Paying attention, BMW and Mercedes?
In case you haven't read the news lately, the word "sustainability" is being used regularly by automakers. The word applies to everything from adopting carbon-neutral policies, battery recycling, and even leather. Leather? Yes, really, at least for Jaguar Land Rover. The luxury automaker says it's been experimenting with secure blockchain technology to ensure full transparency in how it sources its leather from suppliers.
This new tech, developed with Circulor, a supply chain traceability provider, the University of Nottingham, and UK leather manufacturer Bridge of Weir Leather Company, will now be used to trace the lowest carbon leather from farm to the finished product.
Using sustainable interior materials isn't new to the carmaker. The Range Rover Evoque, Velar, and Jaguar I-Pace can all be equipped with Kvadrat, a refined high-quality wool blend paired with a suede cloth made from 53 recycled plastic bottles per vehicle. The new blockchain tech uses a combination of GPS data, biometrics, and QR codes that digitally verifies the leather as it's being processed. JLR itself intends to achieve net-zero carbon neutrality across its entire supply chain, operations, and vehicles by 2039.
This new blockchain "sustainable" leather is only the beginning. But there's already an alternative option available right now that doesn't necessarily have to make the use of blockchain tech to ensure its sustainability. What is it?
Just ask Tesla. It's called synthetic leather that's derived from plastic. It's not cheap in price nor in look and feel. Buyers are asked to fork over $2,000 for it. Tesla previously told CarBuzz (before it fired its entire PR department) that its "Tesla Synthetic Material" is not only more durable and longer-lasting than traditional cow skin leather, but it's also easier to clean and less vulnerable to stains. Volvo also recently announced it'll go leather-free by 2030.
Sooner or later, JLR will probably drop leather entirely in favor of the growing number of synthetic alternatives. A younger generation of car buyers cares about environmental issues so it's important for automakers to begin making the necessary supplier changes now rather than later.
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