Land Rover continues pushing to make its products and operation more sustainable. In an increasingly crowded world with growing competition for raw materials, the use of sustainable, renewable products and materials is a win-win proposition for both manufacturers and vehicle owners.
Aside from their strong showing in the burgeoning electric vehicle market, and state of the art scrap reclamation processes, the company has just announced the availability of an optional recycled plastic upholstery for the interiors for new Range Rover Velar vehicles.
Kvadrat, as the material is called, is made from discarded bottles, and is billed as an alternative to traditional leather. Being socially conscious is not usually cheap, and Kvadrat hasn't changed that reality. A full Kvadrat interior adds £6,230 to the cost of the Velar.
According to Land Rover, the material is actually superior to both leather and cloth- it feels warm in cold weather and stays cooler than vinyl or leather upholstery in the summertime. Additionally, it is also said to “grip” the driver and passengers in fast bends, helping to keep them firmly planted in their seats.
Kvadrat upholstery is not all recycled material. It is a Scandinavian product that combines different materials in layers of panels that are sewn together. They include a wool blend, and a “technical suedecloth”, which is the recycled plastic component. In order to control the absorption and retention of moisture, Kvadrat is covered with a high-tech coating that also adds durability.
As they do, Land Rover engineers tested the material in a variety of environments and conditions in order to assure its durability suitable to the Land Rover vehicles.
In case you are wondering, One Velar interior uses 23 recycled plastic bottles.
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