis is allowed in many countries, as it is an important source of renewable raw materials that can significantly contribute to the development of environmentally friendly technologies and the sustainable economy of the future.
Global industrial cannabis market
The global industrial cannabis market is projected to reach $15.3 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 15.8%, according to reports. The key market drivers are the growing demand for sustainable production as well as the hemp legalization in more and more countries.
Nowadays, North America is the absolute leader of the industrial cannabis market (57% of the total market volume). At the same time, the fastest growing region is the Asia-Pacific region with an average annual market growth of 17.5 %.
Industrial hemp is used in the production of textiles, building materials, cosmetics, food additives and pharmaceuticals. The automotive industry is a relatively new niche for the use of industrial cannabis, but a very promising one, according to experts.
Industrial cannabis market in Germany
Germany is one of the leading players in the fast-growing European industrial cannabis market. In 2022, the country’s market volume exceeded 500 million euros, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 20 % over the next 5 years.
Germany recently legalized the cultivation and circulation of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. It opened up new opportunities for the development of the industrial cannabis segment, as it increases the availability of raw materials and reduces administrative barriers.
Photo: Volkswagen
